OK. So I bought my truck dirt cheap. Dragged it home on a trailer, and replaced the leaky head gasket (which looked brand new). I _think_ the previous owner had tried to install the rebuilt head himself (no problem) but no compressor (or taps), and I _think_ he had hydraulic lock on the last head bolt on the passenger side... All the evidence of leak was there, and when I pulled the bolt out, the hole was full of oil... No head damage I can find, and no block damage I can find.

My question...

Top end is back together. I was planning to drop the oil pan to check the bearings on the crank/rods (oil very contaminated with coolant). Looking at the oil pan, I'm not sure I can get it out and back again without dropping the axle. Just wondering if anybody has done this (removed oil pan without any other parts removal), or has tips, or should I just drive the freaking thing till it breaks?

On an 87 4X4 pickup...

BTW, I picked up an 85 22re engine for $100 that I was planning to rebuild. I'm wondering if I should do this, and drive the existing one till then... Hence the "drive it till it breaks, or fix it now" part of the question. Re-build (realistically) probably about a year away...

Thanks

 

i don't have that year but i think you have to unbolt motor mounts and raise the engine up, you might try to use the search feature.

 

agreed... I tried this method and didn't work. You will need to raise the engine slightly.

 

I wouldnt raise it, just undo the 3 bolts that hold the front diff up.
i did it when i did my tchain and it wasnt that hard/bad.