I got my new oil pan and rubber gasket and I'm ready to go! The one I have now has lasted 20 years so I figure if I do the job right it should outlast the lifespan of my engine. I've done a search here and found MANY threads on replacing the gasket but the advice varies when it comes to using RTV sealant.
I've read the following:
1.Use on both sides of the gasket.
2.Only on the intake valley (semi-circles).
3.Use high tack spray to keep the gasket in place.

Isn't there a possibility that a piece of dried RTV sealant could fall into the pan after installation and cause major problems? Also, the gasket came with these "snap-ups" shown below my oil pan. Has anyone used these and are they helpful? Thanks for some advice. I only want to do this job ONCE!
Marc

Hi Marc, I installed a new pan on my 88. I found the snap-ups help and I used them. On the pan gasket I used no RTV. The one problem I had when I used the new gasket, it was too tight (did not want to fit correctly) around the rear of the block. I want back to the original gasket, I have no leaks.

quote Originally posted by J Gunsett: Hi Marc, I installed a new pan on my 88. I found the snap-ups help and I used them. On the pan gasket I used no RTV. The one problem I had when I used the new gasket, it was too tight (did not want to fit correctly) around the rear of the block. I want back to the original gasket, I have no leaks.

Did you replace your pan because it was leaking? Was the original gasket rubber like the one I purchased?

the gasket for the 88 when I did mine was a synthetic rubber, looked like silicon I believe. when I installed it, I applied a paper thin coat of permatex ultra black to the pan itself, (maybe a touch thicker at the 4 orners where it dips down for the bearing curves) then put the gasket on, used the bolts dropped in to align it and placed it gasket down on a flat clean surface to dry for a couple of hours.
since the motor was on a stand, it was easy enought to turn it upside down, apply another paper thin coat to the block surface after using acetone to degrease it, and again slightly thicker blobs in theo bearing to the flat corners.
installed the pan, torque to spec, good to go.

(if only I had noniced how thin the pan was in a couple of spots when I wire wheeled it clean and repainted it, it has gone pourous in spots and sweats oil @##$#@@!!!!! )