So I think I am about ready to button up the bottom end of the motor. Here's what I've done. I'm planning on finishing things up tomorrow night and putting the oil pan back on. Here's a list of what I did...can you see anything I missed?

1. Removed oil pan, cleaned it, had it burnished and took a shower with it after the burnishing. Thanks Stan, I found six glass beads that were stuck in corners. I then checked every nook and cranny with a light and mirror.

2. Removed oil level sender , cleaned off old gasket, cleaned sender, put on new gasket (spraying both sides with gasket sealer) and reinstalled on oil pan.

3. Removed oil pickup, cleaned and replaced seal and bolted back on.

4. Checked all conrod bearings (all were within tolerance with no wear patterns) lubed with Torco engine assembly lube and reinstalled with new conrod nuts.

5. Checked crank axial play with dial indicator (measured in the middle of the tolerance of a new bearing, 0.0071").

6. Tomorrow night I will spray the crank and internal parts with engine assembly lube, install my new silicone oil pan gasket (sprayed on both sides with gasket sealer) and bolt on my oil pan. I will then install my oil drain plug with a new aluminum seal ring.

 

I wouldn't bother with gasket sealer on the silicone pan gasket, it doesn't need it.

Is this motor in the car, or is it the block in your avatar?

 

Yup, as Rob says, don't bother putting anything on the silicone gasket for the pan, install it dry.

 

From your recent posts I'm guessing this is the engine on the stand in your avatar? If so, I would bolt the oil pan on loosely with a couple of bolts (to keep everything clean), then reassemble the rest of the engine. Then if (when?) you drop a washer down one of the drain holes or intake runners, it's not a major PITA to drop the pan and fish it out.

Putting the oil pan back on can be the last thing you do before you toss it back in the car.

 

Did you replace the "O" ring fro the oil pickup. I would guess that you did, but it never hurts to ask.

 

Thanks guys. My engine is the one in my avatar. I wanted to get the bottom end "sealed" up so I didn't have to worry about it any more. I appreciate the tips.

Rob/Sean - I will install the silicon gasket dry and just just attach the oil pan without torquing it down. This makes a lot of sense in case I need to get back in there.

John - I did replace the seal on the oil pickup. Thanks for asking.

It is engine night...let me see what I can get done. Woowho!!!