small nut big problem

[Scottem]

During the installation of a dual quad set up, a small 1/4" nut may have fallen into one of the four front cyclinders.

The intake has been removed and I'm able to look around the valves and there appears to be nothing. Put a magnet down there and still nothing. I've searched all around the engine, engine bay and under the car. My conclusion is that the nut may have fallen into a combustion chamber and is probably sitting on top of a piston.

Is there a special tool which can be used to find and retrieve the nut? Go through the spark plug hole?

[Chevy]

Scott,
there are video scopes now for occasions like yours:
https://www.mechanicstoolsupply.com/...pes/index.html
they are a little pricey but may be worth not having to tear your engine down or worse wrecking a valve, piston, crank or block...

If you take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over by hand you may be able to put a magnet wand in the spark plug holes, or you may even be able to hear the nut in there.

Good luck!
Paul

[Scottem]

Thanks for the help, much appreciated !

[MrQuick]

I bought a small magnet at a science show many years ago. Its 1/8" in diameter and about a 1/4" long. But it can pick up a 9" 5/8" snap on wrench. I epoxied that to a piece of thick copper wire just for problems you are having right now.
Don't crank that motor till you find that nut. Hopefully its sitting on your tool box.

[zbugger]

I bought a small magnet at a science show many years ago...

Ummm... What were you doing at a science show? See, I KNEW you were a geek in hiding.

[Scottem]

Thanks MrQuick ! Its ingenuity like that which helps to make this forum great.

[paul67]

Solder up a small car light bulb connect to the battery and put it down the spark plug hole you might see it.

[megaladon6]

do you know which cylinder? i'm assuming that there's only one with the intake valve open.
thetoolwarehouse.net and i'm sure other places have a flexible LED flashlight with a magnet around the light. it's a little easier than going in blind or trying to put a magnet and a light in a small area.

[Scottem]

do you know which cylinder? i'm assuming that there's only one with the intake valve open.
thetoolwarehouse.net and i'm sure other places have a flexible LED flashlight with a magnet around the light. it's a little easier than going in blind or trying to put a magnet and a light in a small area.

cylinder #6 is suspect
Looked through thetoolwarehouse.net and found a few tools, the link below caught my eye.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SLI-PV618.html

Thanks for the help (everyone), it gives this "butter-fingers" some hope..

[TonyL]

Check with your local big autoparts store. They may rent the scope you need.

[GSXTRA]

snap on sells a really nice scope with a color screen and it lights up the inside of what you are looking at. see if your local dealer would demo it for you. Then its problem solved for free.

[Scottem]

Thanks guys, I'll check out the local autoparts store. Worse comes to worse, then I'll invest in a nice scope.

[Scottem]

Obtained a scope at a local auto parts store and found the nut. After looking at the front four cylinders and finding nothing it was time to use the scope on the top portion of the transmission. The nut ended up being located on top of the transmission (4spd toploader).

The saga is over..

[MrQuick]

damn, you know its always the last place you look. glad you found it.