Dropped cam pin down head...help

[bigjae46]

This would be an amazing discovery before tearing into oil pan. Nice eyes terra.

🤞

Not only amazing but hilarious.


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[Cubieman]

Holy shit, bendy magnet 2nd try from the hole it went down! It looks to be fully intact as well.

I lucked out in that I believe the piece was in the portion of the pan I have circled in red and with it being so big probably didn't move very or maybe even stayed upright.

On a side note I want to apologize in advance as now I am nervous and after VANOS install my exhaust cam ended up being out of time according to the timing tool, it lifts about 4mm up off the intake side of the head. I'll surely be asking a bunch of timing questions now and posting more pics etc etc.

Thanks for all your help guys.

[eacmen]

Congrats! It was where you thought it was the whole time.

[Cubieman]

Now my M3 is saying "don't you fucking touch me".

[eacmen]

Step one on timing advice:

get another timing pin.

Maybe check the bridge to ensure its straight.

[Cubieman]

Step one on timing advice:

get another timing pin.

Maybe check the bridge to ensure its straight.

I bought another pin today at the dealership and the bridge sits flush on head so I am going to loosen the bolts and try again, and work very slowly.

Exhaust side is off, but its more like 1.5-2mm the bridge is lifted from the head, not 4mm as I had said above. Before Vanos install the intake cam pin would freely insert and now post vanos install I have to lift the bridge a bit for the pin to insert but the bridge is flush on head. I'll have to look at both cams likely, not quite sure what went wrong there.
The thing that has me a but confused is at TDC my cyl 1 cam lobes do not point to each other at a 45° as per Beisan. This was the case before I touched anything.

[BubbaTree]

Hey guys ... I don't want to come late to the party, since I had nothing useful top contribute, yet. We all know that step one on anything having to do with this engine head is plug those friggin' holes with rags!

[heinzboehmer]

Niiiice. Glad you managed to get it out without dropping the pan.

Looks like a clean break too. It would have sucked if you pulled out the big piece only to find that there were still smaller pieces hanging out in your oil pan.

[Mspir3d]

Glad you found it. I’ve never enjoyed timing engines. It took me 3 tries to get the timing on the M3 perfect when I did it last spring.

[Cubieman]

Glad you found it. I’ve never enjoyed timing engines. It took me 3 tries to get the timing on the M3 perfect when I did it last spring.

I wish you lived down in Lincoln, I would have payed you for your time. I took my vanos off as the timing process turned out incorrect. I am very well out of my comfort zone right now to be honest, learning though.

[eacmen]

Glad you found it. I’ve never enjoyed timing engines. It took me 3 tries to get the timing on the M3 perfect when I did it last spring.

First time I ever did it, took me 8 attempts.

[Cubieman]

First time I ever did it, took me 8 attempts.

When you re-timed did you remove the vanos between each attempt?

[Mspir3d]

I’m always willing to help if you have beer. Unfortunately with things like timing that I’ve only done once, your experience is about as good as mine. I spent a lot of time reading the beisan documents. Tightening down the sprockets and installing the vanos without the timing moving was a challenge but you’ll get it.

[eacmen]

When you re-timed did you remove the vanos between each attempt?

At least removed it away from the head, yes.

[Cubieman]

At least removed it away from the head, yes.

I wonder if one could re-use the gasket in this case. Although it does crush when the vanos is fully tightened to the head so maybe not. I've got one more gasket on hand, hopefully I'll get the timing right next try.