As the engine rolled off the assembly line, did it even have a gasket? Chrysler was saving money everywhere they could and they would put machined surfaces together without a gasket, as in the exhaust manifold to head mating surface.

Vaseline is a straight petroleum product, while greases have non-petroleum thickeners added. Possibly Cab is half right. Vaseline should melt into the oil but the thickeners in grease won't melt or dissolve.

I seem to remember 30 years ago someone giving advice to use the grease but change the oil filter with the break-in oil That would take care of any excess grease.

I found out the hard way that looking at the oil pump before installing it takes little time and can save a lot of hassle.

R.