Chevrolet Repair: oil leak, chevy 350, old ford

Question
MY 96 CHEVY, 350, 181000 MILES. RECENTLY DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. IT WAS ALMOST TIME FOR THE OIL CHANGE, IT STARTED RUNNING BAD, THEN ALMOST QUIT, COME TO FIND OUT, LOST ALMOST ALL THE OIL. CHANGED IT, IT IS RUNNING FINE, AS IT HAD IN THE PAST. NOW OIL IS LEAKING, I PUT A QUART OF OIL IN IT ABOUT ONCE IN 5 DAYS. I WAS TOLD THAT MAYBE I NEEDED TO DROP THE OIL PAN, AND CHANGE THE GASKET?I HAD AN OLD FORD LONG AGO, DROPPING THE OIL PAN WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION UNLESS THE ENGINE CAME OUT. CAN I DO THIS WITH THE CHEVY EXT. CAB? OR DO I NEED TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE FIRST? ANY HELP OR DIRECTION WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.

Answer
Hi Wesley, The first thing I would do is locate just where the oil is coming from. If it is the pan, it isn't too bad to remove. If you have 4x4, then you need to remove the front diff and the pan will come right out. Be sure that the pan is leaking before you take it apart.

             Mark