Oil Pump Shaft from the top?

[mjdalton]

Working on a 1995 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0L. The old camshaft position sensor spun on the oil shaft and I am replacing it. I would like to put in a new intermediate oil pump shaft from the top. I am making a tool I saw on you tube out a brass tube that should grab the shaft and pull it up enough for me to tug pretty good upwards. I know that the retaining ring will probably end up in the oil pan but hope to fish t or flush it out. Really do not want to pull engine. I posted a pic of the shafts of the old vs new sensor. I think that the old one probably rounded the head of the present shaft so I hope to put in a new one. Any advice?

 

[adsm08]

Be careful. I have done it before on Windsor engines where the dis is up front, it's not that hard to do, but it is easy to miss and drop the rod down in the pan.