Bob0473

1991 L98: I am in the process of doing a redo of the valve covers and doing the china wall fix on the intake. While I was cleaning the mating surface of the block I accidently spilled a tub (it was sitting on the windshield) with three small (10mm head, 1/2 inch long threads)) bolts in it that mount the black control cables bracket onto the plenum. I never saw it happen, just the clinking of stuff hitting the cover that holds the lifters in place. When I went looking for them I only found 2 of the screws. One was in the valley the other was on the floor of the garage. I use a small extendable magnet and placed it into each orifice and fished around and came up empty. I searched extensively and no idea where the last one went. It looks as though that it's possible for the bolt to fall through the distributor hole down to the bottom of the engine. Does anyone know how much space there is down in the pan between the connecting rods and the pan of a standard L98? Maybe when I dump the oil into the valley and drain the oil I can try fishing the magnet into the drain hole. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Why do I have a sick feeling in my gut about this?

vettn71

[QUOTE=Bob0473;1587444776]1991 L98:

In the best spirit of 20/20 hindsight, the magnetic trays are nice. I'd look at renting a small bore scope to try to locate that bolt. If it ends up I the oil pan I don't think it will cause a problem

Good. Luck

Jim

PLRX

Ensure it is not around the engine bay, on top of the tranny, wedged between wires, or on the crossmember. Few weeks ago I dropped the 3/8" bolt that hold the spark wires to the heads, and I looked for over 40 minutes, and it managed to hide in between the tubes on the shorty header collector. Weird stuff do happens.

Lets hope is in the oil pan. Remove the oil plug and go fishing.

I would NOT start that engine until you withdraw that thing out if it.

jake corvette

Ahh,man,sorry to hear that. Truth is, you may never find that bolt - might be caught on a frame member or somewhere else outside the engine. However, if it were me, I'd make sure that it wasn't inside the engine - worst place would be in an intake port or a cylinder itself. Depending on my mood at the time I might or might not drop the oil pan and take a look since a small bolt in the oil sump would not bother me all that much. Other opinions will certainly differ and my guess is that most will recommend dropping the pan.

I bought an endoscope off ebay that has LED"s and a camera small enough to fit through the sparkplug hole, nice to take a peek at the cylinder without removing the head. I bought the one which has 10 meter leads which connect to a USB port. Not exactly a professional piece but it does work and cost less than $25 with free shipping - delivered directly from China. Think it might be useful even when poking around outside the engine as well.

On second thought, I probably would drop the oil pan - being kind of **** like i am - LOL.

Hope you find it external to the engine - -

Best of luck -

Jake

Cruisinfanatic

I'd like to see that. Can you post the link?

jake corvette

http://www.ebay.com/sch/6000/i.html?...momoc=1&_rdc=2




Crusin, - you bet bud - do a search on ebaymotors.com

They have a few hundred different kinds- I bought the "cheep" one LOL

Jake -

PLRX

I have one of those, it comes with a LED light and would work for the oil pan, and down the distributor's way.

MRPVette

Good luck I hope you find it

Cruisinfanatic

that is really neat.

JVH

Here's a trick I use from time to time to find a dropped bolt or nut. Cover the internals of the engine back up with the valve cover or rags. Take an air hose with an air blower attached blow off the engine and everything around it. Put the air hose all around the outside if the engine and blow air in all the small spaces it could have fallen. I usually hear the bolt or nut hit the floor after a few minutes of this. Good luck.

greest_lightnin

This is what I really like about this forum...the plethora of information that the members are willing to share.

I've found the search to be helpful, but sometimes what I'm looking for just isn't there.

Thank's gang...

Al

Bob0473

I'll likely try the easy, cheap ones first then move on to the endoscope. Thanks again!

wydopnthrtl

If its in the pan you'll be ok as there is a screen on the oil intake puck. If its in the pan, its unlikely it would get kicked up and get into moving parts. I've seen much smaller metal parts at the bottom of oil pans. Parts that I though would be light enough to get swished around and possible into the rotating assy. But they seem to just migrate to low areas and stay there.

Elsewhere though..

Churchkey

Empty the shop vac canister, tape a length of garden/heater hose into the vac hose.
Turn on the vac, go fishing.

Good luck.

C4in mesa

Yesterday I had the plastic hose connector (5/8th) where the throttle body bypass hose goes to the heater break. I had to take the A.I.R. pump off and shove it out of the way to access the hose connection. I was putting it back on and dropped a bolt deep inside the motor's mess of pulley's belt and frame. I honestly was going to just go buy another one but the flashlight revealed it. I wish your situation was as simple to fix. Years ago I had a 928 Euro a real gem. 300 HP and fast ! A tiny bolt got sucked into the engine and toasted one cyinder. White smoke just poured out of the exhaust. Take the time to save your motor from any similar situation. Good luck.

cv67

Oreillys had a scope for about $30

If its in the pan stick a fair sized magnet towards the rear of the pan
It aint going anywhere.

Lost a # of bolts working on C4s as said probably never find it.
Best I could hope for is to hear that sound when driving of one dropping out of the abyss and ricocheting off the floorboard relief!

N227GB

[QUOTE=vettn71;1587445021]A few years ago I bought a USB borescope for ~$40 - it was so useful I bought a second one for a friend's shop.

ch@0s

Here is one I used when I lost a spring. I wanted to see if the valve kissed the piston.

BOOT77

Drain the oil 1st LOL I use hardware store clear line they got several sizes and it's cheap.

Also those usb scopes are dirt, just need a laptop now.