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those are the hinge bolts...remove the kick panel...reach through there and short stroke it with a ratchet...
i don't think those are the hinge bolts, i pulled the kick panel off and the hinge bolts look different. wish i knew what and where exactly where that bolt head is. thanks.
That also might be the best way to get at that Craftsman wrench I have a 3/4" diameter magnet that will grab that wrench and never let go!!!
I would be happy to send it to you...... Turn a length of all thread into the magnet and go after it!
thank you for your generous offer but it's not a straight shot, there's a 90° turn. i've taped a magnet to several different flexible rods and so far no luck. part of the problem is that i'm not sure exactly where that wrench is. the only reference i have is that bolt head.
When you put the camera in, does it go down very far? I just took this pic with my camera on my 67 convertible since the interior is apart. I found this nut at the top of the air vent cover basically. You can see it in relation to the outer duct.
For reference, that lower bolt is about where my finger is.
elwood, those pics are very helpful, the wrench is actually on top of the drain hole. the socket attached to the wrench is covering the drain hole and can be seen from under the car. so from your pics it must be in the rear bottom corner of the plenum? do you think there's any chance i could reach it if i disassembled the vent? that is, could i get my hand in there?
I just tried with my skinny fingers and it real tight. I don’t think I could reach it by hand. My dash is out so I don’t know how much easier it is. If it were me, I would try and prop up the socket with a screwdriver from underneath and then use a bendable magnet kind of like the mirror pic below, and try and grab it through the vent. Might be able to tie a magnet to a piece of string or attach it to a coat hanger. If you can get the head or tail of the ratchet vertical, I think will come out. Good luck and keep us updated.
Just went back and checked. There is a little more room towards the front of the vent but it is tight. I would prop up the ratchet if you could and drop a magnet tied to a string from the cowl vent if you can’t get it from underneath.
If you take the vent cover off you can use your camera to see what might work best.
problem is, the wrench is wedged in there. the socket is covering the drain hole so i can see and touch it from under the car. i've pried, pushed and lightly banged on it but it barely moves. maybe why i'm not having any luck with magnets. i've taken your suggestion and started removing the vent assembly but that's become a whole new pita. as you mentioned, it might give a better look if nothing else and a plan will present itself. appreciate all your suggestions, keep 'em coming.
If you have a helper, I’d try to create a hook on a stiff wire. Flattened like a branding iron, but capable of inserting from the bottom. Loop around the handle (yea, easy right) and stand the handle up so it can be reached through the vent.
elwood , pop, got the vent assembly off and can now get a couple of fingers in. i managed to get the socket off but the wrench is as jammed in there as ever. it is so perfectly wedged it's hard to believe it was just dropped in there, if i didn't know better i'd say it was built in from the factory. gonna have to quit for the night, regroup and decide how badly i want to get it out. thanks again guys.
03-19-2024, 02:58 PM
I have a 3/4" diameter magnet that will grab that wrench and never let go!!!
