While pulling my distributor today, the oil pump intermediate shaft came part way out with it (probably suction from oil). Before I could grab it, it fell back into the engine. Luck was with me, because it fell back into it's hole rather then off to the left and into the engine proper!! However, it fell back in cockeyed, and while I can jiggle it around with a screwdriver, I can't get it to drop all the way down into it's pump socket. I have some magnetic retrievers, but they are just too big to go down the hole.

Anybody ever have this happen to them? And what did you do about it, short of pulling the pan and pump? Thanks, Polkat