Need help, nut in oil pan

[zenboy99]

I'll try to make this short and sweet, I was swapping distributors and the spider nut thingy that holds the oil pump shaft in the oil pump and pan dropped into the oil pan when I pulled the shaft out on accident. So I have this nut stuck in the front part of the oil pan and I can't get it out of the drain plug.

I know that dropping the oil pan in a 95 GT is a PIA. What are my other temporary options? I have a huge magnet that sticks to the bottom of the oil pan and would keep it in place for the time being, do you think this would work? Even if I didn't have the magnet there, it seems like it would take alot of force to get that nut over the oil pan hump.

I know the pickup is on the lowe backside of the oil pan, but the front part towards the radiator doesn't have any moving parts does it?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[maypo59]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. Won't go through the pickup screen, and probably sunk down in the muck thats at the bottom of almost every pan. I worked on tank engines during my time in the army, and found wrenches, pocket knives, c-ration can lids, all kinds of crap in oil pans that had been there for years. No worry. Unless.... it didn't go all the way to the pan... It could POSSIBLY get caught in the distirbutor gear and break the shaft or cam, I have seen that happen years ago.. but if you are sure it's in the pan.. no problems, IMHO.

 

[hllon4whls]

He can see it down in the drain hole. I agree. It is okay. As long as the screen is there, it will never go up the oil pump and not get into the engine.

I will be willing to bet that it stays in the front sump. Putting a strong magnet on the pan will give that extra insurance.

 

[88stangmangt]

souds safe to me let it alone.

 

[philmiup]

A piece of my dipstick fell in my oil pan (the end of the dipstick to the begin of the letter F(ord) word) aprox 2inch. I gave up looking for it with a telescopic magnet,
I m still drivng around the stang, and no problem yet. For added insurance I bought 2 magnetic drain plugs.

 

[CivicEater]

souds safe to me let it alone.

Are you drinking? I am in Frededericksburg come get me .......

 

[zenboy99]

Thanks alot for all the info guys, I was really worried about this. Guess I'll dig it out when I put a new K-member in.

Here's a pic I took last night.

http://www.corral.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=17074

 

[MrKwik]

since its in the front of the pan, couldnt you just pull the water pump and timing chain cover and reach in and get it?

 

[zenboy99]

Wouldn't that be as much work as dropping the K-member or jacking up the motor?

 

[BrettSanders]

I had a really long magnet on a flex shaft like thing- could you get one of those and fish it back out the same hole you dropped it down?