Hello everyone
What’s the easiest way to change an oil pan gasket in a 72 cougar with a 351 Cleveland without pulling the motor?
Have somebody else do it. I know, I’m a smart ass. You will at least need to raise the engine up a few inches so the pan will clear the cross member. If they had done this cross member like earlier Cougars(and that pesky Mustang) you could drop it out. But unless you cut it out and destroy the car…
Doesn’t sound to appealing
Don’t get scared off from this job. It’s not too bad at all. I did it on my 70 with a Cleveland probably 3 years ago. The cross member comes out easily with either 2 or 4 bolts. You take the 2 bolts holding the idler arm out and your power steering drops down. You remove the (2) motor mount bolts that hold the mount to the frame. Now you can get a jack under the harmonic balancer and slowly lift the engine up. You probably should also remove your fan shroud bolts to allow the fan to go up more. Pan should come out relatively easily after that.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Cheers
The cross member in the 71 through 73 does not unbolt like the 70 and older do. One will have to raise the engine up to clear. Still a doable home job with a little knowledge. Good idea th get a shop manual for reference.
So if I put a jack under my harmonic balancer. Will I have have the room to remover the pan. Would not the jack be in the way? And I guess I should remove the starter to make it a little easier. Sounds like a winter time job.
Use block of wood to Jack up engine. Starter stays, have all bolts removed then Jack it up until pan slides out. Wash oil screen!
Well I might be doing it sooner then later because she leaking a lot of oil
Should I use silicone and if so on the block or the pan? Other then the 4 usual spots. Just don’t want to have to do this a second time
No, just the 4 corners