[DeTomaso] OK, now I'm screwed

[asajay at asajay.com]

I'm probably responding late....

Get a magnet and fish around in the head.  See if you can slip it past  
a pushrod.

Take two pushrods out, you're in there adjusting lash anyway just  
loosen two up.  Using a flashlight peer through one while fishing with  
a magnet through the other.

Worst case, pull the manifold to inspect.

Yea, if you have one in there, it will munch your cam, way bad ju-ju.

Find them.

Asa Jay

Quoting Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com>:

> 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
>
>
>
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