Bolt in oil pan
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Palatine, IL
Bolt in oil pan My brother bought a 00' Z28 recently and today while changing his oil found a bolt in the pan that was floating around. The car is completely stock and the pan has never been removed for anything, the previous owner was a friend and it was dealer serviced and taken to shops all its life up til now. No clue how long the bolt has been down there but it will not come out of the drain hole and no clue on how long it is.
Is there anything that could be a common issue possibly? Or is this more than likely some tech dropping a bolt down when doing an intake gasket or something?
I know that you cant make any real educated guesses at this unless I pull the pan down, so is there an easy way to drop the oil pan?
Is there anything that could be a common issue possibly? Or is this more than likely some tech dropping a bolt down when doing an intake gasket or something?
I know that you cant make any real educated guesses at this unless I pull the pan down, so is there an easy way to drop the oil pan?
It's got to come out. One of two things is going to happen. Best case scenario, it stays in the oil pan another 100K miles never having a problem. Worst case scenario it jumps up, gets into his crank, and ruins the engine. If there is a 10% chance of ruining the engine, would you think twice about pulling the pan?
If he's got plans for a cam swap anyway, maybe you can reach the bolt by pulling off the front cover. You need to see the oil pump anyway to make sure it's got a bolt holding the pickup.
If he's got plans for a cam swap anyway, maybe you can reach the bolt by pulling off the front cover. You need to see the oil pump anyway to make sure it's got a bolt holding the pickup.
Drop the pan. Be smart about it. Not worth chancing the motor. Look around while you're in there and try and find out where the bolt came from. My quick guess would be possibly the oil pickup tube bolt.
That's impressive though if that thing backed all the way out. Was the oil pump ever swapped by the previous owner? I could see someone swapping the pump and dropping that little bolt down in the pan, being lazy, swapping it out with a new one and just never telling anyone...
Dropping the pan isn't too bad really. you just need to find a way to support the motor from the top, lower the K-member, and then the pan. Repeat in reverse order to put it back together. Hell, while you're in there throw some Katech rod bolts in it lol...
That's impressive though if that thing backed all the way out. Was the oil pump ever swapped by the previous owner? I could see someone swapping the pump and dropping that little bolt down in the pan, being lazy, swapping it out with a new one and just never telling anyone...
Dropping the pan isn't too bad really. you just need to find a way to support the motor from the top, lower the K-member, and then the pan. Repeat in reverse order to put it back together. Hell, while you're in there throw some Katech rod bolts in it lol...
I dropped one of the cam retainer bolts in the oil pan while doing my cam swap fell through a lifter bore and hit the pan. I though I was screwed but I actually got it out through the timing cover under the oil pump without removing the pump or the pan. I had to use a magnet tool that I picked up at sears. Mine was cumbersome but the magnet was strong and grabbed the bolt they make a very flexible type a magnet on the end of a thin wire that you could fish around with. Took me about 2 minutes to get mine out. You'll have to pull the timing cover though.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Palatine, IL
Thank you for your responses. I figured it was something stupid that dropped through and I know I have to pull the pan or get the bolt out just in case.
The previous owner as far as I know has not had the oil pump replaced but I would have to look at its previous service records. A cam is going in the car, so I will pull the front plate off and check it out from there. Thanks again for the responses.
The previous owner as far as I know has not had the oil pump replaced but I would have to look at its previous service records. A cam is going in the car, so I will pull the front plate off and check it out from there. Thanks again for the responses.
