4x4 oil pan removal help

bobditts · 06-17-2009, 08:21 PM

1986 2.8L 4x4

currently removed from the vehicle:

transmission
exhaust
transfer case
flywheel
oil pan bolts

The oil pan is free from the engine, but I cant slide it out with the front differential in the way. What is the easiest way to remove the pan? With most of the drive train already removed, would it be easiest to jack the engine up just enough to slide the pan out, or should I work on dropping the front diff? I have no experience doing either, so from a newbs point of view, what is the easiest? Is there another way Im not seeing?

835speeds10 · 06-18-2009, 06:25 AM

probably drop the front diff would be the best way,why u pulling the oil pan anyway?

bobditts · 06-18-2009, 07:36 AM

also forgot to mention the crossmembers are both out as well. Replacing the oil pan for 2 reasons - 1. it leaks a little, and 2. I damaged it while replacing the transmission

Tim99Zr2 · 06-18-2009, 08:36 AM

pull the motor up, its 2 bolts.

the diff is like 4, and its a bitch to get back in

leprechaun1874 · 06-18-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tim99Zr2

pull the motor up, its 2 bolts.

the diff is like 4, and its a bitch to get back in

This is the "easiset" way to do it.

34blazer · 06-18-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by leprechaun1874

This is the "easiset" way to do it.

maybe not, the body may need to be lifted too if the engine needs to be lifted more than 4 inches. in my experience, the engine had to be lifted almost 10 inches for the pan to clear

bobditts · 06-18-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 34blazer

maybe not, the body may need to be lifted too if the engine needs to be lifted more than 4 inches. in my experience, the engine had to be lifted almost 10 inches for the pan to clear

well I took the flywheel off, and the body is already lifted 2" (forgot to mention that). I dont see anything that could hit the body now.

chattinfarms · 06-18-2009, 11:04 PM

U have to drop the front axle it's the easiest and best way to do it

bobditts · 06-18-2009, 11:57 PM

I dont have a solid front axle. I have a differential with 2 seperate axle shafts for each wheel. Typical standard 2.8L 4x4.

How does one go about lowering the front diff without removing it completely?

chattinfarms · 06-19-2009, 10:33 PM

Jack up the front and put on jack stands take the 4 bolts out and let the axle lay down and if I remember right the pan should come right out

bobditts · 06-20-2009, 09:53 AM

tried to remove the 2 bolts on the passenger side that hold the axle shaft to the frame. It is impossible to access the back side of the front most bolt. Ended up getting pissed and stopping.

big gear head · 06-26-2009, 07:37 PM

I droped the pan off of mine by just removing the front differential, starter and the dust cover on the bellhousing. I didn't have to remove anything else. When the differential was out of the way I had complete access to the pan. The differential is a pain to get out and you have to disconnect the drag link and push it out of the way. You also have to remove the 6 bolts that hold the axle shafts to the stubs. I ended up removing the right axle tube so that the differential case would come out easier. The bolts that hold the case in are hard to get out and the brackets are in the way when you get the bolts out. If you already have everything else out of the truck then lifting the engine might be easier. Do you have the exhaust disconnected already?

bobditts · 06-26-2009, 07:51 PM

i tried dropping the diff but it didnt drop down low enough. Ended up just pulling the engine out completely.

1fast4by · 06-26-2009, 07:58 PM

HAHA Damn! Its not that bad. Well, while its out......

big gear head · 06-26-2009, 11:59 PM

It sure looks like a big mess in there when you get the engine out, doesn't it? I've had mine out a few times and it looks like it will never go back in. I've got to put a clutch in mine now, and I don't like pulling the transmission out. The transfer case shifter, linkage, rubber boots and all of that crap is a real pain. I'd rather pull the front differential than to pull the transmission. I hope you get all of that put back together.

06-17-2009, 08:21 PM	#1
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	4x4 oil pan removal help 1986 2.8L 4x4 currently removed from the vehicle: transmission exhaust transfer case flywheel oil pan bolts The oil pan is free from the engine, but I cant slide it out with the front differential in the way. What is the easiest way to remove the pan? With most of the drive train already removed, would it be easiest to jack the engine up just enough to slide the pan out, or should I work on dropping the front diff? I have no experience doing either, so from a newbs point of view, what is the easiest? Is there another way Im not seeing?
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06-18-2009, 06:25 AM	#2
835speeds10 Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help probably drop the front diff would be the best way,why u pulling the oil pan anyway?
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06-18-2009, 07:36 AM	#3
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help also forgot to mention the crossmembers are both out as well. Replacing the oil pan for 2 reasons - 1. it leaks a little, and 2. I damaged it while replacing the transmission
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06-18-2009, 08:36 AM	#4
Tim99Zr2 Fvck New Jersey Age: 21 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,952 Location: Reynoldsville, PA User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help pull the motor up, its 2 bolts. the diff is like 4, and its a bitch to get back in
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06-18-2009, 09:03 AM	#5
leprechaun1874 Needs a 3.4 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,447 Location: Charlotte User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help Quote: Originally Posted by Tim99Zr2 pull the motor up, its 2 bolts. the diff is like 4, and its a bitch to get back in This is the "easiset" way to do it.
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06-18-2009, 12:06 PM	#6
34blazer Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 640 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help Quote: Originally Posted by leprechaun1874 This is the "easiset" way to do it. maybe not, the body may need to be lifted too if the engine needs to be lifted more than 4 inches. in my experience, the engine had to be lifted almost 10 inches for the pan to clear
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06-18-2009, 04:24 PM	#7
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help Quote: Originally Posted by 34blazer maybe not, the body may need to be lifted too if the engine needs to be lifted more than 4 inches. in my experience, the engine had to be lifted almost 10 inches for the pan to clear well I took the flywheel off, and the body is already lifted 2" (forgot to mention that). I dont see anything that could hit the body now.
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06-18-2009, 11:04 PM	#8
chattinfarms 6" from hell Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 125 Location: vincennes,In User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help U have to drop the front axle it's the easiest and best way to do it
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06-18-2009, 11:57 PM	#9
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help I dont have a solid front axle. I have a differential with 2 seperate axle shafts for each wheel. Typical standard 2.8L 4x4. How does one go about lowering the front diff without removing it completely?
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06-19-2009, 10:33 PM	#10
chattinfarms 6" from hell Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 125 Location: vincennes,In User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help Jack up the front and put on jack stands take the 4 bolts out and let the axle lay down and if I remember right the pan should come right out
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06-20-2009, 09:53 AM	#11
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help tried to remove the 2 bolts on the passenger side that hold the axle shaft to the frame. It is impossible to access the back side of the front most bolt. Ended up getting pissed and stopping.
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06-26-2009, 07:37 PM	#12
big gear head Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 472 Location: Central City, KY User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help I droped the pan off of mine by just removing the front differential, starter and the dust cover on the bellhousing. I didn't have to remove anything else. When the differential was out of the way I had complete access to the pan. The differential is a pain to get out and you have to disconnect the drag link and push it out of the way. You also have to remove the 6 bolts that hold the axle shafts to the stubs. I ended up removing the right axle tube so that the differential case would come out easier. The bolts that hold the case in are hard to get out and the brackets are in the way when you get the bolts out. If you already have everything else out of the truck then lifting the engine might be easier. Do you have the exhaust disconnected already? Last edited by big gear head : 06-26-2009 at 07:38 PM.
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06-26-2009, 07:51 PM	#13
bobditts banned Age: 26 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,150 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help i tried dropping the diff but it didnt drop down low enough. Ended up just pulling the engine out completely. Last edited by bobditts : 06-26-2009 at 07:53 PM.
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06-26-2009, 07:58 PM	#14
1fast4by I'll need human lives... Age: 26 Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 10,379 Location: Green Hills/Nashville User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help HAHA Damn! Its not that bad. Well, while its out......
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06-26-2009, 11:59 PM	#15
big gear head Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 472 Location: Central City, KY User is: OffLine	Re: 4x4 oil pan removal help It sure looks like a big mess in there when you get the engine out, doesn't it? I've had mine out a few times and it looks like it will never go back in. I've got to put a clutch in mine now, and I don't like pulling the transmission out. The transfer case shifter, linkage, rubber boots and all of that crap is a real pain. I'd rather pull the front differential than to pull the transmission. I hope you get all of that put back together.
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