Debris in motor- fell into Distributor hole

[suburble]

Bad news- when I took the distributor out, a 1/2" long section of fossilized gasket teetered precariously and then dropped right down into the engine, no doubt chuckling evilly to itself the entire time.

How bad a situation am I in? I can't see the gasket piece with a flashlight and mirror. Is it a straight shot down into the oil pan? I sure don't want to put the distributor back in until I have that chunk back out or know it won't hurt anything.

Any advice?

Thanks,
-Josh

 

[bucket]

It probably fell right down to the pan. Shouldn't hurt anything at all, a piece that size is nowhere near big enough to clog the pickup screen. I'd want to drain the oil before going any further though, with any luck it will come out or at least make it's way to the drain hole where you can grab it with something.

 

[HotRodPC]

Being only 1/2 inch, and as narrow as that is, I woudln't worry about it. Worse thing that could happen, and I doubt it will, but worse that can happen is that piece make it's way to the oil pump pick up screen and that small of a piece isn't going to block much at all.

 

[suburble]

Thanks. Mainly I was worried it might be where it could block an oil passage or somehow jack up the oil pump when I put the distributor back in. I'll get everything set back in and then change the oil- I was planning on that anyway. Hopefully I'll have this thing buttoned up by this afternoon.

Thanks,
-Josh

 

[chengny]

It probably did not even get down into the pan. I bet it's just in the lifter valley. If that is where it ended up - let it be. It will just stay right there until the engine is scrapped.


The only thing that you do want to check is that it did not fall in between the slots of the oil pump shaft. That would prevent you from restabbing the distributor.

 

[suburble]

It probably did not even get down into the pan. I bet it's just in the lifter valley. If that is where it ended up - let it be. It will just stay right there until the engine is scrapped.


The only thing that you do want to check is that it did not fall in between the slots of the oil pump shaft. That would prevent you from restabbing the distributor.

Thanks. I cleaned the seating surface and flushed out the distributor hole with a couple quarts of clean oil. I didn't get a chance to put everything back together yet, but it looks good. Didn't spot the gasket chunk coming out, but it sure doesn't look to be on the oil pump shaft or the distributor drive gear on the cam. Thanks for the image of the block, it helped.

 

[NOPHO84K30]

I changed out my oil pan gasket last year and found about an inch of the top of a push rod and a middle section about the same length in the bottom. Go figure no idea how it weaseled its way down there.

 

[Irishman999]

You might as well just plan on a complete teardown, that chunk of gasket is sure to find its way into an oil galley. I think that year is the single year all pickup tubes did not have wire mesh screens. Its going to find its way into the crank and block flow to everything and put a bunch of windows in the block.

Better get on summit racing and start ordering a bunch of cool **** if you ever want to drive it again. By the way, how did so many Arizona members sneak in without me noticing?! Arizona members always get me all excited.