Ooops... dropped a socket in my new motor.

[DRRummel]

No joke. I went to prime the oil system by running the oil pump off a drill, 24 inch 1/4 drive ratchet extension and a 1/4 socket. Then I realized there was no oil in the engine yet (it was late) so as I removed the extension from the distributor hole. I heard the socket hit clink and hit thin metal. I did not see it happen. The socket is not in the intake. I cannot find it on the front brackets. It is not on the floor.

I lifted the motor off the mounts a couple of inches and pulled the bolts out of the oil pan. Now the pan is loose and I have almost an inch clearance. When I shake the pan I cannot hear the socket bounce around.

So, can the socket be in the timing chain area? Where else can it be hiding?
it is a Ford 302 block.

[Erics89GT]

most likely in the timing chain area, hence the distributer and cam gear is in there....i dont think it will mae it to the pan....good luck with getting the socket out

[DRRummel]

Pulling the timing chain cover is easier then pulling the motor out to check the pan and etc.

[billyNOTnice]

Pull the timing cover. Use a long magnet if needed to fish it out. I feel your pain. I got interrupted one day and came back and pulled my cam out without removing my lifters. Lost 6 of them in the pan lol. We all do dumb things sometimes lol.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy SIII

[venom]

Ha. Basically did the same thing. Pulled timing cover and used a magnet.

Good luck.

[ModularMike]

Eh **** it fire that bitch up.

[PaxtonShelby]

Dang that sucks - I've heard of people wrapping duct tape around the whole extension / socket assembly to keep that from happening.

[stevec5ws6]

That sucks man best of luck.

[DRRummel]

I bought an engine support bar and lifted the engine as far as the bar would go. When we got under the engine there was a good 4 to 6 inches between the block and oil pan. While I turned to get a flexible magnet, my son just stuck his hand in the front sump and scooped up the socket.

Ended up not being to bad of a job.

The engine is buttoned up. All I have left is to charge the battery, adjust the clutch and put fluids in the engine.

Life is good. :)

[blizzard]

dejavu.. after that i got one of these and "disabled" the lock mech.. ;)

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/36070-03-500.jpg