Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

Bolt dropped down the plenum...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 07:51 AM
  #91  
FordTruckNoob's Avatar
FordTruckNoob
FTE Chapter Leader
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,123
Likes: 4,725
From: Henderson, NV
Club FTE Gold Member
The way it was semi-random at first and then becomes a regular tick-tick-tick leads me to believe it is in the bellhousing like @z31freakify said. Either that or it was bouncing around in the cup of a piston before the right moment where it embedded itself into the top of the piston and and is now hammering the head.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 08:16 AM
  #92  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member
Look behind water pump pulley with a magnet on a stick.

I still don’t think that bolt can fit through the valve. I’ll see if i can replicate this scenario with a loose head. The worst case scenario would be bolt fell in and held valve open. I think this would be more obvious (like banging hammers together) and you’d feel/hear it when rotating engine by hand.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 08:31 AM
  #93  
Sous's Avatar
Sous
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Veteran: Air Force
Community Builder
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,354
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
FTE Emeritus
Another thought is to remove the IDM relay or disconnect the 42 pin harness and use the starter to try and narrow down the location with the help of a friend or a starter switch.

Definitely in/around the engine somewhere though and not on the floor. Sorry for your trouble and we are all hopeful that it is someplace that is easily fixed.

I have to say, I probably would have said a few colorful words and closed the door a bit harder if that had been me in the video.

Keep us updated.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 08:37 AM
  #94  
acdiez's Avatar
acdiez
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 61
Likes: 16
From: Carrollton, OH
Originally Posted by SkySkiJason
Look behind water pump pulley with a magnet on a stick.

I still don’t think that bolt can fit through the valve. I’ll see if i can replicate this scenario with a loose head. The worst case scenario would be bolt fell in and held valve open. I think this would be more obvious (like banging hammers together) and you’d feel/hear it when rotating engine by hand.
This is my thinking as well. You would think the bolt went forward and depending on how stiff the wire it was holding was, would probably clear the plenums when it disappeared and landed towards the front of the engine
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 08:59 AM
  #95  
FordTruckNoob's Avatar
FordTruckNoob
FTE Chapter Leader
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,123
Likes: 4,725
From: Henderson, NV
Club FTE Gold Member
Now what happens if he finds the bolt and the tick-tick-tick persists?
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 09:13 AM
  #96  
Walleye Hunter's Avatar
Walleye Hunter
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Originally Posted by FordTruckNoob
Now what happens if he finds the bolt and the tick-tick-tick persists?
C'mon man, one step at a time.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 10:21 AM
  #97  
BA86f250's Avatar
BA86f250
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 2
You might consider pulling VCs and trying to look through the glow plug holes if you can figure out a way to look in there. Not sure how big your endoscope is but it seems possible that the bolt could be wedged in the piston bowl and just lightly contacting the head.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 10:43 AM
  #98  
clineco's Avatar
clineco
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 107
Likes: 8
From: North California
How does one go about looking in the bell housing?

I'll have a look behind the water pump pulley. Thank you everyone. Needless to say this sucks.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 10:48 AM
  #99  
FordTruckNoob's Avatar
FordTruckNoob
FTE Chapter Leader
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,123
Likes: 4,725
From: Henderson, NV
Club FTE Gold Member
Take the flywheel/flex plate inspection cover on the bottom off.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 11:16 AM
  #100  
url's Avatar
url
Tuned
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 106
From: Jackson, WY
Oh man.. this thread is a brutal read. If it's any consolation your truck looks awesome in the video. Hoping that you are able to get this resolved quickly and easily from here.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 11:30 AM
  #101  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by BA86f250
You might consider pulling VCs and trying to look through the glow plug holes if you can figure out a way to look in there. Not sure how big your endoscope is but it seems possible that the bolt could be wedged in the piston bowl and just lightly contacting the head.
Pretty sure valve doesn’t open enough to let this bolt pass through. Even if this happened the bolt would be ejected from bowl and there is NOT room between piston and head for the bolt.

Ive seen broken GP cause CARNAGE and it is a fraction of the size of this bolt.

The worst case scenario here is likely bolt holds valve open and piston hits valve. Even if bolt made it to combustion chamber, these options would be more than a ‘ticking’ noise.

Im going to put these parts together (head/bolt) so we can see what it looks like.

Meanwhile, I hope we can find a reason for the noise on the rotating parts on front of engine.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 11:48 AM
  #102  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member
Gooogle-fu says cam lift is 0.43 inches.









Which is good because bolt easily hides in the piston bowl.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 11:49 AM
  #103  
clineco's Avatar
clineco
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 107
Likes: 8
From: North California
Originally Posted by SkySkiJason
Pretty sure valve doesn’t open enough to let this bolt pass through. Even if this happened the bolt would be ejected from bowl and there is NOT room between piston and head for the bolt.

Ive seen broken GP cause CARNAGE and it is a fraction of the size of this bolt.

The worst case scenario here is likely bolt holds valve open and piston hits valve. Even if bolt made it to combustion chamber, these options would be more than a ‘ticking’ noise.

Im going to put these parts together (head/bolt) so we can see what it looks like.

Meanwhile, I hope we can find a reason for the noise on the rotating parts on front of engine.
Man, thank you so much for your help. Really above and beyond. I really appreciate it.

I went back in and had a look at the fly wheel, didn't see anything, no bolt, no shavings, no missing teeth, nada. So I scooted up to the front to have another look at the water pump wheel and couldn't see anything. So I decided to turn the engine over by hand again and see if I could hear it tinking around in there. But after a couple turns, I hit a hard stop. I don't know what that means or what I should do next.



 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 12:19 PM
  #104  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member


I don’t have an easy way to measure lift, but from here I could not push the bolt through the opening. More importantly, I could easily fish it out with a magnet even after messing with it using a heavy copper wire trying to fish it through the valve.
 
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2021 | 12:23 PM
  #105  
SkySkiJason's Avatar
SkySkiJason
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by clineco
Man, thank you so much for your help. Really above and beyond. I really appreciate it.

I went back in and had a look at the fly wheel, didn't see anything, no bolt, no shavings, no missing teeth, nada. So I scooted up to the front to have another look at the water pump wheel and couldn't see anything. So I decided to turn the engine over by hand again and see if I could hear it tinking around in there. But after a couple turns, I hit a hard stop. I don't know what that means or what I should do next.
My heart is breaking with you brother, but still hoping for a happier ending.

Pull valve covers and look for a loose pushrod. This could indicate valve is stuck open.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:09 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE