well my wife accidentally ran over something and now the pan is dented. I already replaced the transmission pan but was wondering how difficult the oil pan is to remove. Does someone have some detailed instructions on how it'* done?

come on people don't you wanna help a fellow bonneville owner work on his wife'* Pontiac? really guys I was wondering if it'* that difficult. I think all I have to do is move a few mounts and the lift motor and then I should have the room I need.

You'll need to either pull the engine or drop the subframe. The passenger side of the oil pan sits over the subframe (and i believe there'* also a motor mount in the way).

When you say dented, can you get a picture.

I thought GP'* of your year had an aluminum oil pan and therefore it would crack, not dent.

If you have the stamped steel...once you take it off...use a hammer and block of wood to reshape it.

Right on Boosty. That'* what I had to do to get the dent out of Black Betty'* pan. The old block of wood and hammer trick.

This is for a '99. I don't know how much difference there will be for a 2001.


Removal Procedure


* Tools Required
* J28467-90A Engine Support Adapters
* J28467-B Universal Engine Support Fixture
* J 36462-A Engine Support Adapter Leg Set




1. Disconnect the battery ground (negative) cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect/Connect Procedure in Starting and Charging.
2. Carefully disconnect the throttle body air inlet duct.
3. Remove the engine mount struts from the engine.
4. Remove the drive belt.
5. Install the J 28467-90A, the J 28467-B and the J 36462-A. Do not raise the engine. Refer to Engine Support Fixture.
6. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
7. Disconnect the three-way catalytic converter pipe from the right exhaust manifold. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement in Powertrain Management.
8. Remove the right front tire and wheel.
9. Remove the right engine splash shield. Refer to Splash Shield Replacement - Engine in Body Front End.
10. Drain the engine oil. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement
11. Remove the oil filter.
12. Remove the AC compressor bracket bolts. Reposition and secure the AC compressor.
13. Disconnect the power steering oil cooler pipe brackets from the frame.
14. Remove the engine mount bracket bolts from the engine. Refer to Engine Mount Bracket Replacement.
15. Remove the lower engine mount nuts. Refer to Engine Mount Replacement
16. Remove the torque converter cover. Refer to Torque Converter Cover Replacement in Transmission and Drivetrain.
17. Disconnect the oil level sensor wiring harness connector Notice: Remove the oil level sensor, located in the oil pan, before the oil pan is removed. The sensor may be damaged if the oil pan is removed first.
18. Remove the oil level sensor.
19. Lower the vehicle.
20. Use the J 28467-B in order to raise the engine for access.
21. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
22. Suitably support the frame. Loosen the left side frame bolts. Remove the right side frame bolts. Lower the frame for access.
23. Remove the engine mount and the engine mount bracket.
24. Remove the oil pan retaining bolts.
25. Lower the oil pan.
26. Remove the oil pan.
27. Remove the oil pump pipe and screen assembly and the oil pan gasket.
28. Clean the following parts:

o The oil pan flanges
o The oil pan rail
o The front cover
o The rear main bearing cap
o The threaded holes

Installation Procedure

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions. Notice: Install the oil level sensor, located in the oil pan, after the oil pan is installed. The sensor may be damaged if the oil level sensor is installed first.




1. Install the oil pan gasket and the oil pump pipe and screen assembly.
o Tighten the oil pump pipe and screen bolts to 15 Nm (11 ft. lbs.).
2. Install the oil pan.
3. Clean the oil pan bolts and apply one drop of thread lock compound GM P/N 12345382 or equivalent to the oil pan bolt threads. Important: Do not overtighten bolts or damage to the oil pan may occur, resulting in an oil leak.
4. Install the oil pan bolts.

o Tighten the oil pan bolts to 14 Nm (125 inch lbs.).

5. Place the engine mount bracket and the engine mount to the proper position. Install the engine mount bracket bolts to the engine. Refer to Engine( Mount Bracket Replacement
6. Install new right side frame bolts. Make sure the frame is suitably supported. Install new left side frame bolts.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Use the J 28467-B in order to lower the engine.
9. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
10. Install the lower engine mount nuts.

o Tighten the lower engine mount nuts to 47 Nm (35 ft. lbs.).

11. Install the oil level sensor.

o Tighten the oil level sensor to 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).

12. Connect the oil level sensor wiring harness connector.
13. Install the torque converter cover. Refer to Torque Converter Cover Replacement in Transmission and Drivetrain.
14. Connect the power steering oil cooler pipe brackets to the frame.
15. Install the A/C compressor bracket bolts. Refer to Compressor Replacement in Heating and Air Conditioning.
16. Install the new oil filter. Refer to Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement
17. Install the oil pan bolt.
18. Install the right engine splash shield. Refer to Splash Shield Replacement - Engine in Body Front End.
19. Install the right front tire and wheel.
20. Connect the three-way catalytic converter pipe to the right exhaust manifold. Refer to Catalytic Converter Replacement in Powertrain Management.
21. Lower the vehicle.
22. Remove the J 28467-B, the J 36462-A and the J 28467-90A.
23. Install the drive belt.
24. Install the engine mount struts to the engine.
25. Carefully install the throttle body air inlet duct.
26. Fill the crankcase with new engine oil.
27. Connect the battery ground (negative) cable. Refer to Battery Negative Cable Disconnect/Connect Procedure in Starting and Charging.
28. Inspect for the proper fluid levels.
29. Inspect for leaks.
30. Measure the wheel alignment. Refer to Wheel Alignment Specifications (Front Suspension) and Measuring Wheel Alignment in Wheel Alignment.

The previous post seems to remove some parts you don't need to -- drive belt? From what I remember when I did the transmission in the ex'* 97 GP GT, this was how I dropped the subframe (and gained access to the oil pan in the process, of course).

Support the engine from above.
Remove wheels
Disconnect both lower ball joints from the hubs.
Disconnect the rack from the subframe (should be two nuts 'n bolts holding the rack to the subframe, one on each side of the car).
Disconnect all motor mounts.
Disconnect any lines/wires connected to the subframe (on her 97 GT, there were the transmission cooler lines, power steering cooler lines, and a few clips holding wire loom in place).
Unbolt the subframe from the vehicle.

You may have to unbolt the passenger side mount bracket from the block to gain complete access to the oil pan.

I may be forgetting something in this simplified guide, but it'* far fewer steps than the GM suggested way of doing it. As a tech, you pick up on steps you don't need to do when performing a repair.

...is what he asked for, and is what he got. If while doing the work, he finds some unnecessary to do, that'* great. Your "simplified guide" is not what he asked for and may not go into the detail that he needs/wants.

Fair enough. Two guides are better than one?

FYI...I'm never buying one of these cars.

Procedure on a 97 bonne is (simplified BTW)
Crawl under..
Remove 20 or so bolts..
Clean surfaces..put in new gasket
Retorque