You're both right. If you have oil on the ground, find the HIGHEST place it can come from, and work your way down. Eliminate intake, valve covers, etc etc. Work your way down, just like gravity does. Make sure it's not the rear of the intake, cuz that'll run down your bellhousing and LOOK like a rear main. Pan gasket? Valve covers? Do yourself a favor and start with the easy crap first.
And YES, I mean 45* on the seams. Kind of a PITA, but it's worth it. Have to pay CLOSE attention during assembly.
