[L322manyproblems]

Morning all, PLEASE can anyone offer some insight into the below! I’m desperate here…

For context I’m in the process of putting everything back together after doing the timing chains. Biggest thing I’ve ever done but largely went without issue.

However! In installing the oil rails on the right bank I dropped on of the nuts. Many a curse ensued…it was the second to back thread on the left rail and the nut went to the right. I have spent the last 2 hours looking in every orifice of my L322’s engine for said nut. A gynaecologist would be impressed with my efforts… I had assumed that the nut had fallen below the crank on the right hand side of the right bank.

I can’t find it anywhere. In our out of the engine. My question is: has anyone had something similar happen to them and/or do we know of any little crevices where it could have fallen. Although I’m fairly confident it isn’t in the engine, I’m obviously very wary of carrying on until I find the nut.

NUTS!!

 

[kermit_rr]

I really should pay more attention! I thought for a minute the engine had DROPPED OUT!

If you know where you dropped it from, can you replicate and drop another nut, but attach to a piece of 'cotton' thread? Thin enough not to impede the drop, strong enough not to snap when you pull out out?

 

[L322manyproblems]

I really should pay more attention! I thought for a minute the engine had DROPPED OUT!

If you know where you dropped it from, can you replicate and drop another nut, but attach to a piece of 'cotton' thread? Thin enough not to impede the drop, strong enough not to snap when you pull out out?

No, but if there’s a bolt in there it might as well have!!

I’m not sure I dare! It ‘skipped’ across to the right bank and then I lost sight of it

 

[pwood999]

If it went down one of the oil returns, chances are it's in the sump ? From that angle, my bet would be it bounced on chassis or drive shafts & is lodged or stuck to an oily bit below. If it hit the ground it could have bounced anywhere (been there done that & found the nut after scrabbling in the garage for another one !! )

 

[marjon]

Its not hiding under the cam is it?
Are they small enough to fit down one of the oild drains from the head down?
If not then hope fully it hasnt gone all the way down.

Do you still have the under engine gaurd on?

Please dont tell me you are working on a gravel drive .

J

 

[Stanleysteamer]

I once did similar on a Dolly Sprint engine, it was one that attached the timing chain sprocket to the camshaft. It fell in the sump.
Getting it out again was messy, very messy, but I did it without having to drain the oil. Had to get the sump off though.

Have you felt all over, under, behind everything attached outside the block including bits of chassis, bodywork etc.
This happens to me on a regular basis and I find a powerful torch, a mirror on a stick and a good magnet on a stick helps a lot.

And has been mentioned before, as I do work on a gravel drive, big gravel too, I actually use a metal detector to find missing bits!!

 

[L322manyproblems]

If it went down one of the oil returns, chances are it's in the sump ? From that angle, my bet would be it bounced on chassis or drive shafts & is lodged or stuck to an oily bit below. If it hit the ground it could have bounced anywhere (been there done that & found the nut after scrabbling in the garage for another one !! )

Fingers crossed for the latter then! Would it have been able to fit down a return at the back of the engine? I don’t think it bounced towards the front but who knows…

 

[L322manyproblems]

Its not hiding under the cam is it?
Are they small enough to fit down one of the oild drains from the head down?
If not then hope fully it hasnt gone all the way down.

Do you still have the under engine gaurd on?

Please dont tell me you are working on a gravel drive .

J

Not that I can feel or get at with the flexi magnet. God I hope not. Where abouts are they located? I’ve had the magnet down all of the channels in the top and I’m confident I’ve checked every area.

I won’t tell you…

 

[L322manyproblems]

I once did similar on a Dolly Sprint engine, it was one that attached the timing chain sprocket to the camshaft. It fell in the sump.
Getting it out again was messy, very messy, but I did it without having to drain the oil. Had to get the sump off though.

Have you felt all over, under, behind everything attached outside the block including bits of chassis, bodywork etc.
This happens to me on a regular basis and I find a powerful torch, a mirror on a stick and a good magnet on a stick helps a lot.

And has been mentioned before, as I do work on a gravel drive, big gravel too, I actually use a metal detector to find missing bits!!

Good to know it’s not just me… I’ve come inside for a tea and a distress. I’m going to go rummage around (in the rain) again afterwards. What a mess about!

 

[marjon]

Not that I can feel or get at with the flexi magnet. God I hope not. Where abouts are they located? I’ve had the magnet down all of the channels in the top and I’m confident I’ve checked every area.

I won’t tell you…

I dont know where they are on that engine or how big, but should be pretty obvious to be able to test if it has (possibly) gone that way.

J