I'm fairly sure that I have a leak coming from the oil pan on the 97 and was wondering how hard it actually is to drop it. I looked in the service manual and there seems to be a lot of extra steps like remove the A/C compressor, downpipe, and a couple other things but if I'm really going to replace the gasket and RTV everything I'd like to do the simple and dirty method if there is one Anyone have any input with doing this?

By the way, the best response to this question would be, "Pull it, buy L67, put it."

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

I think the cradle has to be dropped too. In reality it's not that hard, just a lot of work. At the pace we work at, it would probably take us a few weeks lol.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

You are going to have to drop the cradle or at least the two closest to the rear of the vehicle. That should give you access to the oil pan. Most of the oil leaks you are seeing are more than likely coming from a number of problem area with the age of hour vehicle.

If you decide to do the oil pan I would also take care of the rear main seal (biggest issue on our vehicles) and the timing cover gasket. In total it calls for about 9 hours of labor. But if you know what you are doing I would say you could accomplish this in under 6 hours.

Don't forget the vehicle will need to be aligned when you have completed the job.
-- Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:36 am --

It's a big job I said screw it and just coughed over the $$$ and had a shop do it while they were doing the trans install on my 97.

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1997 TGP

Slow6 pretty much summed it up. So let's just build the lady a nasty sounding l32 and drop it in.

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While you're at it, do an aluminum pan swap: General Info: Swap your steel oil pan for an aluminum one

FWiW, Replaced the oil pan on my 04 yesterday. Thanks to everyone who posted, reading the options helped a lot. Do search on here and internet, the path I took was from a 97-00 write-up, worked fine for me.

- car on jackstands
- disconnect battery
- remove wheels, oil filter and drain oil
- remove nuts on drivers side mount
- remove the four nuts on the pass side mount
- Put floor jack under transmission with piece of wood to distribute weight. jack to hold in place.
- remove the 5 bolts for the support bracket. Be prepared with anatomically impossible phrases for the third bolt on the back side. I had to remove the two AC compressor bolts to move it for one front bolt. Also, removed oil pressure sensor for more access.
- Remove bolts from upper mounts
- loosen rear cradle bolts to give a inch or so drop. I backed them out with impact then screwed back in a few turns
- jack motor up until you can remove brace and mount.
- remove starter
- drop pan
- drop windage tray

I thoroughly cleaned the surface's of the block and windage tray (both sides). I then put a bead of Toyota black chit (102 FIPG) followed instructions and bolted it all back together

- Then, my favorite line, simply reverse instructions for assm

just myself, careful pace, 5 hours. biggest time sink was the 5 mount bolts, in particular getting the back third one started.

BTW, I used a Dorman pan from Advance auto. I then coated the exterior with truck bed liner. It bolted up fine. That typed, I'd go with the spectra pan which is powder coated -and cheaper - I didn't see it when searching or I would have gone with it.

Yeah metal oil pan sound pretty bad. It was removed from Impala and already got some rusty spot.

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