Oil pan removal

[Anselcop 0]

I'm a new owner to a 1949 Chieftain that the previous owner of 50 years took very good care of. How would I tell if I need to pull the oil pan to clean the sludge from the bottom of the oil pan and the pump screen?  Unfortunately the previous owner passed and I don't have any idea when or if the sludge has ever been cleaned......and, can the oil pan from a straight 6 be dropped with the engine still in the car?

[RussJagoau 12]

Howdy - yes you can drop the oil pan from the block with the engine in situ, as I have done on previous occasions. You may want to try draining the oil from the pan first then pour a ltr of diesel down the oil filler and see what comes out of the oil pan drain hole. Just be aware that early Pontiacs have the oil cleaner inside the oil pan  on the intake to the oil pump so dont start the engine to circulate the "flushing oil"otherwise you may well stir up and deposit a heap of unwanted debris in the oil cleaner. For what its worth for an oil pan gasket  and a few hours labor, its good insurance  to pull the oil pan and the oil cleaner and clean out the 50 odd years of accumulated gunge, as from what I have seen most of these era vehicles havent used detergent oils and  the gunge build up can be extensive. 

 

[Anselcop 0]

I think I will take your advice and drop the pan and see what treasures I can find hiding in the bottom of it....thanks!

[RussJagoau 12]

Thanks - pls let us know what you find and even a pic or two of the treasures hidden away in there  

[GARY F 208]

so what did you find in the pan?

[Anselcop 0]

A few other projects got in the way; such as a leaking master cylinder and wheel cylinders. So, I'm replacing most of the braking parts over the next few weeks