1974 Cadillac Eldorado

Yes, the engine must be removed from the vehicle to remove the oil pan. You'll want to replace the timing chain and sprockets while you're there. The camshaft sprocket has a plastic gear on it, if it's original. They always fail. To do that job the oil pan must be removed to get the crankshaft sprocket off and back on. The oil pump will lose its prime as well. You MUST pack the oil pump with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) when you put it back together. Otherwise you'll have no oil pressure. The factory shop manual and other repair manuals will not tell you that. So if you recently bought this vehicle, someone else may have done the timing chain, the oil pump lost its prime, they had no oil pressure, and they gave up on it. I've been down that road before!! Hope that helps! Jim

You do not have to remove the engine or transmission. Remove the starter, un bolt the torque converter,loosen the bell housing bolts so it will separate, remove the fan , driver side exhaust manifold,and pass side motor mount unbolt the driver side engine mount , remove the pass side axle , then jack up the engine and the pan comes out