Question on oil pan gasket and also trany input shaft bearing

[Gary L]

I'm going to be changing the clutch on my 76 2+2 and I'm considering other issues I'd like to possible have to fix.  I am going to have the rear main seal replaced and also the front seal on the trany.

But My first question is, can the engine oil pan gasket be changed with out pulling the engine? There doesn't look to be much clearance between the oil pan and the front cross member and I don't know how deep the oil sump is in the pan.

My other question is; when I change the clutch, if the input shaft bearing on the trany seems to be getting bad, can that be changed after pulling the input shatf cover (I'm going to be replacing that seal anyway) or does the the bell housing-to-trany gear box need to be pulled apart. It is difficult to tell from the manual I have.

Thanks

Gary

 

[siteunseen]

I've never done it but the oil pan can be removed without pulling the motor.  You jack up the front after unbolting the motor mounts I think.  There's a trick for the pick up tube workaround.  Maybe someone will chime in?  But it's out there, on the info web. 

[Mark Maras]

 IMO, if you're going to work on the trans, clutch and oil pan, pull the engine and trans as an assembly. By the time you remove everything underneath to pull the trans and loosen the motor mounts to fix the pan gasket. there isn't much more to do to pull the engine. I've done it both ways. I'd rather drop an engine and trans in from the top, than stuff a trans in from the bottom. In my younger days I could do either method easily. Not now though. If you do pull the trans only, be sure you have enough clearance under the car to allow the height of the bellhousing to clear the underside of the car. It's a common dilemma.

[heyitsrama]

The biggest issue that I had removing the oilpan from the block was that it was so old that it became mated to the block surface. I had to take like a thin metal scraper, (like when you have to take gum off under a desk ) and wedge it to pop the old one off.

I think pulling them out will be easier to service however.... unless there is limited access to tools..