Gasket issue for the oil pan

[Mopar_man]

So I got a set of gaskets and on side it won't fit. I trimmed the end near the crank and cut around the felt. As you can see the holes all line up in the front "I put a couple of bolts in to line it up."

As you move down the gasket the other holes won't line up.

So as I see it I have two options:
1. Make my holes a little bigger (think they will leak).
2. Cut the gasket in half and create a gap in the middle and fill it with permatex.

[Bill Dizer]

Soak them in water and stretch them?

[John Warren]

After straightening out the bolt holes in the oil pan and access cover knowing it is going to happen again as soon as the pan is tightened, I have opted not to use gaskets, just a little rtv. I still use the hogs head felt with rtv worked into both sides. Not had any trouble going this way. Even on the water outlets after filing them flat, no gasket. My preference.

[TWrenn]

John, you're right. When it comes right down to it, a good coating of oil resistant RTV (there is a difference in the RTV types in case some readers didn't know it) slathered FULLY on the surfaces will work as good if not better than that gasket, which we still put RTV on anyway!!

[Adam]

Robert, That is an occasional issue with some pan rail and trans cover gaskets from one of the sources that manufacturers them. I’ve noticed it off and on for maybe about the last five years. I think what happens is maybe the gasket material isn’t perfectly flat when the gasket is stamped out. Soaking it won’t help because it was made that way. You have to “split the difference” on the couple holes that don’t line up and cut those particular holes a little oversize. (Or buy a different gasket set)

[Mopar_man]

I think I'm going to use the gasket and fill the gap with RTV. I plan on using RTV on the gasket anyway.

[Mopar_man]

I got a nice e-mail from Andy Loso at OSO Handy Restorations. He offered to send me a gasket to try to see if it fits better. This is what I love about this hobby. People willing to help. In my case I'm wanting to get the oil pan on today and will just fix the gasket with a little RTV. But I do know who I'll be buying gaskets from in the future. So if you need a gasket give him a call. I bet the'll work great.

[Adam]

I talked to Andy a couple weeks ago and look forward to trying his gaskets too.

Robert, Looking closely at your photo of your gasket, the material looks slightly different than the ones I’ve had issues with, so I’m thinking this might be an occasional issue from more than one manufacturer?