How straightforward is an oil pan gasket replacement?

[priapism]

Just drop, remove, replace, reinstall? Anything I'm missing?

[xwill112x]

on a m20 youll have to drop the subframe

[spaceshuttle]

I lifted the engine up a little with a jack and didn't have to drop the sub frame when I did it

[priapism]

^ tell me more...

[xwill112x]

^^ or that. either will ahve to be done. i tryed and tryed and couldnt get a pan on with out dropping the frame or raising the engine

[IRON-E]

on a m20 youll have to drop the subframe

If you remove the oil pump and drop the steering rack, you don't have to.

[e30huh]

If you remove the oil pump and drop the steering rack, you don't have to.

[E300000]

I lifted the engine up a few inches, dropped the steering rack and oil pump. Was still a bitch.

[xwill112x]

theres different way to do it...cool. subframe is still the easiest.

[spaceshuttle]

yes lift engine, drop the steering rack I was able to do mine without taking the pump out it took a little persuasion but not a lot.

[NC325iC]

i changed mine with the engine out and it was a pain in the ass. just saying

[stumble_t]

If you decide not to drop the subframe be sure to also order new oil pump shaft spacers, they will crumble when you look at them.
Getting the pump bolts back in while the pan is in place is a total sonofabitch by the way.
Also, make sure you disconnect the ground strap.

[Justin B]

If you get the engine high enough, you won't need to take the pump off. It is possible to weasel the back of the pan out under the pump pickup.

[new2e30s]

If you decide not to drop the subframe be sure to also order new oil pump shaft spacers, they will crumble when you look at them.
Getting the pump bolts back in while the pan is in place is a total sonofabitch by the way.
Also, make sure you disconnect the ground strap.

Is it really necessary to replace the spacers?

I ask because I destroyed them tonight and the parts stores are closed tomorrow (Sunday) and I don’t want to waste a day because of 2x $.15 spacers…

I read that the spacers are actually referred to as ‘stoppers’ and their primary function is to prevent the oil pump drive shaft from being pulled out of the oil pump (and subsequently dropped into the oil pan) when the distributor is removed. Obviously this is unwanted because then you would have to remove the oil pan to fix the drive shaft.

The M20’s distributor is driven directly from the camshaft and not a gear on the crank so I’m arguing that removing the distributor will not affect the oil pump drive shaft. Furthermore, if the M20 did have a geared distributor then the only time the stoppers would be necessary would be if you were removing the distributor.

It appears that the stoppers aid maintenance activities and have no impact on normal operation, i.e. driving, racing, etc. In the case of the M20, the stoppers appear completely superfluous.

Any other opinions?

Has anyone failed to replace the stoppers? If so, were there any negative consequences, normal operation, maintenance, or otherwise?

Thanks.