OIL PAN Repair or replace...bucket of worms?

[dinosuperfino]

Two quick items... Im unfamiliar with how to post a picture. Please point me in the right direction or quick bullets would be great. Secondly our 1978 Fiat spider oil pan is not leaking however has been dented from previous owner like many spiders. Concluding that the car could be running low on oil reserve and proper cooling by almost a quart or more. After draining all the oil, and removing filter, I began to remove all the bolts from the oil pan , that went pretty good, then came the drop. It didn't even budge , I carefully tapped with a rubber mallet, and still nothing. Realizing I need a little more I gingerly tapped a putty knife @ the seal. After several minutes of tapping I decided to pause and began wondering ...do I really need to replace this seal on the oil pan. Yes its hard and should have been done but it doesn't leek currently am I opening a bucket of worms? Let me know your thoughts...Dino

[RRoller123]

Here is a thread on how to post pictures to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21014

Pete

[dinosuperfino]

Thankyou

[majicwrench]

Removing pan no fun. Is possible for dent in pan to damage oil pickup tube, which can lead to engine damage. If it doesn't leak now, I would be leaving alone. BUT if you have disturbed the seal, it may now leak if you just put er back together. So your call.
I'll let somebody else run you thru oil pan removal. No Fun.
Keith

[narfire]

Oil pan removal.... The oil pickup sits about 1/2 inch or less from the bottom of the pan. A pranged up front part of the pan can and will break the pickup off. You will notice then when going around corners or low oil, the oil light would come on.

To remove the pan, now that you have started, is a bit of a chore but doable. You will have to lift the engine to get clearance between the pan and the cross arm. Also likely have to drop one side of the steering arm. Loosen or take them right off, the engine mount nuts.
Jack the engine up at the tranny bell housing and then you might have enough room to drop the pan.
If the pan itself is not leaking, you should be able to bang the bends out. If there is a tight crease you might end up with a crack and will have to weld that up. Just test with water to make sure.
If the end of the pickup is broken off, you will either have to get another oil pump or if it is a clean break like one I replaced on a fellows car, then I had it tigged welded up by a very skilled fellow and it looks good.
Perhaps several hours to get it all changed around with a new pan gasket as well.
Chris

[dinosuperfino]

http://pinterest.com/pin/305400418451354948/

http://pinterest.com/pin/305400418451354948/

[dinosuperfino]

[dinosuperfino]

Great info...many thank you-s. It would be great if there was a business that let you rent a small auto shop space/stall for the day and week. Simular to a hotel. So that owners willing to get dirty could reserve the time on a power lift to do this kind of work perhaps even adding a tool library for those the DIY men and woman.

[4uall]

This might help

http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/2Loilpan.htm

[narfire]

It would be great if there was a business that let you rent a small auto shop space/stall for the day and week

I suspect there would be if there was not a threat of litigation if a workers hang-nail got dirty.

I thought of renting my wood shop out on the weekend to the later grade school kids with a supervisor, but the insurance and threat of law suits nixed that.

[dinosuperfino]

It would be great if there was a business that let you rent a small auto shop space/stall for the day and week

I suspect there would be if there was not a threat of litigation if a workers hang-nail got dirty.

I thought of renting my wood shop out on the weekend to the later grade school kids with a supervisor, but the insurance and threat of law suits nixed that.

True however extreme sports, special events, community racing, pony rides for birthdays, and even inflatable jumpy tent rental business' have this covered its a simple " signed waiver of liability "

[dinosuperfino]

[azruss]

I straightened my pan. Not a difficult job. just give yours a thorough check for cracks before you waste your time.

[seabeelt]

From your pictures, I would be inspecting my oil pump. That's a pretty hefty dent