Luckily the dip is fine but I've since chased a bad distributor gasket, bad valve cover (fabricated and split) and leaking valve cover gaskets. The pan is a hamburger with the trap doors etc, I checked it and it's all flush but I have a hunch about the fel-pro one piece gaskets. Even with a shit ton of rtv it's dripping all over the trans pan..are you using the original pan? You know how a little bend in those flanges can cause leaks. For the dipstick I like to use some RTV.
and if it makes you feel any better I helped a buddy do a LB7 duramax rear main seal the other night.
Had the same problem so I went to a pricey proform cover with the inner and outer lips and old thick cork gaskets and it's been fine since. I did switch to center bolt tho luckily the e-tec heads have both hope you do those outer holes just look like a mess waiting to happenI’m on set 3 of fkin valve covergaskets on my sbc... just makes me crazy..
That's what I want to believe but the leaks are not at a tolerable state yet. The Speedometer drive leak is tolerable but the trans pan is washed with oil after around the blockI understand your frustration with leaks. Sometimes we have to be less picky about our old trucks. But the brain has to listen, not easy at times.
Thanks man! It's a long hard road so far and I have a sneaking suspicion I'm gonna be dropping the pan Sunday and putting an old 4 piece gasket in.Love this K5, those wheels are sweet and the red lettering on the tailgate looks great too. Really cool build.
Leaks do suck. I just resealed my intake and valve covers yesterday, fingers crossed that both yours and my leaks are dried up.
Thanks man! It's a long hard road so far and I have a sneaking suspicion I'm gonna be dropping the pan Sunday and putting an old 4 piece gasket in.
I'm starting to wonder if the extra rtv hurt me than helped. It helped in the corners of the intake but I didn't want to do the pan again so.... Guess I'll do it againBummer on that pan gasket, so much work to change. Really sucks those aren’t sealing for you, especially with a nice oil pan. Hopefully a 4 piece set will fix you up.
I’ve had very good luck with those one piece gaskets (2 gaskets on 2 different motors, so not very many). RTV is the enemy for getting them to seal up. I only use a drop on the corners at the timing cover and at the rear main bearing block, has worked well for me.

Bummer on that pan gasket, so much work to change. Really sucks those aren’t sealing for you, especially with a nice oil pan. Hopefully a 4 piece set will fix you up.
I’ve had very good luck with those one piece gaskets (2 gaskets on 2 different motors, so not very many). RTV is the enemy for getting them to seal up. I only use a drop on the corners at the timing cover and at the rear main bearing block, has worked well for me.
I’ve fixed multiple pans both trans and engine that had rtv top and bottom of gasket.
Replaced gasket with best available and rtv only where absolutely needed. They didn’t come back
I never use rtv on pan gaskets, so count that as another vote.![]()

Been there tooI’ve had the shift shaft seal leak before, looked just like a pan gasket leak
Not yet I'm on the fence about Goin through it with a third one piece. Lifting the engine and dropping the three piece member is a pain every time. If the truck wasn't so clean I'd just roll with it sweaty... I still may for the next couple weeksGood progress! Did you try another one piece gasket with no RTV on that oil pan?