1990 K5 Oil Pan Swap

[Justin Fleming]

Does anyone have any tips and or tricks before I dig into this. Unfortunately the pan has rusted out and is leaking out the side. Dam Michigan Salt!!. Can I get away with out lifting up the motor?


Also any suggestions on a good factory replacement pan
Any suggestions on gasket, I have had good luck with the one piece in the past.

 

[dyeager535]

I've had no issues with my SUM-G3503X pan I installed in 2016. With that rust I'd use fifteen coats of paint, and every time I changed the oil I'd spray another coat lol.

I think this link will work. Pics a few ways in of the pan. But it's an oil pan lol https://ck5.com/forums/media/albums/l31-crate.1381/

I replaced the 4qt on the L31 with the 5qt before I put it into the truck. As it was a crate motor I used the stock gasket. One piece, probably hard to go wrong with a fel-pro or Delco.

I'm guessing the one piece rear main motors all got one piece pan gaskets so probably nothing special about them?

 

[Wes Harden]

Definitely use the newer one pice pan gasket, I have fel pro and mahle, both are good. Be sure to get correct dip stick side and one or 2 piece rear main.
Summit pan on mine bit it is 30 years old so.....
Maybe an oil pump and pickup while your there.
Not difficult job inv4x4 square

 

[Justin Fleming]

can this pan be swapped with out raising motor?

any benefit in dropping the starter and or getting the oil cooler lines out of the way. I dont want to create extra work but if it makes sense....

 

[Bent77]

Definitely use the newer one pice pan gasket, I have fel pro and mahle, both are good. Be sure to get correct dip stick side and one or 2 piece rear main.
Summit pan on mine bit it is 30 years old so.....
Maybe an oil pump and pickup while your there.
Not difficult job inv4x4 square

I’ve actually had issues with that one piece. The front doesn’t sit deep enough on the Mahle, causing pan deflection
I cut the front seal out and use the rest

Not sure on the Fel pro

 

[Bent77]

can this pan be swapped with out raising motor?

any benefit in dropping the starter and or getting the oil cooler lines out of the way. I dont want to create extra work but if it makes sense....

You need about 2.5” clearance

I pull the starter. I also don’t use the old Remy full sized starters

 

[Justin Fleming]

Question still stand: Do I need to raise the motor to swap out this oil pan and gasket?

 

[Bent77]

Are you able to raise it if needed is the real question

 

[Wes Harden]

I didn't touch the engine mountsvto do mine. Inspection cover, starter motor, oil filter, oil cooler adapter if equipped

 

[Blue85]

I remember taking the oil pan off without lifting the engine and basically very easy. This blew my expectations out of whack for other vehicles! My later Suburban requires the whole front drivetrain to come out and my old Buick had to have the whole car supported to lower the engine cradle out of the way.

 

[dyeager535]

FWIW, pretty sure the L31 comes with almost full length "pan rail stiffeners" that spread the load over the pan rail far better than just the screws.

While I don't think the summit pan was significantly thinner (if at all) than the GM one, my success could have been partially attributable to those pieces. Personally I'd recommend them if you can find a set.

 

[Wes Harden]

can see engine mounts in place and pan off