changing the oil pan gasket?

[Chevyguy]

I tried to change my gasket by jacking up the engine with the motor mounts disconnected. My Chilton manual claimed this would work. I could not get the engine up high enough to get the pan clear of the K member. The pan would get stuck between the K member and the motor plate (the thin metal plate between the bellhousing and motor).

I was able to change the pan successfully in my Chevelle this way. Also only jack the motor from the center of the oilpan. I used a block of wood between the jack and pan. The block needs to be somewhat wider then the pan to work, this spreads out the force. Did not put the slightest dent or scratch on the pan.

As a last resort before wheeling over the engine hoist, I slipped in the gasket and bolted the pan back up. I had the new Felpro one piece gasket with the 4 plactic screw in tabs. This allowed me to snap the gasket in place, then push up the pan, clicked into place, even the metal side rail braces too. Of course what saved my *** was the old gasket was a one piece too, and it came out in one piece, very ugly floppy and torn, but one piece.

Not my idea of fun , but neither is a massive oil leak.