Tools lost inside 4.0

[UrbanRedneckKid]

So my brother went to put the heads back on his exploder today and after torqueing on of the heads, the t-55 bit fell out of the torqs socket. It fell down next to the cam, by the crooked pushrod in the pic.
My question is whats the easiest way to get it out? I'm assuming the oil pan has to be dropped. Can it be done with the trans still mounted and pulling the motor mount bolts and hoisting the engine up a little?

 

[baddis]

can you use a telescoping magnet?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

not unless it's as flexible as my favorite ex-girlfriend

 

[AllanD]

The Oil pan basically cannot be removed from a 4.0 with it in the chassis.

The clearance Vs the engine crossmember is the least of your problems.

The oil pump pickup tube (and the oil pump) would need to be removed
from the engine by reaching through a gap in between the block and pan
that you can't create...

It's ugly, but if you can't recover it with a magnet the engine is going to need to come out.

AD

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

But I can get a gap between the pan and block, in the truck. All I need is a gap big enough to retrieve the T-55 bit. I don't see a need to drop the pump and completely remove the pan. I just need access inside the pan.

This can be done in the truck though right? It seems like theres enough room to lift the engine some, just for a little access into the pan.

 

[mkpecor]

can you get a shop vac and tape a smaller peace of hose on it and suck it out in to the vac?

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I'm pretty sure I heard It land down inside the oil pan, i don't think it's up by the cam. That's just where it fell in through.

mkpecor, The shop vac idea is awesome, I've never heard that one before.

 

[JohnPi]

I've never personally done this, but here's something I would try before tearing into this engine: You know the oil pan is aluminum, and the bit is steel. Assuming it did fall into the oil pan, get a very strong magnet and use it to try and locate the bit, and "drag" it to the oil drain plug opening. This might be a lot easier to try then pulling the engine. It might take a bit of searching, but wouldn't take more then laying on your back. You can even try looking for it before you drain the pan (sounds like it might be empty already, though).

 

[Big Jim M]

If it really is in the pan, I would prolly leave it alone and enjoy my ride.. Taking pans off before I have found all kinds of parts inside them. From pieces of piston to nuts and even a bolt one time. It should settle to the bottom of the oil and comfortably sit there for the life of the engine.
Big Jim

 

[Will]

It can't get sucked into the oil pump as there is a screen. If it is in the pan I too would leave it alone.

Dragging it with a magnet is a good idea. I don't think it will work, but Mr. T could have done it on the A-Team.

 

[MAKG]

FYI, a good source for fairly strong magnets is your favorite automatic transmission (in the pan).

I have a pair I ripped out of a 4EAT, that I use on the refrigerator. They are too strong for my 3 year old to remove them.

The question I have is, will the socket fit out of the drain plug?

Perhaps a bigger hole is the oil level sender.

 

[mkpecor]

thanks, i have got alot of stuff out witha shop vac and small hose.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

I'll try the magnet idea, sounds like I just might have a chance with it.

If not, What are you opinions on leaving it in the pan?

 

[JohnPi]

Was it the whole socket, or just the bit that is pressed into the socket?

 

[Psychopete]

If not, What are you opinions on leaving it in the pan?

What would scare me is huge bumps. What happens if (for some reason) it hits the rotating crank shaft? That's enough force to cause it to fling around, and possibly hit it several more things or times.

Do what you think is the right way. Honestly, it's bad to give an opinion on it because ANYTHING could happen. I always tend to go the paranoid route, I would just bite the bullet on the mistake and get it the F out of there. But that's easier for me to say since I have the tools to take on a project like that, and it's not my truck. I am very pessimistic though, I always think the worst will happen (because sometimes it does, but not always).

This is how bad I am - I am taking my 5.0L apart and back to the machine shop today because I wasn't satisified with how clean it was. But is justifiable for the amount of money I paid. I'll pay extra or put in extra time to make sure it's absolutely right. I'd rather be out $300 for something extra than to loose a couple grand on an entire project.

They also make magnetic oil pan plugs that might help keep it isolated to one spot, just a thought.

IMO.

Pete