SBC 1 piece oil pan gaskets, yea or nay

[pagrunt]

Getting ready to put the crank & pistons back in the block & want some input on using a 1 piece pan gasket. Just looking to see if one is worth the extra money for a street engine. I would believe it would be the best way to go, limit future oil leaks, & make it easier if I gotta pull the pan

 

[pontiacgp]

I used a one piece gasket and had no leaks. I used studs instead of bolts so if I had to pull the pan with the engine installed it would be easier to put the gasket and pan back on. Turned out I had to remove the pan to change the oil pump and I was glad that I had used the studs cause they made the job alot easier.

 

[ldr]

They work well, I put a small amount of Permatex aviation gasket sealer in the corners on the block and the pan side. Should be a nice leak free install.

 

[pagrunt]

Whose gasket & did it come with the upper half of the rear main?

 

[pontiacgp]

mine was felpro, I'm not sure what you mean by the upper half of the rear main...

 

[Texas82GP]

I have a brand new crate engine. I pulled the pan and replaced the four piece gasket with a one piece. I hate leaks. I used a little RTV in the 'corners' where the pan rail of the block meets the timing cover in the front and where it meets the rear main cap at the back. The engine is still sitting on the stand though.

 

[pagrunt]

The half that goes between the crank & block. I have a 2 piece rear main.

 

[ldr]

I used a one piece gasket and had no leaks. I used studs instead of bolts so if I had to pull the pan with the engine installed it would be easier to put the gasket and pan back on. Turned out I had to remove the pan to change the oil pump and I was glad that I had used the studs cause they made the job alot easier.

Felpro use to include 4 alignment guides that screwed in the block, then you could put the gasket and pan up and they would hold in all in align. That left both hands free to start bolts.

 

[Texas82GP]

Neither half of the rear main seal was included with the gasket I bought. I think the one I bought was Milodon.

 

[81Regal]

The half that goes between the crank & block. I have a 2 piece rear main.

The rear main is a seperate seal from the pan gasket. I use the felpro one piece pan gasket with a bit of rtv in the corners like others have said.