Please help a moron!!!!
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 172
Likes: 66
From: Texas gulf coast
Please help a moron!!!!
Short of it is, I dropped a plenum bolt down the intake while positioning the plenum. Yall have any suggestions for retrieving it before I pull the head. Any advice, tips, or old shaman tricks would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Chad
Thanks
Chad
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 564
Crud! My first thought would be to use a bore scope to try and locate it first. Then (if located) maybe come up with a plan for extraction.
I think a few months back there was another forum member who dropped a bolt down the intake. I don’t think the outcome was positive for him unfortunately.
I think a few months back there was another forum member who dropped a bolt down the intake. I don’t think the outcome was positive for him unfortunately.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,345
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
What F0rdc0wb0y said... Off to find the thread now and will update my post when I do. There were a lot of good ideas for him to try.
Edit: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1655586-bolt-dropped-down-the-plenum.html?highlight=Plenum
Edit: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1655586-bolt-dropped-down-the-plenum.html?highlight=Plenum
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 6,852
Likes: 2,329
From: WV
An actual plenum bolt? They’re fairly large. I’d think it would still be in the port side of the head somewhere. Did you finish installing the plenum? My first thought is to halt the installation and pull the plenum back off. If it’s already installed you may want to try searching with a bore scope. This is the one I bought a few years ago. Amazon DEPSTECH camera
As the others have mentioned, clineco lost a bolt down the plenum with very bad results.
As the others have mentioned, clineco lost a bolt down the plenum with very bad results.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 266
From: Middle Georgia
I'm agreeing with @RacinJasonWV , given the size of the bolts, I would think that it is probably still in the intake port. Definitely want to find it before you move on. If you can locate it with a bore scope, might try magnet fishing. If the magnet won't work due to other iron around, maybe try a shop vac. What we'll do at work (not in an engine and a standard shop vac) is adapt the vac hose down to a small diameter clear tube and use that to suck up FOD (Foreign Object Debris) in hard to reach spots. I might would even try either of these methods while waiting on a camera in hopes the I might get lucky.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,088
Likes: 4,700
From: Henderson, NV
If you are using a shop vac, empty the shop vac first so you’re not digging through other crap to confirm you got the plenum bolt out. If you suck more than just the plenum bolt out of the head however…
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 172
Likes: 66
From: Texas gulf coast
I’m going to call some of my amigos and try to find a bore scope, unfortunately I don’t have one. I’m pretty sure it went down the number 6 intake. It was a one in a million shot I had plenum in one hand and bolt in the other. The plenum wasn’t even close to the head yet, but when the bolt slipped out of my fingers it bounced off the plenum and into the head. I’m liking the shop vac idea I’ve got everything it will take to give it a try. Thanks for the advice.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 172
Likes: 66
From: Texas gulf coast
THANK THE GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN!!!!!! I got it!!!! A 60$ bore scope from harbor freight and a magnet got the job done. It was sitting right on top of the valve on #4 cylinder. Thanks again for the advice y’all!
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
That is your 2022 "get out of jail free" card sir. Congratulations and good luck on the rest of your project.
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