The title says it all, mid-way into my new spark plug wire job, plenum removed and all, a little 10mm nut slipped out of my hand and tinkered down into the abyss. Its headed somewhere in the direction of cylinder 8 (back left when you are looking from the front of the engine). I have tried retrieving it with a little magnet from both down the intake, and through the spark plug hole with no avail. My magnet on a string gets stuck on something before reaching the bottom and cant get all the way down. Does anyone have any idea where it could have ended up? Needless to say, Ill be covering the intake with a rag from here on out.

 

It has to be at a top of one of the valves. Maybe you could coax into the combustion chamber and out the spark plug hole by slowly rotating the crank by hand. Considering the price of a Valley Pan Gasket, I would just take off the lower manifold, and not risk damaging a valve.

 

I really doubt that a nut will fit through the gap of an open valve, so it's just going to be hanging out in the manifold and potentially causing damage. Pull the manifold, or keep trying with the magnet.

 

I will be removing the lower manifold here shortly. Wish me luck!

 

 

I'd try a shop vac on it first. You never know if it's a good enough suction you "might" be able to suck it up. Just an idea before you tear into it as a last resort.

 

Yes, modify a vacuum attachment...making it small and flexable (think rubber hose)...and use that to pull the nut out of the valve area. Turning over the engine will do nothing, since the valves only open very little.

Brian.

 

Mission accomplished boys. I had to pull the lower manifold to be able to reach it but at least it's over. Thanks for all the help!

 

Whew!

 

Well, since you are that far...if the head gaskets have never been time...no time like the present.

​​​​​​​ Brian.