I might've dropped a bolt down the dizzy hole...

[thecatseye66]

BUT I CAN'T FIND IT!

I didn't actually see it go in, it just fell off the back of the manifold when I was pulling it off. I checked both sides of the tranny and the frame rails for about an hour and I can't find it.
I tried to use my telescoping magnet thingy down in the dizzy hole but it came up empty. I used a mirror and all I can see is the end of the oil pump rod and the cam gear but no bolt.
Is there enough space down there for the bolt to bounce all the way down into the oil pan?

[jeffspower]

What size, or which bolt in particular did you drop?

[thecatseye66]

It was the second to the last manifold bolt on the passenger side. I pulled the last one out completely before I pulled the distributor so this wouldn't happen. I removed all the bolts but forgot the next one forward until after I pulled the dizzy. Then, when I went to lift it out it kinda popped up and rolled and disapeared toward the firewall.

[Rascal_one2001]

you may have to pull your spark plugs and hand turn the engine a few turns and listen and pray if you hear a noise it is a nice little clunk in the oil pan. I did the same thing with the distibuto hold down bolt on my brother 454 but luckly we were already tearing it down to rebuild it.( but I did hear the clunk in the oil pan when i hand turned it. ) worked for me hope it works for you or mabe you wil see the bolt sitting on the shop floor behing the driver side tire.

[jeffspower]

I wouldn't turn it at all. Do an exhaustive search in every nook & cranny on/under/around the truck. If you turn the engine, you could end up with the bolt pinched between a counterweight & piston skirt, messing up the piston. I have used a cheapo borescope thru the pan plug hole many times to find 4 bolt main blocks & other stuff. You might just have to drop the pan.

[timcos]

Pick the engine up with both hands, invert and shake vigorously.

You will hear it rattle and it will drop right out.

[thecatseye66]

Originally Posted by jeffspower

You might just have to drop the pan.

I don't mind dropping the pan at all...I just want to know if the opening near the cam gear is big enough for the bolt to pass through so I could fish it out from below. It's a 396...

[thecatseye66]

Originally Posted by timcos

Pick the engine up with both hands, invert and shake vigorously.

You will hear it rattle and it will drop right out.

Do'nt you think I should pull the motor out of the truck first?

[jeffspower]

I'm pretty sure it could fall thru- If you get to the point where you are commited to pulling the pan- try dropping a same size bolt in there- if it falls thru- so what- you're going in anyway. If you can't make it fall thru no matter how it lands, then I would be puzzled...

[jeffspower]

Just a few little stories here- years ago I was installing a rebuilt Cat 3208 in a Louisville Ford. I was down to the last 3/8" intake crossover bolt- which was laying on the cowl w/flatwasher. I picked it up to put it on, & the flatwasher fell into the intake. I thought no problem, runners are big, I'll get it with a magnet- it might be laying on a valve- but odds would be strongly in my favor that it didn't pick a port with the valve open. Yeah right. One of the reasons I don't gamble. After pulling the exhaust manifold, cranking the valve down as far as it would go & trying to fish it out of the cylinder thru the exhaust port for hours- I ended up pulling the head. There it was standing on edge against the cylinder wall.

A friend couldn't find a 1/4" valve cover bolt on his Cad motor one day. Gave up & fired it up. No problem until he goosed the throttle- it was laying in the intake plenum & got sucked down into a cylinder- & split it open to the water jacket.