Uh oh lost a bolt in the engine. What to do

[GIT-R-DONE]

Is there any way to use a coat hanger bent in the proper way to fit up the drain plug outlet? If you cant get it out that way, I would drop the pan and find it. Peace of mind is better than always wondering if it shows up at the wrong time..... Murphys law has already got you, dont let it get you later. JMO Good Luck



As far as feeling stupid, heres a little tid bit that I did. I pulled off the intake assembly and set down the four bolts that hold it . . . set them down on top of the motor, beside the intake opening and when I came back 2 minutes later, only 3 of them were there. OOOHHHH NOOOOOO. Three of us searched for 3 ( yes three hours ) and didnt find it. Tried flashlights, mirrors and vaccum, but to no avail. Figured it went inside the head. A few weeks later, working on buttoning up all the wires ( truck is being restored ) I found it laying by the oil filter. But, at least I found it and the piece of mind both knowing where it is and knowing that I dont have to pull the head off means more to me now because I know where its at.

 

[MMiller]

Ahh, don't feel stupid... ... . just feel unlucky. I'm just glad Mr Murphy is at your house, and not mine. All these guys have great ideas. Can't answer about pulling a pan on a 4X4, I've got two, but no pan removal yet(Sorry James, I've done a bunch to my trucks but not that, yet). I'll bet RonA has the appropriate solution. Drop the pan reach in a get it, see if you can clean the pan up and reseal it. Maybe put a cherry picker on the engine, loosen the mounts up and pic the engine up aways for a little more clearance. If you can get all the gasket material off, blue goo would work fine.



I'm a diesel mechanic. So far I've never dropped anything in an engine I haven't been able to retreive. If a rocker nut fails, and ends up in the pan, I always try and find it. One machine was going to require an engine removal to get the pan off, or else a massive differental removal... ... . in the middle of a rock quarry. The customer decided to run it with knowing parts were floating around. Not my decision, and I didn't want it to leave that way, but he was paying the bill.



*I* would find the bolt, I'd hate to have a $. 50 bolt ruin a $3000 engine. Trust me, I've seen that happen... ... then again I've seen lots of engines run many hours with 'extra' parts floating around. Just remember, Mr. Murphy is still at your house .



Michael

 

[csnider]

Yes!!

AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh,

just go that bolt out... I found a real high power magnet about a 1/4 inch round that can lift 3. 5 pounds. . I experimented with a turbo bolt and it could barely lift it ( not much iron in the bolt) but if you hook up with a flat edge of the bolt it had enough power to lift it with no sudden jolts. . put about a 130 degree bend in the tubing attached to the mag and fished it out of the pan That's a load off!!!

Thanks for all the concerned replys and help

 

[1stgen4evr]

(not much iron in the bolt)



Probably not significant one way or the other but I expect there is plenty of iron in the bolt. The alloying to stop rust makes a material that is less magnetic even though it is iron for the most part.



Glad you got it out. I know you will drive easier.



James

 

[TWorline]

Glad to hear Mr. Murphy has left the building! I will be changing my turbo soon, hope he`s not heading this way.