yeah, from the way it looked, i don't think i would of ever had a problem. the oil seemed to hold down the nut really well. also, i'm not sure if this is because the engine is not stock, but the crossmember was a whore to line back up. had to undo the other mounts and finesse it(and boy are my arms tired).
late.

By Darrell--Arizona-- (68.109.151.121) on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 07:48 pm:

Seee! You should have left it in. J/K

By aryl (198.245.131.62) on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 04:43 pm:

i pulled the sump yesterday and got the nut out. while i was in there i put in a new oil screen and of course a new gasket. it was going too smoothly and i broke a sump bolt(chased both sides and torqued to only 13 pounds???!!???). going to try and get it out tonight.
thank you for the help.

By bruce (63.26.100.155) on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 04:40 am:

I would definatly find the nut before ya go driving, just to make sure it did not get stuck someplace in between. just my 2 cents.

By Jonathan (68.193.6.173) on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 05:18 pm:

Maybe one of those telescoping magnets through the oil drain plug will do the trick? I had to fish out a bolt that went in through the fuel pump opening on my Jeep, it worked real well. Wasn't in too far though, and I could see it from the outside. Those small magnets do get pretty strong, probably if you get within a few inches you can pick it up.

By aryl (216.99.194.146) on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 12:37 am:

i will try a few things and post what happens.

By Kurt (205.250.112.91) on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 12:10 am:

maybe some mechanics wire (or a bent coat hanger) can be stuffed up the draind hole to sweep out the nut?

By aryl (216.99.219.117) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 10:43 pm:

i didn't say i wouldn't, i said i didn't really want to. i'm going to get a magnetic oil plug. i plan on changing my oil a few times in the next month or so. i will see what happens. if i can't get it out soon, i will pull the pan.

By Don (63.135.203.139) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 09:37 pm:

The best option is dropping the pan but Aryl has said he isn't doing that so all the rest of the ideas do carry some risk but its not a very big one. It will most likely sit quietly in the pan if its there.

By Kurt (205.250.112.91) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 08:23 pm:

if its strong enough though won't it work right through the steal? - Just a thought I guess.

If he leaves it in there before the megnet on the plug catches it ... is there any concern with it catching the crank and being flung up to the moving parts?

By Adrian (Evocivic) (203.42.97.141) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 07:34 pm:

Then buy a real strong magnet (they sell them at parts stores). Then attach the magnet to the outside of the oil pan and slowly drag the magnet toward the drain. With any luck you will catch the nut with the magnet and will drag it over to the hole.

ummm ... the sump is made of steel! This might work if it was plastic or aluminium .

Do what Don suggested and get a magnetic sump plug.

Last time I dropped a washer down the oil pump shaft hole I stuck a telescopic magnet down there and snagged it first go .

By Kurt (205.250.112.91) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 06:47 pm:

Here is a thought. Drain your oil. Then buy a real strong magnet (they sell them at parts stores). Then attach the magnet to the outside of the oil pan and slowly drag the magnet toward the drain. With any luck you will catch the nut with the magnet and will drag it over to the hole.

Or, better yet, remove the oil pan and take it out! Whens the last time the gasket was changed anyway? Wouldn't want to leave it in there. I'm just rebuilding my jet ski motor after a piece of the piston skirt came apart. Not pretty $$

By Don (63.135.203.139) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 05:26 pm:

Better yet get a magnetic drain plug so that one day maybe it might just bounce over to the plug and you will find it the next time you change the oil.

By Darrell--Arizona-- (68.109.151.121) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 04:09 pm:

My Nissan still has a similar problem. My timming chain guide is made of hard plastic. It probably broke about 10 miles ago. I found large pieces of it in my pan and I don't have the time or money to replace the guide.

My friend has the same truck but is guide was completely missing. Oil filter?

Metal however sinks to the bottom. I guess my point is that you're probably ok. Maybe you can drop a magnet in the bottom of your oil pan for a little insurance.

By aryl (216.99.219.102) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 04:05 pm:

i'm going to try to fish it out when i change the oil. mabey find a gooseneck with a magnet end to stick in there. i really don't want to pull the sump.

By Yellowcivic (67.139.225.178) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 03:32 pm:

I hope nobody tries this: My sister had a car that someone, unknown to us, droped a hand full of gravel down the oil fill and it went into the pan. A few years later the timming changed unexpectedly and then the oil pump stoped working the next day. When I removed the pan there was all these stones in there and a really small tare in the oil pump pickup screen. I figured a stone finally made it up and stopped the pump. It had to of been a few years before when the car was vandalised and broken into. I really don't think I would worry much about that nut.
David

By aryl (216.99.198.68) on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 04:07 am:

ted, i appreciate your straighforward approach.

By -Andrew Smit- (Cvcc_Wagon) (154.20.95.104) on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 09:04 pm:

i dropped a head bolt washer down the oil passage once. spent the next 3 hours removing and reinstalling the oil pan... that was an annoying end to an already annoying task of replacing a head gasket.

By Ted (67.189.26.139) on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 07:55 pm:

Drain the oil and fish around in the hole for it!

By Aryl (Aryl) (216.99.198.107) on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 12:20 pm:

well, i guess i didn't tighten down the EX. valve adjusting nut on cyl. 3. it poped off and, out of an act of god, didn't seem to do any damage. its nowhere to be found on the top of the head. i went through with a magnet. it must have gone down to the sump. i'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and what they did about it.
thanks,
david