• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Engine LOOSE ROCKER ARMS!!HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dsain90GT
  • Start date Start date Feb 21, 2022
  • Tags Tags
    302 5.0 lifters pushrods rockerarms
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
Next
First Prev 5 of 6 Next Last
D

Dsain90GT

Member
Oct 24, 2021
50
10
18
Dunnellon fl
Mar 3, 2022
#81
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #81
General karthief said:
Likely the oil pump shaft has dropped (hopefully) down into the oil pan. Yes you will be pulling the engine. I have heard of people that claim to have fished it out of the oil drain plug hole then used a vacuum line attached to one end of the shaft to insert it back into the pump from the top but I'm suspect of this method.
How mechanically inclined are you?
Click to expand...
I'm pretty mechanically inclined I'd say lol im pretty sure I heard it hit the pan .
 

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#82
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #82
I've never been able to fish one out of the pan but sure worth a try
Once you get the intake manifold off you might be able to fish it out with a real good flex magnet (that's what I try to do)
You are not alone those oil pump drives pull up and out of there with the distributor sometimes and then let loose when you get it halfway out
Bummer days
You can do this
Go fishing
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#83
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #83
Sorry 007, I don't see any way of extracting that from under the intake, I'm looking at the lifter valley of my engine and no way.
Some here have pulled the pan from under the car, this requires dropping the K member down enough to get the oil pan past the oil pump. The engine has to be suspended from top. Very doable.
 

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#84
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #84
I believe I fished mine out thru the small hole where the camshaft distributor gear is
My distress was back in about 1982 when that happened to mine
I do not remember having to pull the pan
My block is a 69 and may have a bigger chunk missing (hole) by the cam gear
What a candidate for a 2 piece oil pan or a removable crossmember!
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#85
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #85
manicmechanic007 said:
I believe I fished mine out thru the small hole where the camshaft distributor gear is
My distress was back in about 1982 when that happened to mine
I do not remember having to pull the pan
My block is a 69 and may have a bigger chunk missing (hole) by the cam gear
What a candidate for a 2 piece oil pan or a removable crossmember!
Click to expand...
Good lord you're confusing! If you fished the shaft out from the top of the engine then it did not fall into the oil pan.
And the K member on a fox body ford is removable.
 

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#86
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #86
Now you are confusing
You going to have him pull the k member to get the pan off?
The shaft fell down there a way and can be pulled out thee same way
 

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#87
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #87
Mine hit the bottom of a 7 quart Milodon oil pan
I fished it out
 
D

Dsain90GT

Member
Oct 24, 2021
50
10
18
Dunnellon fl
Mar 3, 2022
#88
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #88
General karthief said:
Good lord you're confusing! If you fished the shaft out from the top of the engine then it did not fall into the oil pan.
And the K member on a fox body ford is removable.
Click to expand...
Do you think I would be better off dropping the k member or pulling the motor ?? Only thing holding engine in rn is motor mounts and trans bolts
 
D

Dsain90GT

Member
Oct 24, 2021
50
10
18
Dunnellon fl
Mar 3, 2022
#89
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #89
manicmechanic007 said:
Mine hit the bottom of a 7 quart Milodon oil pan
I fished it out
Click to expand...
idk man I've never been a good fishermen lol, how would I put it back in if I got it out though ?
 

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#90
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #90
!/4 inch socket, a long extension and some grease
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#91
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #91
manicmechanic007 said:
Now you are confusing
You going to have him pull the k member to get the pan off?
The shaft fell down there a way and can be pulled out thee same way
Click to expand...

If anybody here has extracted a oil pump drive shaft that has fallen into the oil pan from the top of a sbf engine either from the lifter valley or the distributor hole,, or any other way without pulling the oil pan please post up. I'm always interested in finding new ways to do things.
@Mustang5L5 @nickyb @limp @Noobz347 .?
As for pulling the engine vrs lowering the K member, I would pull the engine, it will give you the opportunity to check freeze (core) plugs and paint the block, if it's already pretty and you feel the freeze plugs are ok and you don't mind getting oil dripped in your hair (true story) lowering the k member is a viable option.
Now pulling the engine could lead down the 'while I'm here I should fix this' path. But that could be a good thing.
 
