my 1993 f-150 has developed a pin hole oil leak i the pan. can this be spot welded or do i have to replace the pan? if i replace the pan, should i replace anything else besides the gasket?

 

You could drain it and TIG up the hole if it's far enough from anything vital, but I suspect it's a losing battle. There's other weak spots just waiting to bite you. If it were mine, I'd probably end up pulling it and replacing it with something nice from Canton

While you've got the pan off, inspect and clean the pump strainer. Replace if required.

 

i know i need to raise the engine for the pan to clear the frame. is there a way to do this from underneath the truck, or do i need to use a engine hoist?

 

You can jack it from a motor mount as I recall and use some 2x4s to shim it. If you're pulling the pan, I'd probably do a new oil pump too.