So with the help of many of you I am half have way through changing my first timing chain. I was going extra slow and cautions and got everything off and was in the process of putting my new timing chain on and all hell broke loose. ou: The little metal piece guide that holds the the little pulley on fell out and into my oil pan cover. I was so pissed. I know I have to take the oil pan off and dig for it but I noticed there are two screws that are nearly impossible to get to. The bullets are under the engine guard and if I get them out by some miracle, how the hell am I going to get them back in. The is no room to even put your fingers on it. ANY SUGGESTIONS????? Thanks everyone...I'm buying beers when this project is done and my baby is back on the road. Have a great day. Jono Johns Creek, GA 1969 Buick GS 400 Convertible. The worlds largest paper-weight right now.
Welcome to the club, I did the same thing and dropped the key into the end of the oil pan while installing a timing chain. I had the engine on a stand so it was not so bad. Try magnet fishing first... find a magnet and figure out how to get it in the little space where the key is lost. You may get lucky... Ted
Yep,,, get a good strong magnet, or just go get another one and leave that one in there,,,, I have found a lot of stuff down in oil pans down thru the years... wont hurt a thing,,, things like sockets,wrenches, woodruff keys,,, which is what that is, by the way,,, various engine pieces,,,:laugh: not a biggie.... first, I would fish for it with a magnet, next, I would just go get another one and install it..... Dorman sells them...just gotta know the thickness and length...
Also, you can try flushing it out with oil or diesel fuel. It would help if you had a pump from a cleaning station.
Come on, that's not going to happen - think about it. The nut that receives the oil pan drain plug is welded to the inside of the pan blocking large debris from escaping. Devon
Get a big/strong magnet and try dragging across the outside of the pan and back out the opening in the front of the pan where it went in. Chris
He asked for help, can you help? If so, please do! Yes It'll work and yes you'll have to get it over the lip on the drain plug hole. Use a magnetic tipped screw driver.
Add a touch of levitation and you're there! :laugh: You have to explain a way of moving the key off the floor of the pan and up the side of the weld nut before you can arrange to have it pass over the drain plug opening. Devon
How many hours would you have the poor fellow spend trying to rinse the key into a drain pan? Welcome back, Chris! :beer Devon
Hey,,, Dev aint trying to put anybody down,,,:laugh: ,,, he is dead on, reality,,,, the nut is welded to the inside of the oil pan... dang, well impossible to rinse the key out of that hole....:Smarty: no.... easier to either fish it out with a magnet or just leave it there and go get another one... it will never go anywhere because the oil will keep it from jumping up if the car hits a bump..... :Brow: :Brow:
We need focus on the problem. How to get the key out? So, Devs' point about the nut on 69 stock pan he's right there's a nut. If there's a lot of sludge in the bottom you'll need to flush it out. Then use a fisher tape and fish it from the drain plug to opening in the front. pull a strong string or flexible wire through. connect both end to a mild magnet. Drag the magnet from the front down to the drain hole and flush. Then pull the magnet out and all the junk will be on it including the key. If you don't have a fisher tape use a long cable tie. Good luck.
Well, he has a much bigger opening where the timing gear cover is off and the key has to be at the front of the pan... so,,,, it looks like to me that it will be easier to just drain the oil out so he can see the thing with a flashlight and then reach in with a magnet and get it....
If all attempts to retrieve it fail, take Doc's advice and go get a new one and leave that in the pan. With the weight of the oil it's highly unlikely it'll float up and get into anything. Get a magnetic drain plug. Who knows, maybe someday when you change the oil you'll get lucky and it'll be stuck to it, although I doubt it.
I think Bill is on to something.... you could also attach a good strong magnet to the pan in the outside front center area and it would hold the key....
He really ought to take the pan down anyway regardless of the key being in there to clean all the plastic bits of timing chain teeth that are going to clog up the oil pickup.
