What have you done to your wagon lately? (Let's keep the thread going!)

Yes. And do any other items the engine might need in the process, like timing chain if it's high mileage.

 

They do make one piece pan gaskets for these now. I'd still consider pulling the engine. A lot depends on how miserable you want to be while laying under your car.

 

If you can only drop the pan a couple of inches, you'd still have to feed the gasket past the crank counterweights and around the oil pickup. The gasket will get all oily and you still have to put adhesive on the sides and silicone at points on the timing cover and rear main. It ain't worth trying because you'll probably still end up pulling the engine after having wasted a whole day or more dicking around with it.

 

Right, which is why I also said:

I'd still use the one piece gasket regardless of how you plan to do the job.