Oil Pan Removal Tips??

[alsgro]

Hey, all.

So I hit a pothole the other day... While I was attempting to fix it, my fuel pump ate itself. Cleaned the tank, and got the new pump installed. But... now I have to tackle replacing this oil pan.

Anyone have any tips besides the method detailed in this post from mirafiori? https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/2Loilpan.htm

Any help appreciated! Thx

[alsgro]

Also, as an aside, does anyone have thoughts on why the engine would be making an ever so light tapping towards the bottom end since that pothole? I figured it was because the pan got bent and something from the bottom end was now hitting something... But I've never been in there, so I don't know what could be hitting what! How terrified should I be on a scale of 1-10?

It didn't seem like all that hard an impact at the time... more just an angle thing, so that the pan took a bit a whack...

[msrichmond]

You might have whacked the oil pump.

https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/o ... 20Pump.htm

[MattVAS]

In 2.0 liter engines it is very common to break the neck off the oil pump when you smack the pan. If the dent is good enough it kind of holds the broken neck in place so it still "works" but it can rattle around and make some noise.

Pull the pan...
1. take the nuts off the bottom of the engine mounts (the ones inside the crossmemeber)
2. with a jack and a piece of wood jack up on the bottom of the pan until the engine mounts are about 1-1.5" off the crossmember
3. put shims under the engine mounts so that the engine is resting on the shims (pieces of wood or sockets work well for this)
4. pull the jack and now you can remove everything

Hope that helps

[zachmac]

The instructions you linked to are pretty much it. It is a messy job so not a bad idea to put a large drop cloth down to catch the oil you WILL spill. The only other thing you can do that helps a little is loosen (BUT DO NOT REMOVE) the bolts holding the cross member to the car. This can gain you about another 1/2 to 3/4 " of play room but if the bolts aren't clean I'd skip this. Don't forget there is the long bolt through the top of the cross member as well, not just the two on the bottom of either side.

Your hands will need to snake into the oily mess of a pan and work blind to unbolt the oil pump but that's the hardest part. Good luck!

[alsgro]

Thanks again, all! I'm getting parts together and gonna try this in the garage, maybe this weekend... Wish me luck!

[warrenrhen]

I've read the write up on removing the pan for my 79 124 spider. My question is; Do I have to remove my new autoricumbi headers to get the engine high enough to remove the pan?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Do I have to remove my new autoricumbi headers to get the engine high enough to remove the pan?

I don't know. But I do know that you need all the help you can get when you raise the engine enough to remove the oil pan, so having the headers not interfere would be part of that help. But, why not just unbolt the 5 bolts (or nuts on studs) holding the headers to the cylinder head, and pull the headers clear from the engine?

-Bryan

[warrenrhen]

[quote= why not just unbolt the 5 bolts (or nuts on studs) holding the headers to the cylinder head, and pull the headers clear from the engine?

-Bryan[/quote]
Duh. I guess because I'm just not thinking. Thanks