How long dies it take to drop the oil sump and clean the pickup screen? I hear its a beast....Yes I royally screwd up . I left my valve covers open for a bit and my cat got into the garage ceiling, fell through and got bits of the blow-on insulation everywhere. I cleaned up but it must've been in my oil I dropped earlier. I didn't think to filter it first it was under the car. Could've gone through the valves as well. I've flushed the system 4 times with a mix of gas and oil and getting flow on one side. I'm pretty sure it's trapped in the sump
oil light on. Runs okay but sluggish
or could I have destroyed the oil pump?

 

Oh shoot that’s too bad. Dropping the oil pan isn’t too bad of a job. Follow the Rave instructions, there are a couple of “hidden” bolts.

 

Some people say that you have to remove the crossmember under the pan in order to get it out. I did not have to, but I have slightly larger tyres and higher rated front suspension.

 

Correct, not necessary to remove the crossmember. If your truck is stock height then you can just jack the front end up to allow the front axle to drop.

 

I did it, wasn't too hard thanks to this forum, covered in oil- hair, eyelashes, armpits, etc) it was full of gunk and completely clogged.
now I'm seeing a slight trickle of coolant dropping from the timing cover, but just inside the pan area which is open now.
I opened up the front cover and the gasket just crumbled.
QUESTION- IF IT WAS THE GASKET LEAKING ON THE TIMING COVER WOULD IT NOT JUST LEAK ON THE OUTSIDE?
I'm about to replace all of this but just to be sure I am not facing a worse problem...
History on this vehicle-- I just did head gaskets, that's why the valve cover open I was still getting coolant in oil...also tons of other work to bring Betty White (her name( back from the dead

 

Timing cover gasket can leak coolant directly into the engine. My D2 was pumping lots of coolant into the oil this way.

 

Thats what i thought. Already ordered new chain kit and gaskets. Thanks all!!

 

Let us know how the chain kit goes. What I’ve read is that the replacement gears are garbage even compared to your 20 year old ones. The chain definitely should be replaced.

 

Definately will, almost positive I'll have questions. Truck has 224k miles and the chain looks original. Motor is strong the cam looks pretty good. If I can get another 70k I will be amazed. When I did the head gaskets the upper end was obviously overhauled before. I know most of the other parts have been replaced.
I had a feeling this was a keeper when I bought it a few months ago, tho I've replaced so much and one thing after another.

 

I just did head gaskets, timing chain, and oil pump on a 238k engine. The cylinders still had cross hatching. You need to inspect you oil pump gears while you have the timing cover off, I bet they are broke.