At 84k miles, I recently did the valve cover gaskets, on 97 PA 3800 series 2.
It looks like some oil drops are still present indicating the oil pan wet/ gasket is next. I found this link:
http://www.justanswer.com/buick/46pl...an-gasket.html
Looks straight forward. Since the pan will be off, for those that have done this job, will interior cleaning of pick up screen and pan be necessary? IS there any magnet in pan?
Any other parts that should be replaced beside gasket while in there?
About an hour to do?
Any tips tricks, or input to this job appreciated!

Drain the oil.
remove the oil level sensor, big plastic thing on the front.
remove the bolts, lower the pan.

Clean out the pan good, look for any thing that shouldn't be there.
The drain plug has a magnet on it.

Thanks Dan. If I find any dagger like sharp metals, I'll know you were in there.,,LOL
Does it matter which gasket to use GM or Felpro or?

The rubber black gasket. Not the cork kind.

I just did mine yesterday. First time I've been under the Park Ave (1999 Ultra).
It was recommended to use GM Part #12587964 or, FEL-PRO Part # OS30767R. I bought the Fel-Pro from Rock Auto (they're about $40 locally).

Not a big deal of a job. Drain oil, remove oil filter, remove oil level sensor. Remove plastic flywheel shield (two 10mm screws).

Drop the pan (20.. count 'em, 20.. 3/8" bolts). The old gasket must stay in place on the engine when the pan comes off, because you have to remove the oil pickup tube and screen before the gasket will come off. The hardest part for me was separating the gasket from the pan. I used a thin blade putty knife.

Put 2 pan bolts back in to hold the gasket up temporarilly. Remove Oil pickup tube (2 small bolts, 5/16" I think), then the gasket finally comes out.

The Fel-Pro kit comes with a new oil pickup tube gasket - good thing, 'cuz mine needed major scraping to remove it.

Haven't driven much yet, but it appears to be dry. Might wanna take the oil level sensor to your local hardware store for a new o-ring. I reused the old one and I hope I don't regret that.

If you remove the oil pick up tube, be sure to crank the engine a bit before starting it to make sure the oil pump is primed.

I am considering changing mine after the Intake changes at 118k. Do you think it is necessary? I was on the verge of gasket failure internal to the engine, but most of my seepage was outside and down the block. There were no signs of antifreeze in the engine topside. I intend to change the oil and filter before I crank it over, but read somewhere that for 10 bucks this was like insurance, because of the way oil and antifreeze/water seperate. Did you find a lot of crud and sludge in your oil pan? Curious!

$40? Jesus. My oil pan gasket is only $12 at O'Reilly

02 PA depends on if it'* the aluminum pan or steel.

Aluminum pan is a little more work to do the pan gasket because you support the engine from above while you remove the structural pan that usually has a mount as part of it. Although it'* nicer replacement than the steel pan gasket. Then you need to know if it has a gasket or if the pan is sealed to the engine. GM did both with aluminum pans.

On the steel pan, the windage tray is part of the gasket. This can make pulling the pickup tube necessary. Although PA may have enough room to wiggle the gasket off. Bonneville'* dont'.

My 99 PAU has the steel pan, and the gasket is this big plastic thing. Yes, they are $40.

I didn't find any sludge to speak of in the pan, I was very impressed at how clean it was. But the previous owner was as about oil changes as I am.