You can try just putting the piece of gasket back, or just using RTV, and see if it works. You don't have to pull the cover again to replace the pan gasket, if it comes to that.

 

I would replace the oil pan gasket, thing is if you do that you might as well install a new oil pump and pick up tube at the same time. I would think about 2hrs more work.

 

Not being a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, 2 hrs. of work = saturday afternoon. I guess I'll take the shortcut, get the truck running, and plan on gasket and pump next weekend when I could put it on ramps. What should I expect that to lead to?

 

I don't like ramps. At all. Don't care what they are rated for either. On my truck, I didn't need to raise it up at all to be able to work on it comfortably. (mine sits a little higher than yours though....)

Oil pan/pump really isn't that bad. You can look forward to getting a bath in oil though. Doesn't matter how long you let it sit and drain, it will 'hold on' to a couple drops of oil just for you. (and make its best attempt to drop them in some strategic place, like, your eye, or mouth...... or maybe just in your mustache so you smell it for the next week..... not as bad as gear lube at least....) Bear in mind, when you pull the pump, there WILL be some oil above it, that will happily come rushing out on you when you break that seal. (go ahead, ask me how I know..... I dare ya.....) Make sure to prime the new pump before you install it.

 

I appreciate your concern. I'll also use jack stands. NASA would be proud of my redundancy in the safety dept.(I'm doing this in my driveway). As for the drippings, I wouldn't expect any less. 'stach, beard, ears, eyes,nose; at least it can't get in the hair on my head. Priming- haven't looked into that yet. What say you?

 

Basically, all it is is pouring some oil into the top of the pump....... I also turned the pump both directions, so the level went down. (oil got into the pump gears.) Topped it off again, and installed it.

 

To make installing the pan with the gasket on it easier. Use some fishing line through some of the holes, to hold the gasket in place. Put a few bolts in and cut the fishing line after you get the pan lined up.

 

HeyYou, Thanks, I'll likely start a start a new thread with all my issues on that project. Zman, ++ on the fishing line idea. That could be handy in alot of applications. In the 2.5 hrs. I had avail. today, I was able to get the TC cover on using mucho amounts of RTV to(hopefully) repair oil pan gasket, install WP, install vib.damp./harm. bal., replace thermostat (hope I never have to do that again...PTIA), reattach accessory rack and hoses. Still have to install drivebelt, fan, radiator, shroud. Should be a breeze. Once done, I'll make a short story long for anyone who would choose read.

 

UH OH! Got everything back in place, things seemed to be going swimmingly, pass. tire on ramp, truck purring, heater on, burping the system. Only held 3 gal., after 20 min. idling, running hot, no heat! WTH?! Any ideas?

 

Still got an air bubble. Keep burping.