Have a couple of questions

[bob_robert]

I am finishing up a few repairs on a 1978 Vette I recently bought. I need to replace the oil pan gasket on the engine which is a 400 CI block and am going with a one piece Fel-Pro gasket.

The block is date coded as being built in 1974. The gaskets are listed as 1957-1974 use a "Thin Front" or 1975-1979 use a "Thick Front". I'm assuming that the design of the oil pan is the reason, not the block. Also if I go to an aftermarket pan then I should use the "Thick Front" as the pans are listed as 1955 - 1979. Am I correct with both statements?

How hard is it to change the the rubber gas hose between the tank sending unit and the steel gas line. Can you fit your hand in the space between the tank and body to remove and install the hose clamps without having to drop the gas tank.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[JohnZ]

Production and service oil pans through 1974 used the "thin" front seal; production pans beginning in 1975 and service pans manufactured after 1975 (for ANY application) used the "thick" front seal. The service pans manufactured after 1975 for pre-1975 applications that originally used the "thin" front seal were packaged with a gasket set that included the "thick" front seal. The blocks and lower portion of the timing covers are all the same - the only difference is in the pan seal radius.

 

[GerryLP]

.... How hard is it to change the the rubber gas hose between the tank sending unit and the steel gas line. Can you fit your hand in the space between the tank and body to remove and install the hose clamps without having to drop the gas tank.

Thanks in advance for your help.

When I attempted to do that very same task I had a hard time manuvering my own hand trying to rotate the hose and break the seal that formed from 20 years of clamp pressure and reshaping of the hose. I ended-up lowering the tank, but my reward was really gratifying when I ended-up recovering nearly 90% of my build sheet, so I didn't mind the extra work.

GerryLP:cool