So I'm at work and my best friend was going to install my cam for me and he just called with some bad news. He was pulling one of the lifter trays and a lifter fell down into one of the square oil valleys. He said he thinks we can get it out with a magnet but that's if its not rolling around in the bottom of the oil pan. I was trying my hardest to avoid pulling the oil pan, even with wanting to Do the timing chain. From what I've read you HAVE to pull the engine up 6-7 inches which includes pulling the tranny off and loosening the engine mounts up. Any suggestions? Willing to listen to all lol. Thanks guys.

 

So if he pulled a lifter tray then that means the heads are off. Why would he pull out the cam then the lifters? If a lifter did drop then you will probably need to drop the oil pan. You can just drop the K-Member. No need to remove the trans. Spend $200 on Katech rod bolts if you pull the pan so its at least worth it.

 

Pull the motor out completly and put it on a stand to work on.

 

No, he pulled the cam after the lifter fell. He rotated the engine by hand so it would put the lifters up into their trays. As he pulled the tray out, one fell out. Since all the lifters were out he went ahead and pulled the cam, since thats what we were trying to acheive anyways.

Can't pull the k-member on this car. Have to drop everything from underneath and then have a special alignment if I wanted to go about it that way.

Is there a windage tray that it could have landed on on these motors? I'm wondering because i'm gonna fish for it in the morning.

If I have to pull the engine I would love to put the rod bolts on it but - I know stupid me I don't have $200 to spend on them right now. This was designed to be a simple cam/head swap and now it has totally got out of hand.

We just got through putting cam/head package on his Z06 (my best friend whom dropped the lifter) and everything went just fine.

Idk, just one thing after another. Any other suggestions, Prayers? Lol I'm guessing I'll get stuck pulling the f'n engine.

 

Not that long ago I did heads/cam on my car and don't understand how a lifter could possibly fall with the cam still in. Dropping the k member is super easy and there is actually a right up on here. You just need to lower it. I did mind and never had an alignment.

 

I don't think you understand. Do a search for removing the oil pan on an 04 GTO. Its not as simple as an f-body. And the lifter didn't fall into the part where it rides on the cam. The square part above it there by the valley is where it fell.

I'm weighing my options right now. I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I go and see if I actually think I can do it without removing everything.

 

Alright sorry. I understand now. I didn't realize this was on a gto.

 

Lol I really do appreciate the help though. Why couldn't they make the freaking oil pan simpler!!! This is stupid. I have searched web over and so far only one post on here half describes how to remove it. Surely more than one person has replaced an oil pan gasket or timing chain on an 04 gto.

 

Did ya try the GTO forums?!?
ls1gto.com

 

Yup. And everytime you search it, it pulls up about some idiot wanting to remove the oil pan cover/protector plate. Can't even find a write up on how to replace an oil pan gasket on it. I'm in the process of pulling the damn engine now. Started this morning, now I'm headed to work. 2hrs a day this is gonna be freaking impossible. I don't know How long its gonna take me to do this now.