1 Piece Vs. 4 Piece oil pan gasket?

[Blueovalboy89]

I have a '86 Turbo coupe motor. Im changing my oil pan gasket. Now, i know ford used the 4 piece gasket for like the 2 months in '86, and then switched to the 1 solid piece from then on. Obviously a 1 piece gasket make more sense (less possibility for leaks). Can i put a 1 piece gasket on my motor even though it was built in those 1st 2 months and originally came with the 4 piece gasket? Also what is the advantage of a rubber or poly vs. cork.
Any info on this would be great.

 

[Mark_88]

When I bought my oil pan gasket for my 2.3 non-turbo I found instructions for both one and two piece gaskets (Haynes manual?)...and as far as I know there is no difference between the blocks other than the internals...and the oil return...so you should be able to use either one...and I don't even think the type of oil pan makes a difference since they can be interchanged also...

I may be wrong with an older turbo engine that was turbo all along, but not from what I've read on here and other places...same block

EDIT: Just checked the stickie...there was a change in 87 to eliminate the 4 piece gasket (hmmm...didn't know there was a four piece gasket)...but essentially all the blocks 83-88 are the same (mine was an 87 short block)...

 

[ejholmgren]

The once piece is even different between certain years as I recall. The '93 one didn't fit in the alu pan that came with my '86 block as an extra part. I had to put it in the '93 alu pan for it to fit right.

Also, if you use the once piece on a four piece original motor, you will have to pre-fill the gaps above the front and rear mains with black permatex or the like. On a one piece block, it's smooth, and on a four piece, it's notched in ~1/8".

 

[Blueovalboy89]

Yeah i see the gaps your talking about. Im not a big fan of cork gaskets but im gunna go with the 4 piece. 'Preciate it guys.