I'm already handicapped on this job because I'm really only working with one arm since getting hit by a drunk driver, but I'm now about 15 hours into trying to get the oil pan off my '92 5.9 Cummins powered 4X2 regular cab auto transmission pickup. The previous owner apparently jacked it up by the oil pan at least once and I was getting low oil pressure.

I have the engine loose from the engine mounts, transmission mounts off as well as the front and middle cab mounts so I can use my 2 post lift to raise the body. I have a cherry picker picking up the front of the engine (fan shroud just hanging by fan) and I still lack about 3" of clearance to get the oil pan off.

I have the pickup tube off and the screen is definitely dented and was clearly against the oil pan, limiting flow. There is zero sludge in the engine and it's remarkably clean inside and I can still see the machine marks on the crank after 200k miles, so I do NOT want to ruin a good engine due to low oil pressure when I need it for towing.

It seems that I now must remove the steering linkage to raise the body anymore but, with only one good arm, I cannot get the bolts loose on the steering linkage. I've been spraying them with penetrating oil the last few days, but my question is; am I on the right track? Is it this freaking hard to get the oil pan off of the old body style Dodge pickups?? I already bought a new oil pump figuring that I have so much time in this already that I may as well put in a new oil pump while I'm at it.

Any suggestions or 'tricks' would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

Hate to say it, but looks like you have to pull trans and trans adapter plate.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...il+pan+removal

 

Uh oh, I don't recall seeing where I can remove any transmission adapter plate. It appears (not under the truck now) that the engine itself flares in the back to fit the transmission and there is just an inspection plate on the bottom that can be removed which would yield no further clearance. Man, this literally is harder than a one armed man hanging wallpaper; I've literally done that and it was difficult, but nowhere as hard as removing this freaking oil pan!

 

Adapter plate is easy cheesy once the trans is out and drive plate is off, 6 or so bolts from the back and it comes right off.

 

Once the auto is out and torque converter and flex plate is off, you will see how the engine adapter comes off. Its the aluminum piece that houses the starter and the trans bolts up to, and is bolted to the back of the block. Once that is off you will be looking at the back of the oil pan/block.

I've heard of people removing the pan with trans in, but no experience with that!

PS If this is for a 92, check in the 1st gen forums.

 

Sorry if in wrong area, but at the top it says "1st and 2nd Generation Ram 1989-2002".

I finally just hired a guy who works at a local Cummins shop to finish the job. He said he'd never heard of a '92 5.9 with any adapter plate and, after getting here to work on it, verified that there is no plate to remove. Had to remove brake lines and steering and raise entire cab.

If I ever look at another 1st generation truck (extremely unlikely) and see where someone has jacked it up by the oil pan, I'll just consider the truck totaled. It literally would be much easier to just remove the entire engine to get the oil pan off.

I suppose the final answer to "Is there any easy way to remove the oil pan from a 1st gen Dodge?" is NO.

 

If your cummins man never heard of an adaptor plate on a 92 5.9 I assume we are talking about a 92 Dodge pickup truck you better find some one else to do the work I have changed main brgs without removing the engine but you have to remove the transmission and Adaptor plate to do it

 

Every 1st and 2nd gen Dodge Cummins 12V has an engine to transmission adapter plate.
If any "Cummins guy that works in a local shop", told me otherwise I would not trust him to lean on my truck let alone get out his tools.
I have owned dozens and dozens of 12V trucks over the years...

 

Just so you know, the oil pump on these engines goes in the front of the engine and runs off the timing gear train. So pullin the pan will not allow you to replace the pump

 

The oil pan should come right out...

All you have to do is remove the trans bushings, loosen the engine mount bolts and jack the engine up. Loosen all the oil pan bolts, then loosen the bolts to the oil pickup tube. Better trust your cherry picker because if that engine comes down your hand is done... What I like to do is have a car jack and keep that on the bell housing just in case the cherry picker fails. Once that is done move the floor jack out of the way and the pan should slide back. Done a ton of 12V/24V this way and also works the same for the 3rd gens. No such luck on the new trucks so I can't tell you.

A lot of guys that come in the shop I notice the cross members cut off and re-welded not sure what to think about that. They already had their oil pan replace by someone else.

 

WHAT ???? REALLY ?????


Pure insanity.....