Would it make a difference if I were to take the retainer ring of the shaft and drop it in from the top (distributor hole)?
DON'T DO IT! If you miss the pump, that "tinkle" you hear will be your invitation to pull the pan.
Actually, the pan is already off. I still have to remove the rack and pinion in order to get the pan to drop enough. Also, in order to drop my rack and pinion, I have to take my end links off the anti-sway bar so I can remove the bolts from my rack and pinion so it will drop. Then I still need to disconnect my pick up tube bolts so my pump will drop enough so I can push the shaft upward. If the shaft misses and drops in the pan no big deal, I just get it and try again.
Reason #2. If you don't install the retainer ring, you run the risk of doing the same thing when you remove the dist for any reason after the engine is assembled. Sometimes the shaft will come out with the dist and then fall when the dist is just about out......ask me how I know.
Quickshift,
Now that make sense to me! I already dropped my rack and pinion, and moved my anti-sway bar so the bolts for the R&P are out. I found my original pump shaft, it was in there just not where it should be ( I know... newbe). I still need to drop my pick up tube so I have room to put the shaft where it should be. I better get back to work before it gets dark. Thanks!
Well, the shaft was in there, just not in the small hole. It was in the opening right next to it. I didn't know it could do that. I figured (A) hole, only one opening....wrong. Well I can see it from above, so IF it stays there all I have to do is put it all back together. Live and learn.
I've done it on a '78 Fairmont that wrung the shaft off, as long as the shaft falls into the pan there's no problem...
Pump was locked on that Fairmont, I just turned it backwards and a piece of valve stem seal puked out the oil filter adapter... With a fresh shaft she was off and running, fix(if you can call it that) took maybe 15 minutes...
I took the distributor and put it in place, then pulled it out just make make sure all was well. Shaft stayed right where it is supposed to. The pump is in place and tightened down. Tomorrow I will put the pan back on and fill it with oil then spin the pump. My cheap oil gauge has a transparent line, so I will be able to see if I'm getting oil pressure.
can get away without the retainer,
stuff the pump shaft up into a 12'' or longer vac hose just a little.
aim down in the hole, rotate the pump shaft till it drops into the oil pump, then rotate the vac line off the top of the oil pump shaft.
most times than not, the oil pump shaft will stay stuck up in the dizzy when extracting the dizzy for some reason in the future.
I have to disagree. My personal attempts show that more often than not, the shaft falls when the distributor is halfway out. It's not worth the risk.
you are right, i agree but when you extract a dizzy and find the shaft on the end of the dizzy, whats a man suppose to do?
i am curious about this topic anyway, something small to discuss but yet interesting in that on my 20th, the motor has not been extracted as far as i know but yet my oil pump shaft came out with the dizzy,,, like the factory did not put it in. what are the odds ?
What you did, would be a cold day in a extreme southern region before I'd pull the pan to install the retainer, if the shaft falls in the pan just install another... As long a it has oil pressure, I'm surely not loosing any sleep over it...
??????????????????? Where did the factory clip go!!!!!! Why is it missing from the shaft???
:hick::hick:
Tom,
Read the first question on this thread and you will see that I still have the retainer on both the original and store bought shafts. I put the new one in with the retainer in from the bottom like it should be, I did not drop it in from the top. Today, I try to start my car again. I need prayers!