oil leak

anyone ever replace oil pan gasket I heard I need to lift the motor is this true
2000 5.3 z71

I really doubt you need to lift the motor out to get the oil pan off. I've seen it done (motor in, of course) on an '05 Express Van with the 6.0 from underneath. If you want to know for sure, go take a peek under your truck, should be pretty obvious if there are bolts or something you can't get at from underneath.