Oil pan dents/removal

[pauljdav]

Hi,

I have some dents on my oil pan. How big are too big of dents to worry about and how do you remove the oil pan? I removed the bolts and it is "stuck". Now the dents do not look so bad since it seems it may be a pain to remove. Lol.

Also, is it possible/recommended to pound out the dents once it is removed?

The engine is removed from vehicle already.

Thanks,
Paul

[manoa matt]

If the enigne is already removed, then the hard part is done. You might as well take it off to see if there are any issues inside the block. Stick a pry bar/screw driver/putty knive between the gasket and the pan or hit it with a rubber mallet. Pounding out the dents is easy, just try not to distort the flange that bolts to the block.

[narfire]

I heated the area that needed attention with a propane torch first. The dents seemed to come out easier after trying cold first. It was hard to get a hammer in there so I had a drift with a 1+ inch rounded end and tapped that or was it a large bolt turned upside down . A coat of primer and a couple of coats of flat black and good to go.