1994 S10 4wd 4.3l removing oil pan

[rule62]

I am not a mechanic but I am too cheap to have it done.
My S10 overheated and now I have peanut butter for oil- mixture of oil and antifreeze.

I have been tearing it down and my next piece is to remove the oil pan. In the chilton book it says I need to take off the exhaust - is it really necessary?

I may not be a mechanic, but I am really getting to know my truck and I like it alot...working on it that is. I ***** about it so my wife thiks its a burden....

so any help on how to remove the oil pan - or any other tidbits about me getting it down to the head would be appreciated.

thaknks

[The Enemy]

first off... in truck or out?

Lee

[Tink]

Well, the only way I've done it on a 4wd gen 1 is to drop the front diff... never had to touch the exhaust. Unforunately the front diff is heavy and a huge PITA - you'll have to remove the steering box and linkage/tie rods to get it out. Getting it back in - having 2 people helps... one to jack it up and the other finagles it in place.

[dt4ts3]

Probably "easier" to pull the engine.

[The Enemy]

i'd yank the engine.. but thats what i do

[Tink]

We've pulled the motor from our 91 4wd Blazer, and I'd say dropping the front diff is much easier! Besides, we had to drop it to get the motor out....

[s10shop]

I don't know how much tighter a 1st gen is, but when I pull an engine on a 2nd gen I just unbolt the front diff from the mounts and it will move enough to let the engine by without having to drop the diff right out.

[dt4ts3]

We've pulled the motor from our 91 4wd Blazer, and I'd say dropping the front diff is much easier! Besides, we had to drop it to get the motor out....
WHAT!?!?! That stinks!:confused: You don't have that problem on the BAJA I bet.

[rule62]

thanks for all the feedback - It is a truck I am working on.

Holy cow! I am in way over my head. Drop the engine? Pull the front diff?

Last night I removed the left side rocker arms - I am having trouble busting the nut on the header(s) - I think I need to get that off before I can remove the cylindar head. I also need another tool : - valve spring compressor to remove the valve train components which will then allow me to get to the head and check if it is cracked or warped. At least that is what I think I need to do.

The manuals I have are not too great, they only show the vortec 4.3L I am working on minimally.
I am determined - it may never run again, but I will know the soul of this truck before I am done.
I am limited because my garage is not really equipt to handle dropping the engine.
I really do appreciate the feeedback. I just needed to vent on line.

Maybe have you all vote - should I have it towed someplace or continue on my own. My knowledge of working on vehicles is sub-par. I am mostly relying on the Chilton and a firend that comes over and says "take this off next and then this...."

[rule62]

I also had a question about my starter. This is W series 4.3 vortec. There is a wire that goes from my starter to the alternator, it looks after market and I'm not sure if it's even necessary.

[1993blazerlt]

i have never had to pull the front diff to get the motor out. I can pull the motor faster than the front diff in a 1st gen blazer

[dt4ts3]

That diffy looks like a bundle of work. Pulling engines is theraputic in a strange way.

[The Enemy]

Pulling engines is theraputic in a strange way.

Agreed. I pull engines whenever i can. Havent done one this week, but will next week. Pulled the Deluxe engine, pulled the silver engine, but the engine in the 4x4, its been in and out so many times, the engine is put in with wing nuts!

Lee

[Tink]

i have never had to pull the front diff to get the motor out. I can pull the motor faster than the front diff in a 1st gen blazer

I take it you lift the body then? And disconnect the motor and tranny? We pulled everything together...


I still think it is easier to drop that front diff... probably take 4 hours. I can completely change a CV shafts in an hour though (with air tools) - done too many of them. With the front diff, you just remove the shocks, tie-rods and center link, CV shafts and driveshaft, then seperate the two halves of the diff and drop it... The biggest PITA with the front diff is getting it back in. Getting it out is easy. We've probably done it 4 or 5 times.

I'm just thinking of all the stuff you have to disconnect and remove to take a motor out... besides if you don't have an engine hoist or engine stand... For the 'backyard' mechanic w/o all that, dropping the front diff is probably the way to go...


Anyhow rule62, I think you should do the work yourself... especially if you don't rely on it... what the heck, you can learn something, right? Much more rewarding that way... shoot, if you lived close by, I'd come out and help you with it.

[s10shop]

... shoot, if you lived close by, I'd come out and help you with it.

I'll move closer if you're looking for projects to work on!!!! :p LOL