Oil Pan Gasket
 

My Z leaks about 20 drops of oil out of the rear main seal. It isn't very much but it bothers me. Has any changed this out. I haven't done it since like 1985. So I am looking for nay tips to help make this a smooth process.
Thank you all in advance.

good news and bad news . Good news you dont need to pull the engine. Bad news the fly wheel must come off but the crank can stay in place no need to be dropped . The seal can be pryed out and a new one installed , with the engine in place. just reread your post , is it the pan gasket or the rear main seal ? G

get the car on jackstands, drop the tranny (carefully, its heavy :- p) pull the flywheel, and replace the seal. while you got the tranny out, go ahead and change the oil, since youre there. it never hurts.

...and change your clutch and throwout bearing too while that tranny is out! Or do a 5-speed swap if you haven't already!

well, i replaced my oil seal while already under the car replacing a blown out clutch (along with throwout bearing) so i overlooked that point :- p

If you are replacing the seal and clutch and all this be sure to include the throw out bearing and the pilot bearing . Both of which are inexpencive and easy to replace at this point of dissambly.

I just put a clutch in about 5k miles ago. The leak started after sitting for a while. I started the car and drove it( which in the winter is a bitch ) and then I pulled her back in the garage. About 2 weeks later I found about a dolloa sized wet spot of oil on the garage floor right under the rear of the motor. I was planning on replacing the gasket this winter.

So it is the pan that is leaking , you will need to elevate he engine to clear everything because of the oil pick up. When you have the pan off ,check he gasket flange area for being deformed . It can become bent from over torking . When reinstlling the pan , keep this in mind because it is easy to split the gasket and bend the flange resulting in a leak. If after the egngine has set for a long period it may develope a oil leak at the mains . I t may just dissapear after the car has been driven some . Just a word of advise , do not atempt to clean the inside of the block while the pan is off. If any of the buildup is disturbed this can cause the oil passages to become clogged later. Gary