SBC guys, has anyone used a 1 piece pan gasket?

Just wondering if they help on oil pan leaks? Are they worth the money? The next motor I'm building is gonna show oil bad if it leaks....gotta make sure it doesn't.

 

I use it, works great..as long as the rear main, timing cover or crank seal isnt leaking

 

The fel-pro retrofit? worth every penny, imho. comes with neat little plastic "guide studs" to hold it in place while you attach the provided bolts. Worked excellent on my last stroker motor, reused it 4 times when i kept changing cams (big, bigger, biggest, back to big)

 

I used one on my 327. It worked like a charm. One suggestion though, use the stud kit for the oil pan. It was kind of tough getting the gasket compressed and the bolts started right. The gasket has to compress more than a standard.

 

Some guys swear by them... some guys hate em... depends who you ask. Most of the problem with leaks on the pan comes from improper installation or ****py pan. (and by ****py pan I mean cheap chrome pan that was $25 at the last swap meet.)

As long as you don't overtorque the pan bolts a regular gasket should work good. The one piece gaskets I've seen have metal spacers in them so you can't overtorque them. If you think that might be a problem, go for the one piece.

 

I just used one in the SBC in my 55 Olds over the summer, loved the installation and loved the finished product. As far as Im concerned every SBC I do will get one.

 

Mines holding up just fine...

 

I love 'em.

 

they are definatly worth the money!

 

My $.02 about the Fel-Pro brand blue silicone 1-pc gaskets - I use them on every race engine I build as they can be re-used, have the positive stops to prevent overtorquing and pan damage, etc. If it was a show motor I'd probably use it, but for basic cheapie rebuilds I stick with the 4-pc setup - I can nearly get a rebuilder's gasket set with every gasket in the engine for just the price of that one gasket. Of course there are cheaper brands than FelPro and some chineese / tiwan knock-offs, just never used them so I can't comment on those.

 

I have used them on my last 2 engines with no probs.

 

I use them on every engine I can. So much easier, an I've had better luck with no leaks.

 

Sweet. I'm buying one.....

 

Never had a problem in my experience.

 

I've used them at the shop when i'm doing pan swaps in cars/trucks.
Hell of a lot easier than trying to get all 4 pieces to stay in place when your working upside down...
Never had one leak..
I've used them on a few 'new' motors i've built as well without any problems..
I like em.

 

I, like some of the others, have reused them....drop the pan.....put on another pan... ( cotton-pickin LOW 32 ) and have NO LEAKS......

 

I used one and it was ok but the cheap 4 piece work fine. Heres sum stuff to look foR. On the rear main seal use a good double lip seal I went to the local chevy dealer and got a good gm seal. On the timing cover stay away from that chineese front covers. They leak where the lower seal area is welded to the cover. Some jap stuff may be the same. You may think its the pan gasket like i did then i found the other ****. I finally got it all fixed up and ended the leaks. On my 32 with the crate motor I bought an aluminum pan and didnt like it so I changed to the stock pan and the new motors are set up for right or left dip sticks. I used 2 pan gasket sets cause i had em and trimmed one to work with the double stick style motor and no leaks. A little silicone helps too.
Dave