Blazer Oil Pan Gasket Replacement

[Stevodogo]

Hello Everyone:
I have a '96 Blazer 2wd, 2 door, V6 (small SUV) with 125,000 miles on it. I just had the intake manifold gasket replaced by a dealer ($500 +) and now it's leaking from the oil pan gasket. The dealer, and one other shop I called, tell me that it will cost me between $8-900 to do the job since the motor has to come out to replace the gasket. I saw an earlier post on this list that this is indeed the case. Could I ask why? In looking at the oil pan on my Blazer, all the bolts are easily accessible and it seems like the oil pan would just drop right down. The crossmember, etc., would not seem to interfere with the pan coming off. Is there something inside the pan that restricts it from coming off? I'd like to do the job myself but it seems like it may not be as easy as it looks. It's not worth spending another $1,000 or so at a dealer on a car that's probably not worth much over $3,000.

Thanks for any advice.
Stevo
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[BlazerLT]

you sure the valve covers are not the source of the leak?

[Stevodogo]

I'll have to take a look at those in the morning but unfortunately the oil pan does look pretty wet around where it bolts to the engine.

[BlazerLT]

Still could be coming from above.

Look all over just in case.

[lou S.]

If it does look like it is the pan that is leaking, read in the Chilton's book what it has to say about removing the pan.

[quaddriver]

if you drop the exhaust from the manifolds, drop the starter, drop the oil filter adaptor, unbold the motor mounts and lift the motor the 2-3 inches that gives you, the pan will drop low enuf to change the gasket.

[lou S.]

Yep, that should give him enough clearance from the oil pump.