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I've been following this without comment thus far, @SkySkiJason has provided some good pics & information but is it possible for the bolt to wiggle past an open valve, head first I feel it may just go? The difference between the bolt head diameter & the valve lift is small & unless someone has a disassembled head to try with, I guess we won't know....
You say the motor comes to a dead stop? Have you tried rotating it in the opposite direction to see what happens?
As SSJ also said the carnage from this would be significant & would happen very quickly I would imagine so I'm not convinced that the bolt is in the combustion chamber & I really hope for your sake that it's not. If I had a cylinder head kicking around I'd happily dummy it up to see what's possible, that would either eliminate the possibility or not...
@SkySkiJason but what is the valve lift? I have no idea of the rocker arm ratio on these monsters but can do some googling in a bit.
As url mentioned, your truck looks awesome in the video. I meant to mention this earlier and got distracted.
edit: no luck with google... I guess rocker arm ratios isn’t something commonly discussed on the 7.3. Or my google skills are lacking.
I did find this but it goes against what SSJ found and would point more towards 0.4 as being a valve lift.
@SkySkiJason but what is the valve lift? I have no idea of the rocket arm ratio on these monsters but can do some googling in a bit.
As url mentioned, your truck looks awesome in the video. I meant to mention this earlier and got distracted.
edit: no luck with google... I guess rocker arm ratios isn’t something commonly discussed on the 7.3. Or my google skills are lacking.
I did find this but it goes against what SSJ found and would point more towards 0.4 as being a valve lift.
I asssssumed 1:1 rockers because they look like that (pivot in the center)... But, you are correct - actual lift could be more or less.
So it seems like the consensus is that the bolt is either stuck in a valve or possibly between the piston and head correct? If I'm unable to get it from the intake, does that mean the next course of action would be to pull the heads? Am I looking at an engine rebuild here? I'm just trying to prepare myself for the worst.
So it seems like the consensus is that the bolt is either stuck in a valve or possibly between the piston and head correct? If I'm unable to get it from the intake, does that mean the next course of action would be to pull the heads? Am I looking at an engine rebuild here? I'm just trying to prepare myself for the worst.
If the bolt has made it into a cylinder and has done damage, then you are looking at a minimum of one piston and likely a cylinder head or extensive head repair. Unfortunately, when something lets loose in there the valves and valve seats often get damaged when the piece of whatever it is gets smashed between the piston and whatever part of the cylinder head is right there. SOMETIMES a person gets lucky and the piece gets embedded into the piston immediately in a spot where only the head deck surface is hit and this isn't a big deal other than the piston is junk. My only recommendation is to NOT run it anymore. If it's near the edge of the piston, then that part gets smooshed-out and the top ring land gets crushed which WILL damage the cylinder wall in a big hurry.
I still do not think that bolt made it past the valve. Are you sure that ting noise was not there before? Is it possible you are hypersensitive to any sort of noise that seems out of the ordinary? Can you tell which side the ting is coming from? same side as the plenum you possibly dropped a bolt down? If it were me, I would be doing more investigating before pulling a head.
Here is the thread with a factory 7.3 cam sent to a cam doctor. That bolt would have been easily found and pulled out with a magnet, especially if you didn't roll the motor over before going fishing with a magnet.
I still do not think that bolt made it past the valve. Are you sure that ting noise was not there before? Is it possible you are hypersensitive to any sort of noise that seems out of the ordinary? Can you tell which side the ting is coming from? same side as the plenum you possibly dropped a bolt down? If it were me, I would be doing more investigating before pulling a head.
Here is the thread with a factory 7.3 cam sent to a cam doctor. That bolt would have been easily found and pulled out with a magnet, especially if you didn't roll the motor over before going fishing with a magnet.
I still do not think that bolt made it past the valve. Are you sure that ting noise was not there before? Is it possible you are hypersensitive to any sort of noise that seems out of the ordinary? Can you tell which side the ting is coming from? same side as the plenum you possibly dropped a bolt down? If it were me, I would be doing more investigating before pulling a head.
Here is the thread with a factory 7.3 cam sent to a cam doctor. That bolt would have been easily found and pulled out with a magnet, especially if you didn't roll the motor over before going fishing with a magnet.
Nope not an illusion. It is very real unfortunately. Before I rolled the motor over, I had magnets, cameras and vacuums in each port multiple times. Quite honestly I was convinced there wasn't anything in there.
I opened valves to ‘about’ 1/2” using my fat max tape measure...
I was able to get bolt way down in valve, but not through it.
This pic is like a kick in the gut.
If THIS is the case, the piston would hit the valve and instantly F-it up making it lose a seal on its seat. You'd have a misfire and popping through the intake tract. I hope NONE of this happened.
I have to hand it to you clineco. Your posts present as someone who is taking this in stride, which is an A+ trait. Even more so is your sense of humor. Changing your image to a missing bolt is an all time classic!
I have listened to the video, although i did hear the ting ting ting, that got more constant as the end, your truck never missed a bit, i would think if it was in the valve truck would have started running very badly.
I really want to say it has somehow gotten into the pulley system, you would think it would work out pretty quick but i think more investigation is required, just my .02
If THIS is the case, the piston would hit the valve and instantly F-it up making it lose a seal on its seat. You'd have a misfire and popping through the intake tract. I hope NONE of this happened.
It was not easy to get the bolt there and I feel that the valve does not open that far - so the scenario in picture is probably not possible. But, in the unlikely event the bolt was in there I could see it holding the valve open.
Until I literally pushed the bolt into the position in the pic, I easily fished it out with a magnet.
Speaking of magnet, use it behind the water pump pulley.
Originally Posted by pvdiag
I have to hand it to you clineco. Your posts present as someone who is taking this in stride, which is an A+ trait. Even more so is your sense of humor. Changing your image to a missing bolt is an all time classic!
Agreed!! We are rooting for ya brother!!! *fingers crossed*
It was not easy to get the bolt there and I feel that the valve does not open that far - so the scenario in picture is probably not possible. But, in the unlikely event the bolt was in there I could see it holding the valve open.
Until I literally pushed the bolt into the position in the pic, I easily fished it out with a magnet.
Speaking of magnet, use it behind the water pump pulley.
Agreed!! We are rooting for ya brother!!! *fingers crossed*
Here too , i was sick to my stomach when i started reading this, You are handling this quite well , look behind all the pulleys!
