Crank Sensor/Oil Pump Woes

Greetings, my '00 4.7 (Limited 4x4) was cranking-no start. I fooled with some relays and such (no luck), and got a suggestion to check the crank sensor. I see where it is and think "Easy, not in the bellhousing or something". I dropped the skid pan and the sensor is surrounded by white corrosion. Seemed the likely culprit. I bought a sensor and had at it. The 10mm bolt came out, followed by some white corrosion. I pulled on the plastic part, it crumbled like chalk. I can see a porcelain insulator. I pulled on it with some bent needle noses, it busted right off. Now, I have 2 copper conductors. I shoot the spray lube on it, it is inverted so, it runs back out. I pulled on the conductors and broke both off. I tried to get in there with picks and such, not really enough room to pry at the stuck sleeve/magnet. I figure the pump is coming off, so I buy one (rather than fool with the thing at all, not super expensive). Then (unfortunately) I look up the procedure to R&R the oil pump. "Pull the engine, 20 hours". WTF ! Really !
I'm looking for the Golden Bullet. I hope someone has the Easy Button for this. Maybe if I can get the oil filter adapter off, I'd have a little more room to struggle with the sensor. I have thought about re-locating the sensor somewhere external (front of the damper ?). I would need to know how many teeth it is expecting to look at. I found a pic of what I might need to know, I can't be sure if it's actually even the right part.


So, I'm hoping there is a better way. Who has done this with far less drama ? Is there a way to sneak the pump out without pulling the engine ? A good way to suck out a stuck stuck sensor ? Or last, is it looking for 40 teeth ? I don't want to lengthen wires, make a bracket and get it to fit and work. That does sound better than pulling the engine .
I know, crappy first post. TIA, Mike

 

Any chance you could get a similar pic showing what you're confronted with of what's left ?

 

Should look a bit more like this, if I’m not mistaken.

So here’s my idea. Try to find a rubber well nut that fits fairly snugly inside the steel sleeve of the old sensor.

Stuff it in there, thread in a long full - thread machine screw of the appropriate size / pitch, with a washer and nut already on the screw. Tighten the nut down onto the washer against the rubber well nut to expand it, and pull by the screw.

I’m thinking that you may have to pull the oil pressure sender to have enough room.

 

I could get a pic. It's dark now, I'll shoot some tomorrow. Your pic is about it though. The bolt came out, most of the plastic and innards are out. The steel sleeve and magnet are still in there. Dissimilar metal galvanic corrosion has got that stuff well stuck. I'd like to tap the point of a pick between the "sleeve" and bore hole in the pump. There is just not enough room to put any ass on it. What's involved in removing the oil filter adapter ? Maybe with it out of the way I could get a little swing on it. It would be keen to soak it in some penetrant, you can shoot it up there, it just runs out. I doubt any of has gotten between the steel sleeve and aluminum hole's bore. Thanks, I'll get a pic. Mike

 

Capillary action will pull liquid penetrant up against gravity, if there is a crack for it to fit through in the first place...you just have to keep applying.

 

Some freeze spray may be very useful to free it up too.

 

I have not had much time to actually work on it, I have looked at some stuff. The hole for the sensor goes through the pump. It's open on the inside too. I figure I can push it out from the inside easier than try to get a grip on it and pull it out from under the car. Looks like I could remove the radiator, belt, damper, lower timing cover and see it under the lower timing pulley. From in there, I hope to get a tool on it and push or pry it out.
My timing belt was fresh when I got the truck. I've never seen how it goes down there. One video said his damper came off without a puller. True ? Could a fella get the lower timing cover off without too much drama ? Anything enormous preclude it's removal ? Has anyone seen the sensor while they had theirs apart ? It lines up with the star wheel you take off before the lower timing pulley. I hope to leave the lower timing pulley intact, maybe use it to lever a lady-slipper against.

TIA, Mike