It's steel and you need to get it out of there if you want your motor to live. More than likely it did make it's way to the pan, but drop it and make sure.
besides when it isnt there you will have the problem of the shaft falling out every time you need to pull the distributor.
If it is in the bottom of the pan it will almost certainly not cause any problem in the future but weird things do happen.'
If it came off that easy it must be damaged. Get a new one that stays in place.
dkp
it keeps the oil pump drive shaft "sandwiched" between the oil pump, once installed, and the block. By securing the pump drive, it won't be pulled out of the oil pump during distributor removal and fall into the oil pan.So what does that little clip do? I have seen it on my tear down but seen no use for it.
Or installed upside downbesides when it isnt there you will have the problem of the shaft falling out every time you need to pull the distributor.
If it is in the bottom of the pan it will almost certainly not cause any problem in the future but weird things do happen.'
If it came off that easy it must be damaged. Get a new one that stays in place.
dkp
I'm guessing the clip was installed on the wrong end of the shaft to begin with. The clip should be just under the dist. end of the shaft to keep the shaft from pulling out of the pump when it hits the block where the dist. gear rides a pond pulling the dizzy. Does this make sense to anyone.Or installed upside down![]()
Next the pump rod will end up in the pan next time you pull the dist. if you don't have the clip on it.....been there, done that.......Just sayin'.........
Rob
Makes sense to me...I'm guessing the clip was installed on the wrong end of the shaft to begin with. The clip should be just under the dist. end of the shaft to keep the shaft from pulling out of the pump when it hits the block where the dist. gear rides a pond pulling the dizzy. Does this make sense to anyone.
Dan