Opg install, Whats all required?

[Mootang]

Did some more OPG today and hit a bump in the road. The screw that everyone is talking about at the oil pump is not going in. I got threaded and felt a lot of resistant. Pulled the entire OPG off again and check the threads. Screw will go in cleanly and minimal resistance. Re-installed and it felt like I am stripping the damn thing. So I pulled it off again and checked, it was fine...again. I am at a point where I may be screwed or need to tap the threads again?

:frusty:

Will try again on Wednesday I guess... :shrug:

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[db252]

Are you referring to the oil pump bolts that hold the pickup tube to the block?

 

[Mootang]

Are you referring to the oil pump bolts that hold the pickup tube to the block?

Yes, the two bolts that connects the pickup tube from the oil pan to the oil pump. The screw that is easy to get to goes in fine, but the hard to reach one is the one having issues. Tried all kinds of way and fished for the bolt multiple times after dropping it in the oil pan lol.

 

[db252]

Just saying to make sure you've done this but don't tighten down the easier bolt. There is alignment issues if you don't get them both threaded before tightening down. If the easier bolt is already tightened down, loosen it so there is some play in the tube and then add the harder bolt to the point it's snugly threaded all the way in and then tighten them.

 

[Mootang]

Just saying to make sure you've done this but don't tighten down the easier bolt. There is alignment issues if you don't get them both threaded before tightening down. If the easier bolt is already tightened down, loosen it so there is some play in the tube and then add the harder bolt to the point it's snugly threaded all the way in and then tighten them.

I tried a little bit of that already, but going to try it again Wednesday. Looks like I have to play with it more to get it just right. Thanks [MENTION=20657]db252[/MENTION]

 

[db252]

Anytime and don't hesitate with questions. Be sure to try the electrical tape method to prevent the bolt from dropping in the pan.

 

[Mootang]

Anytime and don't hesitate with questions. Be sure to try the electrical tape method to prevent the bolt from dropping in the pan.

I been wondering about that. Do you poke the bolt through the non sticky side and then try to put the bolt in and then stick it somewhere? Or does the sticky side goes towards the bolt head and stick to a wrench?

 

[Roh92cp]

The inner bolt angle needs to be spot on to get it to thread, I had this issue as well. Keep trying and make sure you try adjusting the angle of the bolt as you try and get the threads to catch. I miss judged the angle and it took me a while to get the bolt to thread, but once I tried a different angle bam! The oil pump pickup is in an odd position and can be hard to gauge to get that bolt in straight. You may also need to try and move the pickup tube slightly with a screw driver while trying to thread it.

 

[Crackerjack17]

Tried all kinds of way and fished for the bolt multiple times after dropping it in the oil pan lol.

Just stuff a plastic market bag, trash bag, towel, shirt, whatever under it. Then you can drop it all you want, doesn't go anywhere.

 

[db252]

I been wondering about that. Do you poke the bolt through the non sticky side and then try to put the bolt in and then stick it somewhere? Or does the sticky side goes towards the bolt head and stick to a wrench?

The sticky side has nothing to do with this process as the oils from touching it make it mere stickyless. It is nothing but a leash to hold the bolt until it starts to thread and then you pull on it to break away the tape and finish tightening the bolt.

 

[jabrax]

Motor mounts I can probably do, the sway bar was pretty hard to install and I don't want to touch it. In person, the sway goes across it just at the bottom of balance. If looking head on, it is covering 1.5in from the bottom of the balancer up. How far does the balancer need to go out before it is off the crank? I just hope my puller will make it in, if not, I will have to raise the engine, which sucks.

If I recall correctly, you can just take the bolts our of the swaybar mounts, which gives you the ability to move is around enough to clear without removing

Edit **Clearly you are way past this point now LOL**

 

[Mootang]

The inner bolt angle needs to be spot on to get it to thread, I had this issue as well. Keep trying and make sure you try adjusting the angle of the bolt as you try and get the threads to catch. I miss judged the angle and it took me a while to get the bolt to thread, but once I tried a different angle bam! The oil pump pickup is in an odd position and can be hard to gauge to get that bolt in straight. You may also need to try and move the pickup tube slightly with a screw driver while trying to thread it.

I figured as much. Will give it another go tomorrow. Needed a break today from the frustration lol.

Just stuff a plastic market bag, trash bag, towel, shirt, whatever under it. Then you can drop it all you want, doesn't go anywhere.

I keep forgetting that especially when you at into the process, common sense seems to fly out form time to time.

The sticky side has nothing to do with this process as the oils from touching it make it mere stickyless. It is nothing but a leash to hold the bolt until it starts to thread and then you pull on it to break away the tape and finish tightening the bolt.

I see it in my mind right now and can imitate it. Will give this a shot tomorrow. I been using a 10 mm flex head wrench to stick it into the oil pan, bend the head, and dropped the screw into the wrench hole and then slowly raising it to thread it. Its still hard because the head will bend back out with slight force and the screw will fall into the oil pit of doom.

So, I am going to try the black electrical tape method and use a tool to move the pickup tube around to see if that will help. Thanks all, will update everyone on this tomorrow night. In the mean time, here are a few pics of what I did so far:

 

[Mootang]

If I recall correctly, you can just take the bolts our of the swaybar mounts, which gives you the ability to move is around enough to clear without removing

Edit **Clearly you are way past this point now LOL**

Yea lol. I did nick some paint off the sway bar with the puller tho :doh:. Will touch it up when I put everything back together. Since the engine is lowered by 1/4 in, there was no way of removing the driver side swaybar mount bolt (the one right below the alternator). The bolt will loosen, but will not come out or loosen enough without the alternator coming out. Then the other issue is that the alternator will not come out without the mount being raised again lol. Thinking about lowering the engine down by another 1/4 in for a total 1/2 in drop after this is all finished.

 

[ahl395]

I see it in my mind right now and can imitate it. Will give this a shot tomorrow. I been using a 10 mm flex head wrench to stick it into the oil pan, bend the head, and dropped the screw into the wrench hole and then slowly raising it to thread it. Its still hard because the head will bend back out with slight force and the screw will fall into the oil pit of doom.

So, I am going to try the black electrical tape method and use a tool to move the pickup tube around to see if that will help. Thanks all, will update everyone on this tomorrow night. In the mean time, here are a few pics of what I did so far:

For installation I used the electrical tape, doesnt matter which side is which. You just hold the tape as a leash to hold the bolt if it drops.

For install I didnt use the flex head wrench to start, I used my fingers. Get them in there any way you can, if i remember right I went around the left side/back with one finger and the front with my right hand. I had a helper hold the tape leash. My finger tips just barely touched the bolt but I was able to get it in fairly easy this way. The sharp engine block did rub on my hand the whole time and gave me some nasty deep scratches but I was determined to get that damn bolt in lol. Once your sure its threaded then use the flex head wrench to tighten it down.

 

[Mootang]

Sooo..... just wanted to ask every OPG guru here since I may or may not encounter this tomorrow morning.

IF I end up having to remove the oil pan (worst case scenario), anyway to remove it by just lifting the engine on one side and motor mounts loosen? Or do I have to actually remove subframe blots to get to the oil pan as per Ford manual?

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