Boy, these Pontiac engines are getting more puzzling by the day!

On the rear oil pan seal for a 68 400, the only one that fits around the main cap is the one that has the five nibs sticking out. What do I do with these?

The instructions aren't making any sense. They say this particular gasket for 59-71 doesn't have the nibs. The other, for 72-76, has two nibs and a center cone-shaped nib. It also says the 72-76 is called the 1st design.

My oil pan doesn't have slots for these nibs. Do I cut them off?

it also should have come with a cork , or rubber strip gasket that has no nibs it will fit in that area. if so use it and seal it to the oil pan with rtv.

Early engine blocks have a groove in the rear main cap that holds the cork gasket.

This groove was eliminated in 72 in favor of the 3 nib design rubber gasket and matching oil pans. This design basically sucked and was replace in 76 with the "2nd" design 5 nib that suffered way less blowouts.

Unfortuately, GM still holds the patent on the 2nd design so all aftermarket oil pans are stuck using the 3 nub gasket.

Now it's starting to make sense. I'll have to check the set again to see if there is another "non-nibbed" gasket.

The 5 nibbed gasket seems to fit. If this is all I have available, I should be able to cut them off and use a little RTV on the surface?

Don't be shy with the RTV, and clean, clean, clean before final assembly. Another option, you could go all out and use "TheRightStuff" gasket maker.

Or yet another option, use the really nice BOP 1-piece oil pan gasket.

Too late for that, I'm a month behind already assembling this engine because of wrong parts, bad parts and the getting the wrong parts!

Are they better as far as leaking is concerned or just more convenient to install?

It ties all 4 separate gaskets together so there should be a lot less concern about leaks were the 4 gaskets meet (usually where wise Pontiac engine builders put a dab of silicone)

The side rail sections are reinforced with metal. The rear seal is a combo design that allows this gasket to work with both the ealier rear caps for cork gaskets and the 1st design with 3 tabs (just cut the tabs off for a early application).

Can you use the BOP one piece with the early cork style main cap? Seems like you would need something to fill the groove with.

OK, I found the cork gasket. I was looking for rubber. (Another Chevy mindset) It seems a little too long, but the instructions say to use an adhesive to hold it down. I think it's long to compress fully into the pan groove, correct?

I'm still wondering if the 5-nibbed rubber one might still work, if it stays in place.

Now, I just discovered that the gasket set included two right side gaskets, no left side! So, I went and bought a pan gasket set. I'm not going to wait another week before the machine shop can get another set in!

Thanks everybody, I'm getting there!

The BOP 1-piece gasket is a "godsend". It really DOES "work". It fits all three "designs" (the cork strip is far and away the BEST of the factory designs).

I posted a procedure for this on Bill Boyle's site (pontiacstreetperformance.com) where you asked the same question. I have recently sent Bill an "article" I wrote concerning "sealing up" the whole Pontiac engine, and what pitfalls to avoid. He has not yet put it "up".

Jim

Jim, send it to me..please.

Yeah, I'd like to see it too, although it's too late for me. Mine's running now.

Larry

What if you have the five tab pan? Do you have to cut the tabs off. They are in a different location than the 3 tab right?

Yes, cut them off.

Jim

I use the cork on all style pans.
Switch'n to BOP's when Fel Pro's are used up. Why didnt i think of that 20-30 yrs ago...

Cudos to Wade @ BOP. We talked to Felpro about 6 years ago about making us a 1-piece gasket. They said if they could sell 100K a year, they would "tool up". No chance of that... So Wade "bit the bullet" and is now supplying a choice piece, and for only a few dollars more than Felpro's BBC and SBC offerings.

Haven't received any e-mails yet...

Jim

Where can you buy the BOP gaskets?

BOP Engineering. You will find them via your favorite web browser.