Hello,

I recently had my truck in the shop for a few things, the rear main seal being one of them. The shop told me they weren't comfortable changing it as they didn't have enough experience and were worried they would do it wrong and the seal would fail, leak all the oil out and scrap the motor.

This is somewhat disappointing but at least the shop is honest.

I wouldn't mind trying this myself, but I'm trying to wrap my head around how to remove the oil pan. It seems the cradle is blocking access to the bolts.

In the service manual for the 1995 2WD 5.2L V8 it says:

1) Disconnect the negative cable from the battery
2) Remove engine oil dipstick.
3) Disconnect distributor cap and position away from cowl
4) Raise vehicle
5) Drain engine oil
6) Remove exhaust pipe
7) Loosen side engine mount bolts
8) Raise engine by way of oil pan using block of wood between the jack and the pan
9) When engine is high enough, place bolts (similar in size to the engine mount bolts) in the engine mount attaching points on the frame brackets
10) Lower engine so bottom of engine mounts rest on the replacement bolts placed in the engine mount frame brackets.
11) Remove oil-pan and one-piece gasket

I understand everything up until I get to 7-10. Are these the bolts that connect the engine mount bracket on the frame to the engine mount bracket on the motor? It there a step between 8 and 9 to remove these the bolts? Does anyone know the dimensions of the bolts?

Is the idea to pull the bolts out, jack up the motor and then drop the motor on the new bolts so as to not damage the real ones? Also, how do you access the engine mount bolt, from above or below?

Has someone done this procedure before and have photos?

Thanks!

 

I think the lower mounts are simply slotted, not holes, you you only have to loosen the bolts to raise the engine.

 

Ahh okay I see. So basically you loosen the bolts, raise the engine and then stick some similar sized bolts in the same slots and lower it onto them?

 

Yep, that's how I am reading it.

 

Are the motor mount bolts accessed from above or below?

 

Underneath. MUCH easier. (at least, on the full size trucks......)