Can the pan be removed as it sits, or do I have to do major things like pulling the motor on this F250 4wd? Series of unfortunate events-the oil pump shaft is gone. No idea where it is. Only thing I can think is that it was in the base of the distributor, slightly caught, and when I removed the distributor, it came up, then fell out, back down inside the motor. I put in the new distributor without realizing anything was wrong and at some point during my cranking, it could not anymore turn over...some hand manipulation with a rachet on the crank, I got it to move and later figured out I had no pressure. Looking down inside the distributor hole, the shaft hole-its nowhere to be seen.

1-hoping it fell down into the pan
2-if my theory is right a new shaft fixes the issue
3-if somehow it sheared off, then a new shaft won't go into the pump properly and I'll have to remove the pan.

Hope to get er done by the weekend.

 

Regardless of 2wd or 4wd the engines sit in the frame the same. You can pull the pan and replace the gaskets, seals, etc by disconnecting the mounts and raising the front of the engine. But you might have to pull the fan as it may hit the shroud otherwise.

 

If it sheared you may have a locked up oil pump. You will have to take the exhaust loose also. Gary and I just changed the oil pan gasket on a Bronco. The pan can be dropped w/o pulling the motor out.

 

Ordered a new shaft, dropped it in, and fired up the truck. Pressure is fine. Now I will have to drop the pan as far as I can, and put in my long magnetic tool to hopefully find it without entirely removing the pan...Or just leave it in there lol.

 

I would get it out. The crank could punch it right through the oil pan if it gets in the right position.

 

I think I have heard of people leaving it in there with no problems. Originally it had a little clip that bumps against the casting of the block, keeping it from coming out of the pump. Two things can happen.

1. Someone had the engine apart and somehow lost the clip off the shaft or

2. The shaft was so stuck in the bottom of the distributor, that after pulling and jerking with a lot of force to get it out, the whole shaft comes out with the distributor and the clip has slid off into the bottom of the pan.