Reactions: Dsain90GT

Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
909
415
113
Greenville, NC
Mar 3, 2022
#92
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #92
I dropped a extension with a 1/4” socket down in one while priming the oil pump years ago (hence why I tape it together now). I got it out by dropping the oil pan down on the cross member. There was enough room between the engine and pan that I was able to fish it out.
 
Reactions: General karthief

nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever
15 Year Member
Apr 3, 2009
2,979
1,626
153
nevada
Mar 3, 2022
#93
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #93
Before pulling the oil pan try a telescoping magnet .
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,047
21,213
234
Box behind Walmart
Mar 3, 2022
#94
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #94
No new ingenious invention from me, unfortunately. Try the magnet trick.
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
5,816
213
Mar 3, 2022
#95
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #95
There's a hole straight in to the pan when the timing cover is removed.

Dropping the k member is pretty easy but will have you removing 21 bolts / nuts. 8 k member bolts, 4 strut bolts, 4 caliper bolts, 2 engine mount nuts, 2 sway bar end links, and one steering shaft bolt at the rack. You'd have to remove the coil springs first.

I'm not pulling the whole engine just for an oil pan. That's what they make engine support bars for. Fighting old exhaust bolts and spilling transmission fluid everywhere isn't in the cards.

I'd rather pull the timing cover. You run the risk of running into the broken water pump bolt curse though.

The oil pump spins counter clockwise. Turning slow it feels like it isn't doing anything. Put a drill on it and watch a oil pressure gauge. If that needle moves the shaft is where it's supposed to be. If you can't see it down in the hole it's in the pan. In a posted picture I saw it in there.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#96
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #96
The timing cover thing is a good option. Didn't think of that.
All this sounds intimidating, yank'n the engine is what I would do.
I still say you ain't getting it out from the lifter valley or the distributor hole if it dropped into the oil pan, that was my point to 007.
now I hope we haven't scared @Dsain90GT away.
 
D

Dsain90GT

Member
Oct 24, 2021
50
10
18
Dunnellon fl
Mar 3, 2022
#97
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #97
I got everything ready and unbolted ,just gonna pull engine when I got hands to guide it out , clean everything , and replace anything I should while im here . It's a blessing in disguise lol
 
Reactions: limp and General karthief

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#98
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #98
Might I suggest to check the oil pump pickup screen while your down there, a flashlight inspection should tell if it's gunked up.
 
Reactions: Dsain90GT

manicmechanic007

5 Year Member
Sep 26, 2017
2,532
713
143
Roy, Utah
Mar 3, 2022
#99
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #99
When you do get it out, replace it with a heavy one like a Pro Stock Engineering (PSE) billet one
They do not come up and out of there as easy
 
Reactions: General karthief

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,904
10,558
203
polk county florida
Mar 3, 2022
#100
  • Mar 3, 2022
  • #100
manicmechanic007 said:
When you do get it out, replace it with a heavy one like a Pro Stock Engineering (PSE) billet one
They do not come up and out of there as easy
Click to expand...
An a little anti-seize on the distributor end won't hurt either.
 
Reactions: Dsain90GT and 7991LXnSHO
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
Next
First Prev 5 of 6 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Engine Pushrod Length Question
  • germain101
  • Sep 22, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
552
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 25, 2025
Noobz347
H
Ongoing Battle With Hydraulic Lifters
  • hailer06
  • Jun 8, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
254
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 9, 2026
Noobz347
Engine Finishing up 331 build
  • RedFury5.0
  • Mar 21, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
9
Views
608
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 20, 2025
RedFury5.0
J
MEED HELP!! 86 mustang
  • Jacob0121
  • Jan 23, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
332
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 25, 2026
CAMTWO1070
For Sale Ford 331 stroker engine for sale - with options!
  • TTSaleen
  • Jul 1, 2026
  • Engine and Power Adder
Replies
6
Views
216
Engine and Power Adder Jul 2, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?