Oil Pan Gasket

[NBM-WU8]

This may be a dumb question and it may have been covered before but I didn't find anything when I did a search. We are approaching putting a new LS376/515 crate engine in our 88 Monte SS, but first we have to switch out the oil pan to the Holley pan that we picked up.

So, is it necessary/smart to change the pan gasket even though the motor hasn't been run yet? Gut feeling says do it anyways, saving the headache of having to pull the motor back out if it does end up leaking.

What do you say LS gurus??

[phasemaster1]

I pulled my oil pan off my truck at 50,000 miles and now Im at just over 100,000 mile no leaks same gasket. Wish they were cheaper $50 for a gasket sucks.

[billyrb]

I try to change them any time a pan comes off. But, what you can do is use Permatex 300 Gasket maker and brush it on the engine surface, and let it tack up. Then, install the gasket over it, and add a little more Permatex 300 to the pan, then put them together and tighten. That should ensure not a single leak will happen.

[Taylor1969]

I didn't... drilled out the rivets, put it on my new pan and riveted back on. This is the beauty of O-ring style gaskets.

Not any leaks on my build.

Chris