I've accounted for seven of the eight spacers in the old valve cover gaskets I'm replacing. The eighth is nowhere to be found. I've swept around the area with a magnet, looked around with a mirror and flashlight and searched everywhere on the ground. No dice so far. I figure it's either lost in some harmless crevasse or is way down in the engine.

What should I do? Pray everything will be fine? Any tips on places to look?

 

Spoke too soon – I found the little bastard. It was wedged in the casing around the passenger's side engine mount. Amazing how little pieces can find their way anywhere.