Don"t touch that bolt

[Brian T]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Mike used the correct term. It is a plug, and it has a pipe thread. Replacing it with or using a bolt or screw can damage the threads in the block, but "touching it" (whatever that means) doesn't hurt anything.

I've never had a pump fall down; if it's loose it just drops with the pan, and Unless you've got it on a lift, and it should happen to momentarily stick when the pan is dropped, I don't see how severe damage could occur, and even that seems unlikely.

Ray,
There was a change to the way the pump spring was retained --- SB Feb 30 , the reason was Ford were concerned that if an oil pan was replaced and the spring which originally was clipped to the oil pan (not the pump) and forgotten, the lock bolt once removed, the pump falls down resulting no oil pressure or worse tangled up in the crankshaft.
Only the plug as a pipe thread, a fine thread bolt can be used snugged up lightly.