Re: 318 Oil Pan Gasket Install

[Schuyler Wrobel <sky62@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I did the oil pan and rear main seal on my Dodge a few years back and  
it was no big deal really. just undo one end of the drag link if you  
need more room to drop the pan. only the rear main needs to come off  
to do the rear seal, the oil pump- is attached to rear main also, so  
you can clean the screen and pick up tube while your at it. bty-  
there is usually a issue with low oil pressure if your rear main is  
leaking, especially when it gets bad, and it will eventually. oh, and  
don't use a gasket when you reinstall the oil pump, not exactly sure  
why, but many have said not to. just make sure the mating surfaces  
are clean and true. putting a little oil in the pump doesn't hurt  
either. anyway, if your gunna do the pan gasket might as well do the  
rear main seal too. if not just for peace of mind. (o;

Schuyler
62 Dodge Dart 440 wagon w/ Poly 318
 <http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/ml-wrobel62.html>
FYI - I Do the Decal designs for the Poly head 318 and more! email me  
with your needs -
 <sky62@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>



On Jan 29, 2010, at 7:08 PM, John Pettitt wrote:

> Yep, that was the second thing I did after the oil pressure  
> switch.  That is, I replaced the valve cover gaskets, and they  
> aren't leaking either. . .
>
> --- On Sat, 1/30/10, Rich Kinsley <rlkinsley@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > From: Rich Kinsley <rlkinsley@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: RE: 318 Oil Pan Gasket Install
> > To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Date: Saturday, January 30, 2010, 3:05 AM
> >
> > The oil sending unit is the same issue that's plagued me
> > since I got my
> > engine together. I did change the oil pressure sending unit
> > but it was
> > the wrong one and I had to switch back. I have another used
> > one now to
> > try which should be right. My dist was also spitting oil
> > for awhile  but
> > it hasn't been an issue since I removed the crankcase pcv
> > and replaced
> > it with a K&N breather. Both sides have this same
> > breather now. I
> > must've been building up pressure at high RPM's.
> >
> > As for the oil pan gasket, it won't be easy but you are
> > right that the
> > more stuff you have out of the way the better. It won't be
> > any easier
> > later unless you pull the engine. Be sure to check the
> > valve cover
> > gaskets too. They can leak at the back corner and wind up
> > running down
> > the back of the engine too.
> >
> > Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies
> >
> > ====================================================================
> > Dan McCormack wrote:
> > > John also check the oil gauge sender on the top back
> > of the engine. I've
> > > had
> > > a number of Mopars that had a leak like the one you
> > describe that looked
> > > like a rear main seal and it turned out to be a leaky
> > sender.
> > > Dan
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "John Pettitt" <john.pettitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 9:09 PM
> > > Subject: 318 Oil Pan Gasket Install
> > >
> > >
> > > > Guys,
> > > >
> > > > First off, I am a novice "Learning As I Go"
> > mechanic.
> > > > I have a 1965 Coronet that has had a nagging
> > drip, drip, drip oil leak.
> > > > When the oil leaks, it runs down between the
> > front of the transmission
> > > > bell housing, and the back of the oil pan.
> > The oil though, is running
> > > > down the bellhousing. I thought it was the Main
> > Rear Seal, as I could
> > > > not
> > > > find anything else that was leaking.  I have
> > currently begun to replace
> > > > the front-end Steering and suspension.
> > While I've had it jacked up, it
> > > > has leaked a little more profusely.  I've
> > noticed that the gaskets on
> > > > the
> > > > ends of the oil pan are cracked and kinda broken
> > in places.  You know
> > > > the
> > > > ones I'm talking about, the concave plastic
> > looking gaskets that overlap
> > > > the edge of the oil pan.
> > > >
> > > > I was curious about 2 things:
> > > >
> > > > 1) Could it be that the rear gasket of the oil
> > pan is the thing that is
> > > > leaking, and if that is the case. . .
> > > >
> > > > 2) How hard is it to replace the oil pan gasket?
> > > >
> > > > I have a contact with my local Mopar club that is
> > in the business of
> > > > doing
> > > > frame-up restorations.  He has helped me out
> > with some stuff on my car,
> > > > and I know he knows his business.  He
> > advised that I should just let it
> > > > drip, as doing a Rear Main Seal job isn't always
> > sure cure for an old
> > > > engine like this.  But I asked him the other
> > day about the oil pan
> > > > gasket,
> > > > and he said it was quite a difficult job, and he
> > gave me a 1 and 10 shot
> > > > at getting it right the first time.  Since I
> > have all the steering and
> > > > suspension components off right now, I thought
> > this would be a good time
> > > > to replace the gasket if I was going to do it.
> > > >
> > > > Is it more than I need to bite off at this time,
> > and should I just deal
> > > > with the drips, or is changing an oil pan gasket
> > something that can be
> > > > accomplished without too much trouble.
> > > >
> > > > My friend is a great car builder, and knows his
> > stuff.  I just thought
> > > > I'd
> > > > get another opinion.    Thanks for any
> > thoughts. . . .
> > > > ----
> > > > Please address private mail -- mail of interest
> > to only one person --
> > > > directly to that person.  I.e., send
> > parts/car transactions and
> > > > negotiations as well as other personal messages
> > only to the intended
> > > > recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address.
> > This practice will
> > > > protect
> > > > your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and
> > fine tune the content
> > > > signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!
> > > >
> > > > 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion
> > Guidelines:
> > > > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and
> >
> > > > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
> >
> >
> >
> > Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies
> >
> >
> > ----
> > Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one
> > person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send
> > parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other
> > personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the
> > Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your
> > privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the
> > content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!
> >
> > 1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
> > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and
> > http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.


----
Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!

1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.