Thread: Oil Pan Problems.

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Hey again, got a quick question that could use some insight. Tried searching first, but both Oil and Pan are under four letters *rolls eyes*.

I'm working on a 1970 Nova with a 305 SBC in it. A few weeks ago I installed some roller rockers and a gear-drive timing setup. Ever since, I was experiancing a rather heavy leak. I didn't realize that to properly replace the timing-cover-to-pan gasket, you were supposed to drop the pan.

I removed the timing cover, removed the motor mount bolts, and removed the distributor. After doing this, I jacked the engine up about 4" to get the pan out. I thoroughly (read THOROUGHLY) cleaned both the oil pan gasket surface(s) and the bottom of the block, totally removing all gasket and oil residue. The problem I'm having now is one of getting the oil pan reinstalled.

I can get the pan back in position above the crossmember just fine with the engine lifted, but the gaskets are what I'm having problems with.

There are two cork pan-to-block gaskets on either side, and two rubber gaskets on the front and back of the pan. One being the pan-to-timing-cover gasket, and the other being pan-to-block on the rear, near the rear main bearing cap.

The problem is that the cork gaskets on the left- and right-hand side of the pan lock in to the rubber front- and rear-pan-to-block gaskets via a small notch in the rubber gasket, and a small tooth on the cork gasket.

I'm having a really difficult time keeing all four gaskets aligned, lifting the pan, making sure the gaskets 'snap' into place, and getting the bolts started, even with a few extra hands helping.

Can someone give me some advice? I'd really, really hate to have to pull the nova's motor. If I can do this with the block in the car, I'd love it.

Should I adhere the gaskets to the block first? If so, how, and in what order?

This is the last thing I need to have this motor leak-free and reliable. Thanks in advance, Rob.