gomer

iTrader: (13)

****! I don't even want to start trying to count how many cams I've changed and they have all went fairly smoothly, until now. This one has bit me on the ***. Pulled the old cam out, just about to slide the new one in and then "clank" one of the rear lifters fell into the pan If you have done this, post up and tell me how you fixed it. If you are too embarassed to post it, PM me. I'm going to console myself with a little Wild Turkey for right now.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

That sucks... Got to drop the pan and pull a head...

gomer

iTrader: (13)

That's what I was thinking. Can you get the pan down low enough without hitting the Kmember?

SPANKY LS1

iTrader: (24)

You have a PM......

Kurtomac

iTrader: (5)

was this on your car? and curious if you were using magnets or anything?

SLowETz

iTrader: (12)

Gomer.... it's a bitch. Really. Psych up. Drop the pan from the rear, leaving the front cover bolts in, but threaded out as far as possible. "Should" be able to get a teloscopic mirror in there far enough to locate it. Then the teloscoping pen magnet. I used the bendable kind to make it go where I wanted it to go.

Took about three hours worth of fishing, but got it.

Good luck, keep 'hydrated' during the mission.... it helps.

Phil'sC5vette

iTrader: (4)

Damn, I didnt know it could fall in the pan, but I know you had to pull the head if it dropped. If your going to do that, might as well do the head and cam package. Unless it's the drivers side head, less is attached to it so it's easier to get off. And you thought it was going to another fun day. Be strong, one out of how many that you've done!

gomer

iTrader: (13)

UPDATE: Ok, I went back out there and looked at everything. I got good news and bad news. Good news is that it is only the passengers side, so I only have to pull one head, no big deal. Bad news is that FOUR of those SOB's fell. The back four on the passenger side. That leads me to belive there is something wrong with the plastic retainer that is supposed to hold them. It's not my car, it's a local guy here that I'm doing a cam swap for. I'm going to pull the pan first and see if I can get the MFing lifters out, then I'll pull that head. It's 8:30pm here now, I'll report back in about 2 or 3 hours.... gotta make a run to the beer store first, this looks like it may require atleast a half a case.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

Pull the motor mount bolts and raise the motor. Slide the on top of the lower mounts and lower the engine down on top of the bolts. This will hole the motor up a couple inches. You may want to pull the intake for extra clearance from under the cowl. The pan will come all the way off this way. Good luck...

Another_User

Never underestimate the power of the pen-magnet trick. $30-$40 bucks in pen magnets can pay for itself really fast. Good luck! I hope it works out.

gomer

iTrader: (13)

How are you raising the engine? With a cherry picker? Mine is up at the shop and I'm doing this one in my garage. Could I put a floor jack on the front of the bellhousing and raise it up high enough that way? This is a M6 car, so I wouldn't have to worry about caving in the pan on it. Right now I have all the bolts out of the pan, but that SOB won't move but about an 1/8 of an inch. I' going to go pull the motormount bolts right now.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

I used a 1' piece of 2x8 across the oil pan and make sure you remove the intake to clear the cowel.

lilstephsls1

iTrader: (5)

what a nightmare. good luck with it all and hopefully the beer will help the work pass!

pdd

iTrader: (3)

WILD TURKEY thats sum potent stuff. good luck with the fix

Mike98WS6

iTrader: (5)

That sux Gomer. Hang in there and take your time. Like the others said. You have to be patient with it.

Ryan02SS

iTrader: (3)

Best of luck Gomer. When I was doing my cam swaps I was always fearing that in the back of my mind. Lotsa damn work for something so small. I even had pen magnets I bought at Autozone in the pushrod holes!!!

dug

iTrader: (10)

doh!!!

Yeah, I will never again change the cam without something holding up the lifters. I got lucky but the weird thing was how the lifters wouldnt stay up after the new cam was installed.

Bo White

iTrader: (59)

Damn it man, that phuckin sux dude. I know how ya felt when you heard it fall......MF- SOB- GD IT-

Cal

iTrader: (1)

What about bringing the lifter out the hole for that oil pan sensor on the passenger side of the engine? Would the hole be big enough? It looks close.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I would be suspicious of that plastic lifter guide. I had one lifter that turned sideways, and then back a few times. Needless to say, there is no way the lifter guide would still hold that lifter up. I have the guide and the bad lifter right here on my desk, and that thing is loose as hell. Since you have to take the head off anyway, I would for sure replace that lifter guide. They only cost about $4.