C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
I am looking for a reliable source for purchase of engine gaskets. I recently purchased an oil pan gasket set (with other parts) for my stock 5 qt pan from Paragon. Interesting in that the rear oil pan seal was to short to fit the pan. A call to a rep at Paragon provided no resolution. The rep indicated they had never heard of any issue with the gasket set. I doubt this if they provided the same gaskets to other with this configuration car. I have replaced these gaskets over the years in this and other small block Chevy's with no issue. I recently moved on from another parts supplier for similar issues hoping this issue with incorrect parts would disappear. No luck. any suggestions from your personnel experience appreciated.
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Richard------
I don't understand why there would have been a problem with the Paragon gasket set, either. This seems like something that would be hard to get wrong unless an incorrect rear gasket was somehow packaged in your particular set.
I recommend the use of a 1 piece gasket for the oil pan in order to reduce leaks. Use a Fel-Pro OS 34509T (blue) or a Mahle OS 32458 (gray-black). If you want to use a 4 piece set, you could use a Mahle OS 30568XTC.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Hi Joe. That my my impression that the wrong seal was put in the set. But the rep was not interested in hearing that. He indicated he had checked these out and no issue. So there is an issue admitting the wrong part was in the shipment. I guess that small part issues gets no attention. Appreciate your comments on the suggested gaskets. I have a number of sets (multiple piece) that I will use up but will pick up one of the 1 piece sets. I have not used those before. Although the other parts in the shipment were correct I am on the lookout for a new parts supplier.
Thanks again for the info
RichComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
I just received my Mahle one piece oil pan gasket today from Rock Auto. I ordered the Mahle set even though I could have purchased the Fel-Pro set from my local NAPA dealer but I wanted the black gasket, not the blue gasket Fel-Pro offers. I was disappointed to find that the Mahle gasket was also blue. The Mahle gasket was almost double the price of the Fel-Pro. I am going to use it because I am tired of waiting. Do you think a sealer is required for the rubber gasket installation?Comment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Perry------
That's very disappointing to me, too. Apparently, Mahle has started sourcing their one piece gaskets from Fel-Pro (Federal-Mogul). I got an AC air filter recently that was orange while the previous ones were black and gray. I know the black and gray were not manufactured by the AC Division of GM since that entity ceased to exist LONG before these filters were made. I wonder where the orange one came from, though?
RTV sealer is required only at the "corners" of the gasket. There should be instructions included with the gasket.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
There were no installation instructions what so ever. It came with new bolts and washers and 4 plastic installation guides. The new bolts are slightly longer than my originals. I am hoping to replace the new ones with the original ones after the pan is installed. We will see.Comment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Perry------
Was the gasket package factory-sealed? In any event, the Fel-Pro gasket does come with instructions.
You may be able to replace the longer bolts with the originals after installation. I was able to do so with the Fel-Pro gasket.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
The package was factory sealed. The cardboard packing showed Mexican heritage but the added sticker said made in Vietnam.Comment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Every step the manufacturing take away from the original manufacture allows new issues to creep into the product.
Color changes are just one of them. Sometimes we are lucky and they at least function even if they don't look correct.
I lost count of the simple stuff Corvette resellers have messed up on. Even stuff as simple as the Philips screws retaining the aluminum valve covers on arrived with an incorrect head type. Sent a Truss head screw and I required a Fillister head. They just didn't order the correct type from the manufacture. Likely had a new purchasing agent.
(I solved it by re-plating my originals)
I just purchased a new toilet that included the seat and the base gasket.
No way the bolts and fasteners for the seat could be used for the installation. Even the Manufacture's help line had no method to get to the source of the issue. They were however able to send me an identical replacement fastener set that didn't work either. I am confident every other unit going out the door has inculded the same useless parts as I received.
That said, it is amazing what we can sill get for our cars. Many of them are expensive but as good or better than the ones provided by GM.
So we slug along and problem solve till we get something that satisfies us and hopefully the judges too. Everyone of us that has completed or attempted to complete a TopFlight car has piles of unsatisfactory parts to prove it. You may be able to paint the gasket to cover the color. It is my understanding that would be correct.
Best of luck and hang in there.
RickComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Why not use the original type cork pan gaskets with rubber front and back seals? Fel Pro still makes a good set. The issue I see most often on these is the front seal; thin vs thick. Original pre-1972 pans used the thin front gasket. All later pans and all service replacement pans use the thick front rubber seal. Don't use a thin rubber seal on a replacement pan and goop it up with RTV to try and seal it, won't work. The cork sides and rear are all the same regardless and should fit. Sealant only required in corners where the rubber meets the cork and only a tiny amount. Use hi-tack to hold cork sides to pan rail. Fail to clean out all the old sealant and you will have a leak.Comment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
[QUOTE=Edward Dupere (60605);849868]Why not use the original type cork pan gaskets with rubber front and back seals? Fel Pro still makes a good set. The issue I see most often on these is the front seal; thin vs thick. Original pre-1972 pans used the thin front gasket. All later pans and all service replacement pans use the thick front rubber seal. Don't use a thin rubber seal on a replacement pan and goop it up with RTV to try and seal it, won't work. The cork sides and rear are all the same regardless and should fit. Sealant only required in corners where the rubber meets the cork and only a tiny amount. Use hi-tack to hold cork sides to pan rail. Fail to clean out all the old sealant and you will have a leak.[/QUOT
Edward------
The 1 piece gaskets seal better than the 4 piece set. In fact, that's exactly why GM went to the one piece style in 1986. The GM gasket for 1986-96 cannot be used on any 1957-79 Corvette, though, because it's designed for one piece main seal engines and right side dipstick.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
[QUOTE=Joe Lucia (12484);849872]Joe,
Yes, I agree that a lot of people like the one piece gasket, if the blue color doesn't bother them, they do work well. As I said, the old cork OEM type works great if properly installed with the right rubber end seals. I do a lot of rear main crank seals and use the Fel-pro cork gasket set on the pans and they don't leak.Comment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
[QUOTE=Edward Dupere (60605);849873]Edward------
If correctness is not an issue I don't see why the blue color of some 1 piece gaskets should bother anyone. If correctness is an issue, it should not bother them, either, because the edge of the original gaskets was painted with the engine. So, if a blue gasket is installed and subsequently painted engine color no one will know it's blue. Just like they would not know the original gasket was "cork-colored".
One of the things that causes leakage of the original type gaskets is the tendency of folks to over-torque the bolts. This can "squash" the cork gasket, cause it to break, and result in a leak. Another factor is folks failing to straighten the seal surface of the oil pan when it's removed and re-installed. The 1 piece gasket gets around a lot of this. It's less susceptible to damage from over torquing and less susceptible to leak if the oil pan gasket surface is not properly straightened.
Think of it this way: GM did not abandon the 4 piece gasket and go to the 1 piece for 1986+ engines because the 4 piece worked just as well.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 oil pan gaskets (340HP)
Hi Joe
I picked up the one piece Fel Pro OS34509T set ( from Advanced Auto) and noticed that there is no mention of this set fitting the 327 engine. It does indicated GMC car engines 302, 307, 350, and 400. Are these engines compatible for the 327 application? I have not opened the box to check for fit.
RichComment
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