OK guys, I'm going nuts here. I'm trying to figure out how to change my oil pan gasket (f250 4X4 351 auto). According to the book I have to jack up the front of the motor to slide a 2X4 under the motor mounts...One little problem here: there is absolutely no way to get a jack on the front of the engine because there is a huge crossmember in the way. I don't think it would be a good idea to jack it up from the rear of the engine.

Can I just drop the pan a couple of inches and slide the new gasket underneath the oil pickup tube. That way I don't have to jack up the motor at all.

I can take pictures if needed.

Thanks for the insight,
Hunter

 

Remove the 2 nuts from the 2 engine mounts & jack it up by the harmonic balancer (the big pulley). Then drop the pan onto the x-mbr. At this point you have 2 options, and neither is much fun: 1) try to remove ALL of the old gasket & sealer from the block & pan before wrestling the new gasket under the pickup tube & into place, or 2) reach over the lip of the pan (broken wrists help), unbolt the pickup tube (2 small bolts & 1 large nut) to completely remove the pan & change the gasket; then put it back the same way.

I've tried both, and from now on, I'll pull the whole engine to do a pan gasket on a V8.