New one peice oil pan gasket?

[Dick G.]

In the rebuilding of my 65 corvette 327. My engine builder suggested using this new style (Felpro I believe) one piece oil pan gasket,(blue). Several problems arose after I saw it. It is thicker than the cork/rubber gasket. The original bolts may not be long enough initially to engage the threads. It comes with the next size longer bolts (wrong for judging). Can someone suggest what correct headed bolt will work in the next longer size? Maybe, after it is on for a while it will compress and allow changing back over to the old style, shorter bolt. I need 3 complete threads. Will a judge notice the somewhat thicker gasket? I hope to cover the blue with chevy orange paint. Not certain how well the paint will adhere to this gasket. It may be a type of silicone. Maybe I can find a primer that will help in this area. Has anyone used this gasket before. Please email me or respond with your opinions/experiences. Thanks Dick Gutman

[Joe R.]

Re: New one peice oil pan gasket?

Dick, it seems to me that the cure is worse than the disease. What's wrong with the stock pan gasket set? I have installed these many times and always had good results, if done right.

Joe #24865

[Michael M.]

Re: New one peice oil pan gasket?

I have used the Fel-pro one piece gasket on my 68 big block. It is great. Re-useable if I need it to be and best of all no leaks. The standard four piece gasket sets are prone to leaking especially at the corners at the front near the timing cover and at the rear near the rear main bearing cap. My Corvette is stored on a four post lift above my daily driver and although there are drip pans, I don't really need them anymore. The four piece gasket sets might seal properly initially but will eventually leak, at least in my experience. Take this from the perspective that I do not have my car judged, but I also had no trouble using the stock oil pan bolts.

[David B.]

New one piece oil pan gasket?

I concur with Michael's comments. I used the one-piece on a recent rebuild and it is much easier to deal with. I used the stock bolts with no problem. The orange paint will not stick well. I had to drop my pan after assembly, but before startup, and it did cause some paint to flake off. A simple touch up fixed that and nothing has come off since. Like Michael, I am not planning on judging. It might be a more serious matter for your situation. These gaskets don't leak and they have a provision to prevent overtighening which is nice also.