[DeTomaso] OK, now I'm screwed

[Larry - Ohio Time Corp]

Hi Charlie,

Look at one of the other "nuts?" to see if they are magnetic. If so it is
time to go fish-in. First I would peek down the holes with one of the fiber
optic cable lights. My kit hooks up to the med size Mag light. It is about
8" long and should light up so you can look around. They also make magnets
on the telescoping shaft to try and get it out.

Worst cast. It is in the lifter valley. I do not think it would do much
harm. If it is in the pan it should be fine too. I dropped a pan on a '57
Chevy and found a 3/8" ratchet in there. Well oiled it was!


Larry (pulled a stud out of a cyl on my MG this way) - Cleveland

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Charles McCall
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:37 AM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] OK, now I'm screwed

Today I was checking the valve lash on my Pantera. Pretty pleased, as I
didn't have to adjust much - two valves were a little tight but not bad. 

 

I put the valve covers back on the drivers side. No problem. I started
putting the valve covers on the passenger side when I realized that I have a
problem. 

 

My valve cover bolts aren't typical bolts - they are winged stem bolt
things. When I removed them from the passenger side, in all six cases the
threaded portion remained in the head when I removed the bolt. It separated
from the stem/wing part and remained behind. No problem. But when I went to
re-install the bolts, two of the threaded portions were now missing. I don't
see them under the car. In both cases, it was the bolt hole "uphill", toward
the center of the car. Feeling around with my fingers I can't find them in
the heads. Also feeling around, there is a big galley beneath both bolt
holes that I can't feel the bottom. I have a sinking feeling that the
threaded portion may have falled out when I was wrestling the valve cover
off and may have fallen INTO the head. Since I can't find them, and since
both bolt holes are directly above this valley, I have a sinking feeling
that they have fallen inside. 

 

Now what? Where does this valley go? It surrounds the pushrod, so I assume
down to the lifters. What happens if I start the car and they are indeed in
there? (I think I know the answer)

 

Someone please tell me I don't have to pull the engine because a bolt fell
inside. Please someone tell me they swiped the bolts when I wasn't looking
and they have them. Please someone tell me that they have most likely fallen
straight into the oil pan, and if I simply drain the oil I'll find them. 

 

Charles McCall

1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375

"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"

 <http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323>
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323

 

_______________________________________________

Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA

Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/

DeTomaso mailing list
DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso