LIM, valve covers, oil pan & tranny fluid

**rossscrappy** · 11-12-2009

So i am off this next comming week for the whole week. I am planning on doing my LIM & valve cover gaskets and trany filter. I was kinda hoping i could also get around to doing the oil pan gasket also but i dont know the best route to get to the oil pan. The most logical way i was thinking was to get to it from underneath seeing as i dont have an engine hoist. What all is involved in getting to it? i dont care really how hard it is as i have the whole week off and it needs to be done oil pan is coated in oil everytime i change my oil and i clean it off every time so it is a significant ammount.

I am also getting a noise it seems like it is some where in my transmision when i am cruising and let off the gas completely then get back on the gas i can hear a clunk... my thoughts are that i am a little low on tranny fluid and it is the the torqconverter engaging and since i think i am low on fluid it makes it rougher? maybe it is a bad tranny mount? or i also remember reading some where that there is a selinoid in the trany maybe it is going bad? i have no clue about auto transmisions so any help is apperciated. thanks

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 11-12-2009

Oil pans a fun job Ive heard you can drop the cradle down a few inches and get it done ive heard others say you need to Drop the cradle all the way On gpona.com if your a member there they have GM service manual site may give you information your looking for

**TheOtherNick** · 11-12-2009

Un hook the dog bones support the engine from the top loosen lower engine mount drop cradle a few inches.

**rossscrappy** · 11-12-2009

I was thinking the only way i can think to support the engine for me is to hook a come along to the rafters in my shed and then to a chain on my block? where is the safest place to hook the chain to the block? i dont really want to remove the exaust. is there alot to droping the cradle ? do i have to mess with the axles or anything or is it just 4 bolts im assuming?

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 11-12-2009

Its a choir I dropped mine when i did my trans and it was a b!tch theres the trans mount and engine mount lower ball joints power steering cooller lines andrack and pinion bolts along with the sway bar Its not an easy task Hell after pulling my engine id almost say thats an easier way
as fars as suporting the engine theres lift brakets on the engine unles they have been removed

**OH4CompG** · 11-12-2009

Pshh, you don't have to drop the cradle. Unbolt dogbones, disconnect the u-brace that bolts to the block on both sides and to the engine mount (that is fun getting to those bolts), jack motor up using a piece of wood between the control arm and jack it up by the balancer, remove oil pan ;-)

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 11-12-2009

Nice good plan

**Zef_66** · 11-13-2009

Yeah, I have jacked the engine up and made a support of 4x4s. One runs from strut tower to strut tower. The other notched to sit on the first, and then sits on the front rad support. One eye bolt to the back lift bracket. One eye bolt to the front lift bracket. Then remove the jack and go to town on the oil pan.

But really, when I did mine, I didn't realize what a chore it would be. I think now I would rather pull the engine and put it on a stand to change the gaskets, then put the engine back in.

As for the clunk, I would rather think your engine mount/tranny mount is bad, or CV shaft. But you can always check your tranny fluid to see if it is low, as it only takes a couple seconds. So check it and see. But I would rather think something else is going on there.

Thread: LIM, valve covers, oil pan & tranny fluid

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