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

[csnider]

I pulled a real dumb move today changing out my turbo in my 93. . one of the bolts that hold the compressor to the exhaust housing slipped out of my fingers and went straight down the oil return pipe DUMB, DUMB DUMB!!. . DANG!!. .

What to do? would it migrate into the deep part of the pan were I could fish it out later or should I drop the pan before I start it and ruin my engine?

is the pan doable in the frame? These bolts are not magnetic BTW... .

 

[1stgen4evr]

Murphy's law. If it can go wrong, it will.



Just how tight are you and Murphy. I have a couple of engines open and I looked to see if I could give any advise on this. The bolt will drop through to the oil pan and may be in the deep end already but it could be up the slope and poised to have a rod push it through the pan when you fire it up. Refer to first sentence.



I think the pan will come off of the fwd but it is one heck of a chore to get it down on the two wheel drive trucks. I don't own a fwd so can't advise. PM Michael Miller or Daniel Puckett. I expect they would know.



I would turn the engine by hand and see if any thing hung up, then I would muster all my courage and fire it up. OR I have a 20k pound capacity lift and I would lift the front of the truck enough to have the bolt tumble to the deep end. After that I would forget it.



James

 

[csnider]

James thanks... ... I was actually thinking about getting a tow truck to raise the front up ... ..... I think the turbo oil return dumps right were there is a bit of a slope towards the deep pan. . I just don't know how close the rods come to the shallow part of the pan otherwise I'd just let the bolt (eventually) fall (vibrate) into the deep part... . still thinking... ...

 

[DPickard]

I would try jacking the front of the truck up and draining the oil. It is posible that the bolt will flow to the back of the pan and you could fish it out with a magnet.

 

[1stgen4evr]

how close the rods come to the shallow part of the pan otherwise I'd just



Pretty darn close but I can't say exactly. I have seen post regarding changing ends with the oil pan on FWD trucks so I got to believe it will come out but have 0 experience with FWD. While it may seem silly to think of lifting the front, I probably would do that and turn the engine a full revolution by hand then proceed.



Have you drained the oil and fished around to see if you can make the bolt rattle in the deep end?



James

 

[BHiggins]

I would try dumping the oil first, before I went too crazy. The oil running out may be enough to get the bolt to where you can see/reach it. How big was the bolt? Hopefully it's small enough to fit out the drain hole, and you might get lucky. More than likely this approach WON"T work, but I would definately try it first.

On a side note, I once dropped a bolt while working on my boat. It fell between the engine and the coupling (where the clutch would be on a car or truck) I tried magnets, mirrors, those little grabby things, everything to get it out. If I laid down in the bilge, and twisted in the right way, I could touch the bolt with my finger tip, but couldn't grab it. After hours of fighting, a friend came up with the brilliant idea of Crazy Glue. I put a drop on my finger, twisted my way in, and waited about a minute. Sure enough, that bolt came right out glued to the tip of my middle finger. It was a last ditch effort, but it beat pulling the motor.

 

[csnider]

Well,

the bolt has a 13mm hex head and the overall length including the head is 17mm..... haven't drained the oil yet but I don't think the bolt rolled all the way to the deep part . . didn't sound like it anyway when it fell down the shoot. . Boy do I feel stupid right now.....

 

[BHiggins]

I wouldn't feel stupid, everyone drops bolts. Your's just had a bad landing. I would try dumping the oil, you might get lucky.

 

[RonA]

I have a 92 4wd. My motor is an '02 but I'm not sure if there is a pan difference. I knocked a plug into the pan when i was putting my twins on. I was able to take all the pan bolts out and bring the rear of the pan over to the drivers side. Then I was able to reach into the pan from the drivers side and pull the plug out. It is tight. I am 6'2" and 290lbs. Ex discus and hammer thrower. No skinny anything. An average size person should be able to reach in and find it with no problem. Good luck.



Ron

 

[csnider]

I might just drop the pan. . I'm guessing the gasket is rubber?... looks like there is some sealent involved as well.....

 

[ptmoore]

might try using a magnet on a flex rod and go in the same way the bolt did.

 

[dpuckett]

If the bolt has a 13mm head and is 17mm long (not quite 3/4inch), are you SURE it dropped into the pan? Pull the turbo drain tube and see if it isnt lodged in there. There is a short secion of hose at the end of the metal tube- takes a screwdriver to loosen the clamps.



Remember, start with the simple and work your way up to the more compex.



1stGen4evr, as much as I appreciate the referral, I have no experience with dropping the pan, though there is lots more room immediately under the pan in a 4wd than with a 2wd.



Daniel

 

[csnider]

thanks for all the responses. . this is a great forum. I already pulled the tube and hose. I'm sure the bolt is all the way in the pan. . i was tapping the pan with a rubber mallet and it seems the bolt has rested in or near the small dimple in the front part of the pan... it seems logged now as it won't pop up when I tap the pan... .



the bolts that hold the turbo aren't magnetic. . you put a magnet on one and it barely pulls at all. . the magnet trick was my first idea but not very fruitful in this situation . . Murphys law,right

 

[duckcarvr]

hi james i would take a soft wire like safety wire and make a loop 1/2 in dia on the end and fish for it. it has to be a soft wire so you can flex it while pulling it out. dont try to loop it but just get behind it to drag it out. worked for me on a intake maniflod. another option... the furnace guy told me... ... that plumbers have a fishing wire with light and camera on it to find leaks in underground pipes even goes around corners. it seems someone should adapt that for the automotive industry. robert

 

[Yo Hoot]

Did that installing a new Chevy 350 in my friends Suburban.



I realize it's not your engine and not much help but we were lucky the engine was still on the stand so we dropped the pan ... . here's the nut



#ad

 

[1stgen4evr]

"Boy do I feel stupid right now..... "



No need for that. You can surmise from the quick responses from all these guys that they are feeling some emphathy with the problem. All of us that do or have done a good bit of mechanic work have a similar snafu tucked away in our mind. Mine cost an inframe overhaul to a Mack engine.



The gasket isn't rubber and it will have to be replaced (probably) but it might seperate and work again with blue glue. There isn't a partician in the pan to hang a bolt. You most likely already have it in the deep end. But a rubber hammer or dead blow hammer would give a greater thump without damage (to a point).



James

 

[Jgolden]

Hope you can get it to the deep end, but if not. .



If you can get any clearance after dropping the pan some flexible 3/4 hose (plastic conduit) duct-taped to a shop vac might find the bolt. It will hold it even if it can't "swallow " it.

Won't say how I know this. Similar problem, but not the same situation.

Good luck.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Take a speaker magnet (or some other really strong magnet) and drag it alone the bottom of the pan, it might drag the bolt along the bottom to the deep end.



The bolt might not be very magnetic, but a really strong magnet like a speaker magnet most likely will drag it along, worth a shot.

 

[csnider]

Well once again thanks for all the suggestions. I drained the oil and fished around for a while with different bends of bale wire. . I though I had it in the deep end as I could give it a small bump with the rubber mallet and get it to bounce/rattle . . fished around some more with a small vaccume tube but couldn't find it. . Now I can't locate it(noisewise) with the dang mallet. . I've turned the engine over manualy a couple times with no hangup... not sure i want to start it though. . That Murphy thing you know... .....

 

[TWorline]

As long as it is in the deep end I don`t think you will have anything to worry about, it is at least 8" away from the crank and the oil pickup has a fine mesh scren on it.