i had my engine out and did a full build on it, i had a dent in the pan so i hammered it out, got the engine all broke in and went to drain the oil, and now the plug just spinnsaparently i busted the nut loose in the pan, i was able to get it loose enough to eventually drain all the oil out, and tightened back up, but now it leaks, questions are... will the pan come out without lifting the engine up? and does anyone have an oil pan off that can measure the OD of the nut in the pan for the plug, i was thinking i might beable to drill a couple holes in the botton and tack weld the nut back down without pulling the pan

 

iirc you cannot remove the pan with the engine in place. the oil pump pickup is in the way. a mechanic friend says he can lower the pan to change the gasket without raising the engine, but i don't know if that would give you enough room to get inside the pan to mod it.
by the way, know anyone looking for a donor truck around nor cal? i have a 96 2wd auto that my son was driving when he got cut off and skidded across a curb/storm drain. tore the front left a-arm mount at the frame and i don't see any time in my close future to tackle a frame swap...