[DeTomaso] OK, now I'm screwed

[Thomas Tornblom]

Charles McCall skrev:
> 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)

Perhaps you can use something like this:

http://www.biltema.se/products/productimage.asp?iItemId=79487

It is a flexible LED-light with a magnet on both the tip and the base. 
It has saved me on a few occasions when I have dropped screws in 
confined spaces.

Pull the cover, light the light and stick it down through one of the 
large push-rod openings and feel around. If they are down there you 
might catch them.

God luck!

Thomas (with hydraulic rollers as I hate having to adjust the valves :-)

> 
>  
> 
> 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
> 
>  
> 
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-- 
Real life:   Thomas Törnblom             Email:  Thomas.Tornblom at Hax.SE
Snail mail:  Banvallsvägen 14            Phone:    +46 18 444 33 21
              S - 754 40 Uppsala, Sweden  Cellular: +46 70 261 1372