Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 04:22 PM

I had a series of mishaps to make up for my previous perfect record in life. Anyways the fuel pump rod is now laying in the oil pan of my car.
To add insult to injury, the magnet from my magnetic pickup tool is also somewhere in the bottom end.

I know that in my youf, I've done this job about 3 times (dropping the oil pan while still in the car), but I really don't want to do it and I'm ascared about if it can be successfully done with out the rear main seal and the timing chain cover leaking forever.

So, what is the procedure to do this? , without a lift

Also anybody in Metro NY want to do this job for me?

Thanks

1970 Coronet RT
440 with a six pack won in a crap game.
pw,pb,ps,rear defogger,ac,at, man. adj. seat

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 04:35 PM

How about pulling the timing chain cover off and retrieving it that way ?

What I want to know is how you dropped the fuel pump push rod in the oil pan ...

The rear main won't leak , you don't remove it pulling the pan . drop the centerlink out of the way , maybe jack up the motor some ... unbolting the mounts , you just need to have the room to tip and lower it back to clear the pickup tube.

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 05:24 PM

thanks for the reply,
Forgive my ignorance, this may sound like a stupid question, I really don't remember, but maybe it's not in the oil pan? are you saying it's (the rod) in the timing chain area?

Posted By: B5 GTX

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 05:36 PM

I removed mine with a 402 pan. It had tiny pin hole that seeped oil. I think If I remember correctly I didn't have to ack it up.

Posted By: Dodgem

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 06:07 PM

I usually drop the drag link down and no problems then!

Posted By: 471Magnum

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 06:27 PM

Quote:

I usually drop the drag link down and no problems then!

Drop the center link and it will come down no problem.

Posted By: 68HemiB

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 06:34 PM

Quote:

What I want to know is how you dropped the fuel pump push rod in the oil pan ...

Posted By: R/T1968R/T

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/10/12 06:49 PM

The only way that pushrod got into the pan is if someone inserted it into the fuel pump hole and not in its correct place by removing the plug!!!!

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 02:31 PM

I removed the plug, shoved the rod in there and I heard Kerplunck!

Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 06:30 PM

Quote:

thanks for the reply,
Forgive my ignorance, this may sound like a stupid question, I really don't remember, but maybe it's not in the oil pan? are you saying it's (the rod) in the timing chain area?

no, he's saying that it may have just fallen down into the pan, not rolled anywhere and MAYBE can be reached through the opening. it's worth a shot!

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 06:37 PM

Quote:

Quote:

thanks for the reply,
Forgive my ignorance, this may sound like a stupid question, I really don't remember, but maybe it's not in the oil pan? are you saying it's (the rod) in the timing chain area?

no, he's saying that it may have just fallen down into the pan, not rolled anywhere and MAYBE can be reached through the opening. it's worth a shot!

IMO dropping the oil pan is less work than the timing cover.

Why not get another magnet and fish around through the drain plug hole first? Might get lucky.

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 06:39 PM

Quote:

I removed the plug, shoved the rod in there and I heard Kerplunck!

Are you sure that Kerplunk wasn't just the rod sliding down in its bore when you let go? They will do that! You can use grease to make them stay while you put the pump on.

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 07:37 PM

I already tried fishing around with a magnet. Besides the magnet from the last pickup tool is somewhere in there.

What's the best way to drop the pan?

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/11/12 08:05 PM

Quote:

I already tried fishing around with a magnet. Besides the magnet from the last pickup tool is somewhere in there.

What's the best way to drop the pan?

Remove the center link from the pitman and the idler--DON'T remove it from the tie-rods--this will allow it to drop about 6 inches and the pan will clear. If you're lucky you can access all 20? pan bolts (the forward ones can be tough depending on pan style and how tight it is at the K frame.

Pretty easy stuff.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/12/12 12:11 AM

Quote:

thanks for the reply,
Forgive my ignorance, this may sound like a stupid question, I really don't remember, but maybe it's not in the oil pan? are you saying it's (the rod) in the timing chain area?

No , but with the timing cover off you could retrieve it that way , does the motor have a windage tray ? It might be on that ?

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/14/12 01:11 AM

Without jacking the motor up?

Posted By: SportF

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/14/12 05:00 PM

You don't have to jack up the motor. Good luck!

Posted By: 68LAR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/14/12 05:08 PM

As already been stated several times, drop the center link at pitman arm and idler arm. The pan will come right out with no problem.

Posted By: 70CoronetRT

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/15/12 03:14 AM

Hey , I appreciate the replies, but what is wrong with a little clarity for my piece of mind? After all, i'm the one laying on the cold ground to do this.

"Those who can't do anything teach. Those who can't teach become art critics"

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/15/12 03:52 AM

Quote:

Hey , I appreciate the replies, but what is wrong with a little clarity for my piece of mind? After all, i'm the one laying on the cold ground to do this.

"Those who can't do anything teach. Those who can't teach become art critics"

i went and dug out a partially assembled engine, there isn't a lot of room for it to go far with the timing chain installed and the cover in the way. looks like you had to have it in just the right , actually wrong , postion to have it drop , good luck

Posted By: pinkduster

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/17/12 10:06 PM

I just finished removing the oil pan in my Road Runner and I DID have to jack up the engine, but not much. Granted, I have an aftermarket 7 qt. pan, but I don't see how you could get at three of the four front pan bolts without jacking the engine up.

Maybe some of you "real" mechanics have some fancier sockets or something, but I couldn't get at those bolts with my "shade tree" mechanic tools.

Posted By: 68LAR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/18/12 05:04 AM

Quote:

...I don't see how you could get at three of the four front pan bolts without jacking the engine up.

1/4" drive ratchet with a short 1/2" socket.

Posted By: pinkduster

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/18/12 05:58 AM

Quote:

Quote:

...I don't see how you could get at three of the four front pan bolts without jacking the engine up.

1/4" drive ratchet with a short 1/2" socket.

Yes, that's what I was using.

Posted By: 68LAR

Re: Dropping the oil pan on a 440 B body - 11/18/12 03:06 PM

I use a 1/4" ratchet with short 1/2" socket for the front 4 bolts. (I reach the front bolts from under the front of the car). The side bolts, I use a combination of long and short extensions with the same ratchet and socket. Never have a problem reaching any bolts and I also have a deep oil pan with a windage tray. I drop the center link at the idler arm and at the pitman arm. Pull it down for clearance and the pan comes right out. I think it takes longer to drain the oil than to do everything else.