Something magnetic around oil pump?

[guyryan100]

Hi,
I've dropped a tool down the distributor hole, I've learned I'm not the first person ever to make this mistake! Using a scope camera and a lot of patience I can see it down there (it's a hex bit on a hex extender socket, about 3" long in total), see picture below.

Two questions -

1.Should there be something magnetic down there around the oil pump? My scope camera is getting magnetically pulled toward something. I didn't think the bit I dropped was magnetic. I'm trying to determine if I have any shot of retrieving this with a telescoping magnetic retrieval tool.

2. From the photo below taken by my scope camera, any idea where this is around the oil pump and whether my taking off the intake would make it any easier to get to? I think this is at least 10 inches down.

[Getter-Done]

Do you have a reach tool with fingers.
Example below.












.

[guyryan100]

I will pick up and try a finger grabber tool like that, but since the bit can't be seen from above and seems to be standing straight up, my probability of grabbing it is not high. And if there's something magnetic down there, i figure it will grab the grabber. I thought I might have a better chance with my own magnet tool (I own neither currently).

It took about an hour of manipulating the scope camera to get a view of the bit, and I don't know exactly where the camera was when I snapped that photo.

[guyryan100]

Looking at oil pump photos I think the bit is sitting on top of the oil pump, in front of the pump drive, which would put it about 3 inches forward of the hole above it?

[MAC71Cheyenne]

If its standing up I'd go with the extendable magnet. Maybe one that has a flexible head extension. Wally World has them for a couple bucks.

[yuccales]

If the above don't work try this. Get a piece of rigid nylon tubing, duct tape it into your shop vacuum hose. Worked good for me having my wife hold the vac hose so I could concentrate on moving the tubing. This saved my tail when I dropped a screw into my bike engine. You're not trying to suck up the bit, just hold it to the tubing while removing it. I tried magnets but they stuck to everything BUT the screw! Good luck!

[toolboxchev]

Intake gaskets are cheap, sounds like your not to confident considering the circumstances.

I have seen those bit driver get magnetic over time, having the intake manifold off would be a step in the right direction.

I have had many things like this happen in the last 10 years, I am working on one right now. Remember its a small block chevy and they are pretty dam durable.

[Grumpy old man]

magnetic retrieval tool from Advance , while your there pick up a set of intake gaskets . The bit holder is magnetic . I have to ask how ?

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[HO455]

I dont know if this shot of a 74 SBC valley will help.

[guyryan100]

I've figured out that the shiny part in the top of the picture is oil in the pan, so one risk/strategy is knocking it down into the pan. As you can see there's some painters tape on there holding the bit onto its holder, I wouldn't be worried about the metal attachment being in the oil plan but painters tape might not be the best addition.

I'm going to get a magnet stick and try that, the shop vac idea is good too, I'm realizing that unless I can grab the very top end of it, there's no pulling it up through the hole - its too long to come out sideways. So my best bet might be to drop it into the pan. From there I could take out the oil pan I suppose.