Need Help, Lost 1/4" Bit Extension in Dist Hole...

[66 Tiger]

WTF - As if my day couldn't get any worse, with my wife bitching at me in the back-ground because she's hungry - I dropped my 1/4" bit extension down the hole while rotating the pump shaft...

Am I correct in guessing that I now have to remove the oil-pan to retrieve this, or are there any GOOD tricks out there I can try?

Many thanks in advance...

 

[BullittStangV8]

magnet wand? It would be hard cus it would stick to everything...

 

[BullittStangV8]

or mechanics forcepts (SP)? I think thats what they are called.

 

[FSTNG]

You can try a magnet but yeah, you're probably going to have to drop the pan.

 

[10secgoal]

Get a big magnet and drain the oil. Leave the pull out and try to drag the extension to your drain hole. Once it's at the hole you can try to grab and pull her out. Easier said than done...but don't say it can't get worse...at least not out loud.

 

[66 Tiger]

I tried the magnetic-wand down through the hole but didn't have much luck. I'll try sweeping it in the drain hole tomorow to see if that does anything... I'm sure I'll end up dropping the pan in the end.

I'm so pissed,LOL!

 

[chromedog]

i have an 8" 1/4 inch extension that locks the socket on... i use it, and only it,when i have to prime a pump. i do this because ive dropped a socket into the oil pump. i ended up dropping the pan to retrieve the socket

 

[zookeeper]

This just isn't your week is it? Anyway, you're not the Lone Ranger here, I've dropped all manner of things into the pan as well. If it did in fact go all the way to the pan, try making a hook out of a clothes hanger and fishing it out. Be patient and work slowly and you may get it. You'll have to kinda hook one end and drag it, but I've gotten oil pump drive shafts out that way. BTW, on one occasion I also left an oil pump drive shaft in the pan with no ill effects at all.

 

[65fastbackresto]

Stupid question probably

I had an engine builder do my motor, should the oil pump drive already be in there or what?

I was thinking I could just drop the dist in and be done.

 

[zookeeper]

It likely is already there, but you can look to make sure. With the distributer out, you can shine a light down there, if you see a hex-shape in the hole, it's already there. Most engine builders install the oil pump drive using a little push-on, one way clip that prevents the shaft from coming out with the distributer. It fits between the top of the pump and the little cavity cast into 289/302 blocks. The problem then is to get the shaft out, you need to take off the water pump and timing cover to get the clip off and remove the shaft. The good thing about them is they prevent you from becoming good at removing oil pump drive shafts from your oil pan...

 

[D.Hearne]

I'd leave the damned thing in the pan. It ain't worth retrieving. It ain't gonna hurt anything either, if it's in the bottom. If you're worried about it moving around, get a big speaker magnet and stick it on the pan bottom, the extension will stay put once the magnet catches it.

 

[jeffnoel]

I agree with D.Hearne it ain't gonna get sucked into the pickup.

 

[blown65]

Id be worried the thing might bounce up into a counter weight or something if you left it though. (would be my luck at least.)

Strong magnet and then drag it around the bottom of the pan. Then drag it towards the drain plug, with some work you should be able to get it out. (find someone with a scope also, might help you at least see where the pos is at)

 

[D.Hearne]

Ain't gonna bounce in oil. If it does, you're in for a rough landing. Better have the seat belt on and your cell phone handy to call 911, cause you ain't never seen a wreck like you're fixin to have.

 

[zookeeper]

I agree, like I posted before, I dropped a oil pump drive in my pan and it was there for 5+ years before I re-did the motor with no problems whatsoever.

 

[rhyno9]

Ain't gonna bounce in oil. If it does, you're in for a rough landing. Better have the seat belt on and your cell phone handy to call 911, cause you ain't never seen a wreck like you're fixin to have.

rotflmao

I agree. With all the oil in there it's not going anywhere.

 

[blown65]

Probably true and agree. BUT my luck is usually on the bad side, if its going to happen, it happens to me. LOL I'd rather try and get it out and sleep better over it.

 

[JDS68Stang]

I would try and locate a long (1"-1 1/2") slim rounded magnet, duct tape it good on the end of a simlilar sized small diameter steel rod, most especially around the magnet sides to cut down on it drawing to the sides as it's lowered. Then give it a shot.

If that didn't work I'd blame the wife and make her miserable,lol, then tell her to go get the part out.

When she comes in 10 minutes later smiling holding the 1/4" bit don't even ask her how she did it, she'll probably say I put my gum on a wood stick and pulled it right up, lol

All kiddin aside, good luck gettin that out, I wouldn't want that floatin around in my pan either.

 

[68EFIvert]

I'd pull the pan or put the car on a rotisserie and shake it. Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[tweet66]

I've done this so many times, i don't care to rememeber. I pulled the pan every time 'cause I just didn't feel comfortable with a socket in there. Do yourself a favor find and old distributor and pull it apart and use the shaft to turn the pump shaft. Works well to prime an engine too.