No real tips for sealing, I use 3m weatherstrip adhesive & tighten center out & side-to-side. I raised the motor a few inches as it made it easy to get a 1/4' ratchet on the front pan bolts. They're pretty close to the cross member, otherwise. Dropped the center link off the idler/gearbox, left it attached @ tie rods. It's been 20+ years but I seem to remember I had to put the windage tray on first (with gaskets glued to both sides) then the oil pan. Getting the tray & pan together on past the oil pick up, crank throws & crossmember was a little too tricky. Not hard though, took about 2-1/2 hours & a good part of that was cleaning the old gaskets & pan. Lesson learned was, cover the distributor hole when you pull the distributor!