200ci Oil Pan - kinda stuck

[jisham]

So I am kinda stuck. I accedentally dropped a bolt into the engine through the fuel pump entrance and it landed in the oil pan. I did some research and people were saying that you can remove the oil pan on a 200ci engine without removing the engine. I almost did it, and have the bolt but now I cant get the oil pan out all the way to clean off the old gasket and put the new one on.

Any suggestions, I'm gonna be up all night attempting to get this one figured out.

Gotta love living in LA and the car at the parents in SF Bay Area. Makes finding time between jobs a bit difficult.

 

[Henning_1966]

take the motor mounts loose. Jack the engine up carefully and put a peice of 2by4 or a brick between the mounts and frame. The oil pan should slide out after that.

 

[jisham]

what is the best place to jack the engine up from?

 

[JackFish]

What about a telescoping magnet through the fuel pump hole?
Would the cam be in the way, I guess?

 

[rbohm]

8) the easiest way to remove the pan is to remove the crossmember under the engine. since it just bolts in, it is fairly easy to remove. do not lose teh bolts that hold the crossmember in, and remember to replace the crossmember when done.

 

[wallaka]

And the anti-sway bar as well. You don't have to take the end links off, just the body attachment. the pan should fall down enough to pull it out.

 

[ludwig]

the easiest way to remove the pan is to remove the crossmember under the engine. since it just bolts in, it is fairly easy to remove. do not lose teh bolts that hold the crossmember in, and remember to replace the crossmember when done.

Ditto.

When you put the gasket in, make sure the lip of the block and the lip of the pan are dry and/or clean. While it is out, go around the pan and flatten out all the places where the lip is deformed from over-tightening the bolts. Use a gasket sealer of some kind on the pan, the block and both sides of the gasket. I sealed the gasket to the pan first, then sealed the top of the gasket and used a little extra sealer where the crank seal meets the flat seal.

Paint the mating surface of the block and put the pan on with the gasket in place. Tighten the bolts gradually all the way around, making a couple passes -- not all at once.

 

[wallaka]

I use one of those nutdriver screwdrivers so as to not overtighten. That is one of the biggest causes of gasket failure.

I wish they made rubber or neoprene oilpan gaskest like they do for the 300. Those things are great.

 

[jisham]

unfortunately I have removed the cross member bar and loosened the sway bar. It is still stuck. It seems to be catching on something near the back of the block and is being caught on the steering connector bar.

I tried turning the engine by hand to see if it was cylinder bolts or something but no success on that either.

 

[ludwig]

Try jacking it up some at the frame rails behind the wheels. It will loosen some things and you can move the steering wheel back and forth.

 

[jisham]

I think I understand that. The mounting brackets attach to the side of the engine block. or are you saying jack the whole car up at the frame rails? Will that create space between the steering connector bar and the oil pan? - that is what is giving me problems.

 

[mjpchief]

Before going to all the work removing the pan first try draining the oil and fishing with a slim magnet through the drain hole. Just might save you a bunch of work. If that doesn't work what is it going to hurt if the bolt is laying in the pan? It's not going through the screen and it will not be bouncing around in there anyway.

 

[mjpchief]

Dumba** attack. Didn't read that you already had pan loose.

 

[jisham]

no problem, I could always attempt to clean everything off and put the new gasket on without taking the pan all the way out, but then I have to figure out how to get the old gasket pieces out of the oil pan if they fall in.

 

[ludwig]

Just hoist it on one side. Now that you have the cross-member bar - the thick pipe with the two flat ends - out of the way, jack up one side. Something will spread and it may be enough to get the pan out.

Otherwise, I got nothing.

 

[flash_point01]

Having just had the opportunity to do this I know how much fun you’re having. After removing the cross bar and loosening the anti sway I also loosened the steering linkage. Nothing adjustable just the attachment points to the frame, that way when I bolted it all back up it was, in theory, all back in the same spot and configuration. Don’t forget while you have the D@mn thing out clean and paint it. Also check your oil pick up screen; I had a chuck of sealant from the last time in there. Follow Ludwigs recommendations for reinstalling. If you’re going to place the gasket on the pan first make sure the sealant is pretty tacky. I tried that at first and as I went to put the pan on the gasket slid everywhere and the rubber C rings fell out. I had much better luck putting the sealant directly on the block and sticking the gasket and C rings into place first, whatever works for you. I did not have to move the engine to get the pan in and out, although I’ve got a 67 maybe it’s that different.

 

[jisham]

the steering linkage might be where I am having problems. Maybe I tried removing the wrong part. The one I tried to remove had the ball mount and I couldn't budge it - read that I need a special tool for that. Maybe if I remove it from another part it might come out? Where exactly did you remove your steering linkage from?

 

[flash_point01]

I removed the linkage on the passangers side where it connects tot he frame. I'm not home know and can't really explain without a second look. But if my memory serves me well it attached on the passangers side with a L shaped bracket with two bolts that went throught the frame. I then removed the other attachment point on the drivers side. I had the wifey turn the wheel back and forth in order to help me loosen different parts od the lickage as i took it apart.

 

[jahearne]

What about a telescoping magnet through the fuel pump hole?
Would the cam be in the way, I guess?

Been there... the magnet is too attracted to the rest of the metal especially the oil pan. It's a serious pain. Ended up dropping the pan just like jisham did.

Good luck getting replacing the gasket; it might be easier pulling the motor.

 

[wallaka]

D'oh, I forgot about the steering linkage! I just take the driver's side loose and let it swing out of the way. I didn't use a tool, just reversed the nut and put it back on a few rounds, then hammered on that. Only took a couple hits before it came loose. Don't hammer on the actual end, it'll mushroom it and make it impossible to put the nut back on. Hammering on the castle side of the nut will also mess it up.

It only takes 45 minutes or so for me to change the oilpan gasket, but I worked it out in my head before I started..