Replacing Oil Pan Seal

I need to drop the oil pan on my 51 xk120 roadster. Since I will have it off, anything I should do in addition to replacing the gasket and rope seal?? - thanks, Norm Larsen

Dear Sir, You could plastigage your bearings to see how worn they are. I was under mine tonight pulling the pistons. - E.W. Blake

thanks for the thought--i checked a few years ago=and a few hundred miles ago and all was well. - thanks, Norm Larsen

Unless you are seeing smoke from the breather pipe and your oil pressure is ok, there is no reason to check bearing and oil pump clearances. Did you just have oil leaks?? - Larry J

Yes, just a leak. When the oil gets hot the oil pres. drops to around 25. I think that is normal ?? or at least acceptable?? - regards, Norm

That is what my oil pressure drops to at idle. It runs at 45 to 50 otherwise. You can adjust the running pressure with the adjustment at the top of the oil filter housing. How are you comming with the engine? - Larry J, 660636

not too bad..i'm ready to put the oil pan back on. however, i have a concern. you may have the answer to this question. the front has a rope seal; it appears to be a tad larger than the groove. is it ok to have an overhang of material or should it be trimmed to the top of the pan. I think the old one had some material hanging on top of the groove. your thoughts?? - thanks, Norm

Having been there and done that, you now know why I have modified my pan and timing cover for the newer seals. You DO NOT want to trim off any more of that seal than you have to, BUT you can't let much of it hang over or you won't be able to tighten the front of the pan tight enough to prevent an oil leak. Look at the timing cover seal and see if there is any gap, or extra seal in it first, then cut the seal accordingly. There is a very good gasket sealer which you could put on the ends of the rope seal and the outer edge of the front of the pan and especially on the ends and lightly on the big cork seal at the back of the pan. It is Permatex Ultra Copper Hi Temp RTV Silicon Gasket. I have had great success with this. I am sure Wray, Bruce and others will have their tech tips. - Larry J, 660636

thanks for some great tips...i give it a try. - regards, norm 51 671085

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