My "new" 1989 Country Squire

[BlackVic_P71]

Now it has the "correct" spare


Sent from the crapper

[BlackVic_P71]

I cleaned up that ^ by making a piece to cover where the light goes.

I finally put the extra ash tray to good use, I changed the oil pan gasket over the weekend and put in an oil pressure gauge. I now have that and a volt gauge mounted to the ashtray.

It can still hold change and junk if I need it


This is how the dash looks at night(the gauges were in their temporary home, a Marauder gauge pod which actually almost fits)

[sly]

[BlackVic_P71]

Today I fixed the broken switch panel(thanks for the tip 87gtVIC) with some epoxy and studs.
I put in the new rear shocks and drop springs, I think I have to drop the front a bit more.
I used the TruCoils front springs listed in the suspension section and the front didn't drop that much so I may have to cut a bit.
I took off the hitch since after lowering the car it scraped on every driveway entrance and exit.

The car is now road trip ready aside from more cleaning tomorrow, I'll be going 3k+ in the next week.

[87gtVIC]

Where the hell you driving? Thats a lot of miles!

[BlackVic_P71]

Where the hell you driving? That's a lot of miles!

Halfway across the country then back, "Panther Nationals" in Branson, MO this will be my third year straight with a road trip like this(2012 Power Tour about 4k miles, 2013 also Panther Nationals in Branson).

[holyduke]

Thumbs up!

[BlackVic_P71]

Well, she made it

3000+ miles in 10 days.
When I changed the oil pan gasket, I noticed a large dent in the pan toward the rear and it is still leaking a bit(not as much as before but some, put in 1 quart during the trip) so I'm thinking the pan is distorted enough to have to be pulled and straightened or replaced.
Are all 5.0 oil pans the same shape or do I need one for a panther chassis?
Now with the idea of pulling the engine to do that, I go ahead and broaden the idea to putting in a different engine that I put together then drop in.
I just need a short block, I have the heads, intake, exhaust all sitting on a table.

[L1011tristar17]

How did you change the pan gasket? I've heard some people say that it can be done without pulling the engine. Is there enough room under the engine to slide the old one out and the new one in without jacking anything up?

[TecNickal]

Either yank the motor out, or you can remove the motor mount bolts and jack it up enough, then you can try to (I think) remove oil pump, then you have the clearance to pull the pan out. Cross member on frame is in the way and is not removeable.

[sly]

if the mounts are good, you can drop the pan and carefully snake the new gasket on... the trick is getting it down below the pickup to finish getting it on. you also have to hope that none of the old gasket falls in.

[gadget73]

You can do it, but for all the cussing and difficulty, and the likelihood of it leaking and having other things that need attention anyway, you may as well yank the motor. I would not do a pan gasket in the car. Besides, if its leaky enough to need changing, you really need to degrease the engine bay anyhow.

[BlackVic_P71]

How did you change the pan gasket? I've heard some people say that it can be done without pulling the engine. Is there enough room under the engine to slide the old one out and the new one in without jacking anything up?

The old gasket came off in one piece(I could see where it had been leaking) and the surface was clean, the new gasket went in fine.
The engine did not have to be lifted, unbolted, removed since there is enough room for a gasket to be put in.
I know the pan is damaged, are all 5.0 pans the same?

[sly]

I think all 5.0 panther and fox (Mustang, Mark VII) pans are the same. Truck pans are definitely different.