I Need Some Good Suggestions

[Fordguy77]

So today when i was doing some work on kateys car to remove a collapsed lifter, a one a million event occurred. Somehow a pushrod fell through the one hole in the entire block that leads all the way down to the oil pan. So i would like to attempt to retrieve the rod without having to drop the oil pan, as it requires the dropping of the front axle to drop the oil pan, and i have to leave Thursday night for vegas for a work trip so time is off the essence. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, or if someone has a super high powered magnet i could use to move the rod over to the drain plug hole, as the oil pan is aluminum.
Thanks for the help
Chris

[Warrlord]

a one a million event occurred

Lucky you ;) Ullman (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=ullman+magnetic+tools&gs_upl=1548l8761l0l12096l10l10l0l2l2l0l300l1783l0. 3.4.1l8l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1006&bih=621&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1649098483518720764&sa=X&ei=vdhJTvaYOcGysAKbt-S9CA&ved=0CEYQ8gIwBQ) makes some strong a** magnets. I don't know what stores sell 'em around here but if you see a Matco, Cornwell, Mac, tool truck, flag him down as most of them carry those. Other wise, (unfortunately) you might as well bite the bullet & drop the oil pan.

[Fordguy77]

Lucky you ;)... Other wise, (unfortunately) you might as well bite the bullet & drop the oil pan.

That what i figured, i am gonna try and drop the pan without dropping the front axle to see if i cant get my hand in there to get it out, it might make getting the new gasket in kinda interesting, but i think i should be able to weasel it around. And if not i'll just throw a bolt or two back in and do it the "correct" way. And it looks like advance auto carries that magnet!

[Fordguy77]

Or i might just undo the motor mounts and lift the block up with a hoist and see if that wont let me clear some things, it looks like there's enough room to drop the pan a few inches though so we'll see tomorrow.

[Java]

I have a standard pacemaker magnet, it's pretty strong and you're welcome to try it

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spectrummedicalgroup.com/ps/ar/Images/smartmag%2520M.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.spectrummedicalgroup.com/ps/ar/pacers.htm&h=600&w=800&sz=152&tbnid=oW9r_p9HreL5NM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpacemaker%2Bmagnet%2Bpic%26tbm%3Disch %26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=pacemaker+magnet+pic&docid=rc95vC5aBwD8KM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UOlJTsPDEaKNsQKvlai0CA&ved=0CFQQ9QEwDA

and no, I don't have a pacemaker, I won't have to hold my breath while you use it, it's just something I picked up along the way

[Fordguy77]

I have a standard pacemaker magnet, it's pretty strong and you're welcome to try it

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.spectrummedicalgroup.com/ps/ar/Images/smartmag%2520M.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.spectrummedicalgroup.com/ps/ar/pacers.htm&h=600&w=800&sz=152&tbnid=oW9r_p9HreL5NM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpacemaker%2Bmagnet%2Bpic%26tbm%3Disch %26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=pacemaker+magnet+pic&docid=rc95vC5aBwD8KM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UOlJTsPDEaKNsQKvlai0CA&ved=0CFQQ9QEwDA

and no, I don't have a pacemaker, I won't have to hold my breath while you use it, it's just something I picked up along the way

Very interesting. I might try an electro magnet that runs off 110v i made in highschool, that i just found out in the garage, if that doesnt get it i dont know what will.

[Rob]

I don't have a pacemaker ... it's just something I picked up along the way

Surely there's a good story attached to that comment. :)

[Brody]

Sucks...and what a pleasant feeling when that little ******* slips though your fingers and vanishes....

Harbor Freight carries some big magnets as does ACE Hardware. Be nice if the rod didn't get hung up on any splash guard in the pan, too. Good luck with this!

[BlackRubi]

Chris has an uber magnet.

[Mr6dwg]

I have another idea. How about taking a wire (such as a clothes hanger) and bending it in a way that you put it in the drain plug hole and go fishing. I don't know how you will get the rod to "stand" up so it will fall out the drain hole. But, that is my idea.

[Heather]

Nothing to suggest, but good luck!

[Fordguy77]

I have another idea. How about taking a wire (such as a clothes hanger) and bending it in a way that you put it in the drain plug hole and go fishing. I don't know how you will get the rod to "stand" up so it will fall out the drain hole. But, that is my idea.

have that idea covered with a flexible grabber thing, it works great, but i tried fishing with wire, but i kept hittin the oil sump.

[Cr33p3r]

Christopher I have some super strong earth magnets you can have one if you want.

[scout man]

my suggestion would be a harddrive magnet. I have one... but im in pennsylvania..