Here it is in the oil pan of the 455 in my 71 98.

 

Ack! I'm guessing that went in through the distributor hole?

 

A well guided magnet or pickup claw and a lotta luck!

 

Yes, it fell into the distributor hole. I was planning to leave it there, but on second thought...

 

Put a neodymium magnet under it.

 

I'm surprised. I though that only happened with 10mm sockets,

 

Good idea. We'll see if I go with that. 🤔

Maybe on my 86 F250 or my 96 98, but I don't think there's a single metric fastener on our classic Oldsmobiles. 😁

 

Just leave it, it's not going anywhere and there is 0 chance for it to do any damage.

 

Agreed, though the thought of a magnetic drain plug also came to my mind.

 

Thanks for the comments and advice. I'll keep everyone updated.

 

I'm thinking it will never bother a thing, as long as we continue to have gravity and you keep car on its tires! Yeah it would be nice to get it out. I dropped a bolt down into a 5.4 Ford right up front where the timing chain is. I just rolled engine over by hand, making sure no noises, etc. Then ran truck until I sold it much later.

 

Had a timing chain break on a V-6 Chevy (229 CID) in an Impala in the eighties. Customer made a panic stop, an extra from the factory rocker arm nut rolled forward and was jammed onto one of the gears which snapped the chain. It was the only time I've seen a GM chain snap. Lot of bad stars must have aligned that day.

I agree it will very likely be fine if you can't get it out, The addition of an external magnet is a good idea.

Good luck!!!

 

Unless, of course, the engine could come out anyway for fresh gaskets and paint..... Giddy up! 🤣

 

Any other sockets you don't need? Toss them in there, as well...misery loves company.

 

Unlike the plastic timing gear spockets, this will not get sucked up into the oil pump screen,

 

I pulled apart a small block Chevy that had 2 extra rod nuts I.m in the oil pan. The wagon it came out of had 150K miles on it and didn’t appear to have ever had major work done. I’m betting they had been there since day one. Looks like whoever torqued rod nuts on the assembly line was either new, or had way too much to drink the night before.

 

Jesse, the guy with the red beard will know!

 

When I was removing my distributor, I had the rod that connects from the bottom of the distributor to the oil pump fall off on me and it went right down to the bottom of the oil pan. I used one of those retractable magnets, the one that looks like a pen when its retracted and a car antenna when it is outstretched. It took some doing getting it past the intake manifold as it wanted to stick there, and then more effort once it was submerged.

It took try after try for about an hour and I was about to give up when I felt and heard that un-mistakeable CLICK and I knew I had it. Not unlike landing that big bass you've been after all season!

And another thing, why does this stuff always happen only when it's about 15 degrees out!

 

I bought a magnetic oil pan drain plug.

https://votex-us.com/

I already test fit it to make sure it would work, but I haven't installed it and added oil yet.

 

Two & 1/2 yrs later...and?

 

It's probably still there....

 

Yep, I thought about it this morning when I posted the link to this thread. I guess that is an extra reason to keep my hands on this car. I need to get that socket for my collection of treasures.