Chevrolet Repair: 1997 oil pan is cracked, support brackets, drive shaft

Question
my oil pan is cracked can you patch it or do I have to lift or pull the motor or can I just put it on.  1997 Blazer 4.3l 4x4

Answer
You will at least have to lift the motor off the mounts.  YOu pull the two mount bolts that lay horizontal, one on each side.  Put a jack under the pan and a piece of wood between the pan and jack.  Lift the motor as much as you can.  You need to pull the starter, any support brackets, and any exhaust in the way.  Might have to drop the front drive shaft.  Should take off the dist. cap, if you have one.  

Once the motor won't go any higher, put 2x4's between the two motor mount halves.  Let the motor down on these wood pieces.  Now you are ready.  The pan will drop enough to wiggle it out, except once down from the motor, you need to drop the oil pump onto the pan.  

Install in the reverse order.  If your bearings are in question, this is a good time to replace them.  Put on a new pump, just because.  When you reinstall the pump, make sure the pump drive shaft goes in correctly.  Also make sure the pick up screen is down enough.  If you bump it up as you reinstall the pan, you will not get good oil circulation.  

You cannot patch these pans with anything that will be permanant.  You could try to weld it, while it is in place.