Switching the oil pan gasket??

[gooch06]

Is it possible to switch the oil pan gasket on a 1990 Mustang LX 5.0 without completely dropping the oil pan. Can I use a one piece gasket and just remove the bolts and hold the pan up with a jack to replace the gasket?

 

[90mustangGT]

Been there, done that.

I found that I had to unbolt the rack and move it out of the way, so the oil pan can drop dow a little further, unbolting the engine and jacking it up, I can't remember if I had to or not.

 

[gooch06]

So did you use a one piece gasket? How long did it take you?

 

[rd]

Yes it is possible, but I would rather pull the engine.

If you do it in the car, you have to jack the engine up a bunch, and still work around all the stuff.

To me it is much easier to unhook stuff and pull it out. They you can change the pan gasket on the hoist in 30 minutes, and know that it will work ok.

Just my 02.

 

[GEAR HEAD]

Yes it can be done without dropping the rack or pan. I used a 1 piece gasket and unbolted the motor mounts and jacket up the motor as high as possible. Took approximatley 6 hours.

 

[90mustangGT]

It wasn't my car but a buddy's car. No we did not jack up the engine a bit, we had already done the motor mounts a month before and we were doing the clutch. Pulling the motor for this simple of a job? Seriously, drain the oil an pull the filter, just unbolt the rack, two to the K member, 4 from the shaft, pull the rack out so it hangs from the tie rod ends, drop the pan about an inch or so, pull off the old gasket, feel around to make sure you got it all, it's rubber so it isn't like other gaskets, it will come out as one piece, use brake clean or something to wipe off the oil, then use the 1 piece gasket and fish it under the oil pump and pickup, put in place and carefully put the pan back in place.