This may sound elementary to most of you out there, but that'* why I am here.

My mechanic says my oil pan has a dent in it and that is where my 2-3 drips/night are coming from.
If I remove it, the edge should be straight and smooth right? A dent would be easily noticed?

How easy is it to remove/replace it?
How many bolts? what size?

torque wrench? what'* that?

yeah, the edge should be straight; a dent should be noticeable. it'* not very hard to replace it...i'm not sure how your SC motor is compared to my NA, but i'm guessing not much different, oil pan-wise. On mine, there'* about 20-25 (i think 20 exactly, but my memory sucks sometimes), and two of them are hidden behind a plastic guard that protects the flexplate/torque converter, which you have to remove two bolts from that. i want to say the bolts are 10mm, and you'll need a big extension to get the deeper ones.

a torque wrench is a ratchet that is designed to apply a set amount of force to certain bolts. basically, it clicks when the bolt is tightened to the amount of torque you set it to, so that you make sure it'* all the way tight and so you don't overtighten certain ones.

The only way it would leak is if it was dented at the gasket, and enough to cause separation of the gasket material from the pan/block.

If you replace it, you'll need a pan gasket. And, while you have it off, may as well replace the transmission filter if it hasn't been changed in a while.

the Pan is easy to get off, you just have to manuiver it around the windage tray and the oil pick up. Inspect the tope edge of the pan and make sure that you get off all the orignal gasket material off it. you can also get GM Gasket maker and put that around the Oil pan to stop some of the leaks

another option that is good is to get an Aluminium Oil Pan from a 2000+ Bonneville. It certanily would be better than the stamped steel pan that is on there now

The 2000+ pan is the same shape as the 98? hmm.
Do I spend the money on the torque wrench for this project, or just snug it up like I planned to do?
Quote:/another option that is good is to get an Aluminium Oil Pan from a 2000+ Bonneville. It certanily would be better than the stamped steel pan that is on there now"

Why is that true?

Thanks for not laughing

Ahhh...this topic screams my name.

The oil pan is held on by 20 bolts. All are easy to get to and remove. The gasket is a large piece of plastic aka composite that is part of the windage tray.

You MUST loosen the oil level sensor before startig the removal of the bolts. This is because the level sensor is above the windage tray. Your pan will come down w/o the windage tray because the tray is held on by the oil pick up tube. You must remove the tube to replace the oil pan windage tray/gasket. The only way around this is to have the engine out of the car.

In the gasket kit..you will find a gasket for the oil pickup tube.

Then you must put the gasket on before the oil pickup tube. It'* not as bad as it sounds...a second set of hands makes it many times easier.

The aluminum pan from a 2000+ appears as it will fit. you will need the 2000+ oil filter adapter as well.

BTW..if you hang in a couple days I can shoot some pics of the 00+ oil pan and if it fits in the subframe...

That is great....I need to wait until warmer weather anyways, then I will need to purchase an extra set of hands, a jack/lift, and jackstands, a torque wrench (if its recommended), an extension to reach the bolts and then the gasket kit.
How much is the average used oil pan?

After that, I will replace the radiator, but im sure I can search for a post on that subject.

awesome....I love this site.
I can ask elementary questions and not get sarcastic remarks.

My wife jokingly makes fun of the time I spend here. One day she will see how it'* saving us money.

The aluminum oil pan and oil filter adapter I picked up from Ed Morad.. I think around $65 for the combo.

A steel one..heck..local JY'* got tons..probably low cost, or Ed.

Ed is 216-798-6902

Can I pick the Oil pan filter adapter up at the J/Y with the aluminum oil pan? or do I get it from a parts store?