Yep, that's a huge pain in the ass pulling the motor just to remove that
oil pan, but then it might be the surest way to get that pump arm (and
maybe pin?) from the crankcase, AND also assess whatever other damage
there may have been as a result of the pump failure. If you've never
had the engine out before, it would also give you an opportunity to
check on the soundness of the oil pan itself, since an all too common
and potentially catatrophic problem is for the things to rust through.
Being where they are at the lowest point of the bilge, those pans can
just sit in water for long lonnnggg periods...especially in Amphis whose
bilge plugs haven't been pulled after each and every swim consistently
over the past 40 years. Needless to say, sudden loss of oil or at best
a constant seeping contamination of what's in the crankcase by that nice
tasty bilge water drawn through clever little rusted-through pinholes,
is not desirable. Pulling the engine would also give you an opportunity
to check the condition of the teeth on the flywheel that the starter
engages. These may very well be pretty worn or chipped, and so it would
pose an excellent opportunity to either replace the toothy portion, or,
if the teeth are all still reasonably sound but worn, to at least flip
the wheel the other way around so that the worn part faces the other way
(a practical and cost-free fix). You would also be able get some fresh
motor mounts in there, (you'll have to shift Jimmy Hoffa's briefcase),
and maybe also check the state of the various oil seals, timing chain
and so forth, without necessarily going into a whole hog rebuild.
So, pain though it is, this might turn out to have been a blessing in
disguise in the long term. I mean, your Amphi might be telling you
something here. Think: "wintertime bonding".
Then again, if you've already had the engine out, and already given all
or most of the above points due diligence anyhow, then perhaps one (or
one each) of those bendy-flexible magnetic- or claw-ended "tool grabber"
doodads (I really wanted to say "nut grabber", but the memories...the
memories...) will be able to fish out the arm, etc. if it's just lying
right there. Remember the game "Operation?"...Ever played that Prize
Dredger Claw thing on the Boardwalk? Sure....It's good clean fun for
the whole family...Hell, sling little Timmy Junior by his ankles over
the bilge with bungee cords, offer fabulous prizes, and go have a couple
of beers.
Happy Hunting!
Bilgey
On Thu, 11 Oct 2007 6:54 pm, wick68355@aol.com wrote:
> Last month I was one the list asking about the fuel pump and what kind
> of noise it makes when it decides to self destruct. I was finally able
> to get the car home to?diagnose? the problem. The pin that holds the
> lever into the pump has worked its way out to the point the lever fell
> of the pump. I assume the lever fell into the oil pan. Do you think my
> only option is to pull the engine and remove the oil pan?
>
> Tim Wick
>
> Wisconsin
>
> --------------------
>
> See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
>
>
