Awesome - Thanks, Stretch. Those pics show exactly what I wanted to see.

Again, thanks for your replies/efforts.

Well, it's been a busy couple weeks. I never found the lost woodruff key, not with the wand camera in the engine, not on the floor after a good sweep up, not anywhere in the engine bay. So I put it all back together and cranked it up this week, and . . . it runs fine. No weird noises, no "CRUNCH", just happy diesel sounds.

Thanks to all who offered ideas and suggestions.

Stick a magnet on the underside of the oil pan and see if that catches it?

Did you check the bottom of your shoes? I once spent the better part of a day looking for a dropped small part. Gave up feeling defeated, went in inside and sat down with my foot on my knee and there it was... stuck in the shoe tread.

If you mean running a magnet up into the space towards the rear of the engine in the in the upper oil pan, under the crank, yes I did and there was nothing. I also ran the camera on a wand into that space and saw nothing.

I'm pretty sure at this point that it didn't end up in the engine. :)

That's a good one! The tread on my shop shoes is pretty shallow - it never got caught in there. I'd have felt it, too.

Thanks!

Yes indeed!!! I lost a bolt while changing my valve stem seals, I searched for an hour and could not find it after searching nearly everywhere. I tried the ol replicate the drop and I ended up losing the other one as well. It took me 3 hours as I was then forced to remove the fan, radiator and almost the being support bracket. I ended up using a 27mm socket to crank the engine and the crank seemed to jam, ended up finding one bolt wedged between the crank and the other was caught up right in the front by the oil cooler hose.

I was actually thinking about just leaving a magnet on the oil pan and then checking that area at the next oil change

Phew - at least you found them!

Let's take it one step further-get a magnetic drain plug. If it's in the pan, you will get it on the next oil change.

I like that idea. I've got a perfect piece for the job, a decent sized chunk of rare earth magnet.

I was looking at the drain hole, and it is indeed large enough for the key to pass through. While looking for the lost key I wondered if it had fallen into the oil pan and ended up coming out with the oil. I strained the oil from the dump pan and looked in there but didn't find it.

I'll do the next best thing: I'll place my magnet just inside the drain hole. It'll be easy to peak in there with the plug out next oil change. If it ends up in the oil pan stuck to the magnet I'll remove the outer magnet and use my new, smaller magnet on a stick to drag it out the hole.

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.

Here are some pics of the beast. '74 240D that was a European Delivery car. It's got some stuff I've not seen in a W115 before, like the rubber mats, the first aid kit in the front passenger foot well, and the hazard triangle. Came with the original tools and even some snow chains. I also like that it lacks the vacuum powered central locking system. I also dig the single speaker radio setup.

If that key ends up stuck to the magnet I'll report back. Thanks again everyone.

Found it - the key's under the dog!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...dweller_sm.jpg