Don't have to remove starter to get oil pan off?
#1
Don't have to remove starter to get oil pan off?
I have '96 2500 SLT Club Cab 4x4 short bed with the 360, window sticker says "4-speed HD transmission". Truck has towing package, 4.10 gears, factory trans cooler.
I'm embarking on the journey of oil pan gasket/rear main seal/oil pump replacement ahead of a plenum replacement and was just surveying the lay of the land under the oil pan before starting tomorrow. From what I can tell I don't see how come the starter/inspection cover needs to come off in order to drop the pan. It looks like the small bends in the inspection cover could be avoided by moving the oil pan just a 1/4" or so forward and the pan will come down in the back. The edge of the pan looks continuous and intact on the engine-side of the transmission, with no part of the cover covering the oil pan lip/flange. Am i missing something? One thing I thought of is most folks who have written up the real main seal/oil pan procedure here and on pavementsucks.com have a 1500, and not sure if they have the tow package or the "4-speed HD transmission." The "merry christmas" thread manual (2001 Ram, right?) also does not say you need to remove the starter to get the oil pan off.
I took these images, but I don't think you can see much:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4441a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4440a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4439a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4438a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4437a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4436a.jpg
Has anyone NOT had to pull the starter/inspection cover in order to drop the pan? Could it be the 2500 difference? I'm going to just try it of course but I'm dreading having to remove the starter - I can't even SEE the top bolt right now, and it looks hidden behind transmission cooler lines.
For those of you that have removed the starter to get the oil pan off, any pics? Or care to try your hand and a MS Paint sketch to see where the lip or whatever on the inspection plate hangs up the oil pan? I would appreciate it.
I'm embarking on the journey of oil pan gasket/rear main seal/oil pump replacement ahead of a plenum replacement and was just surveying the lay of the land under the oil pan before starting tomorrow. From what I can tell I don't see how come the starter/inspection cover needs to come off in order to drop the pan. It looks like the small bends in the inspection cover could be avoided by moving the oil pan just a 1/4" or so forward and the pan will come down in the back. The edge of the pan looks continuous and intact on the engine-side of the transmission, with no part of the cover covering the oil pan lip/flange. Am i missing something? One thing I thought of is most folks who have written up the real main seal/oil pan procedure here and on pavementsucks.com have a 1500, and not sure if they have the tow package or the "4-speed HD transmission." The "merry christmas" thread manual (2001 Ram, right?) also does not say you need to remove the starter to get the oil pan off.
I took these images, but I don't think you can see much:
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4441a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4440a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4439a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4438a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4437a.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s.../IMGP4436a.jpg
Has anyone NOT had to pull the starter/inspection cover in order to drop the pan? Could it be the 2500 difference? I'm going to just try it of course but I'm dreading having to remove the starter - I can't even SEE the top bolt right now, and it looks hidden behind transmission cooler lines.
For those of you that have removed the starter to get the oil pan off, any pics? Or care to try your hand and a MS Paint sketch to see where the lip or whatever on the inspection plate hangs up the oil pan? I would appreciate it.