Dropped a nut into engine

[harvardma]

I am rebuilding the top end of a 1972 911T and dropped a nut from the timing chain housing into the case. It fell in on the passenger side when it was facing up. I immediately rotated the engine 180 degrees hoping it would fall out, no luck. Next I removed the timing chain (split chain) and searched with magnet and blasted with compressed air, still no luck. Finally I borrowed a fiber optic bore scope and inspected the entire area and can not see it anywhere. It appears that the timing chain area on the passenger side is an enclosed space but I assume I must be missing some opening to the main case or some other hiding spot. Any suggestions?

[tab tanner]

Split the case, Sorry to hear about this happening but I have done the same thing. You might turn the engine on it's back (flywheel side down) and shake it and see if you can break the nut free. Put magnets in the oil return holes as well as the bottom sump plate area, you might get lucky

[Alan L]

If you have waynes book, you can see a pic of a split case. This will give you an idea of where it can hide. And where to look.
But splitting the case is a lot of work.
I would persevere - thru the oil drain plate, take the other chain cover off, if not already. Rotate the engine casing every which way , listening for a clunk.
I would spend a few hours doing this before splitting the case.
Alan

[Alan L]

Another thought - the oil will make it quite sticky. You might try flushing the residual oil out with a bit of petrol - put half a liter in, slosh around and drain. That may free the nut up to move around, or be seen. It may have been submerged in a pocket of oil.
Alan

[peppy]

harvardma, I dropped a keyway off of a cam in mine and had to split the case. I never did find it, but I am getting a 3.4 for all my trouble.

I did find that the intermediate shaft bearings were worn, so I probably should have split anyway.

[MrPerkles]

split the case !!,this is what I lost and then found by splitting the case after searching the workshop floor and bins for hours
Exactly as it was found sitting there ready to grenade and destroy my engine

[304065]

Order a Stahlwille 500g magnet tool, 12600-500g. Use this to fish inside the engine, if it's in there, you can find it.

[TibetanT]

John:

Good tool. Where can I obtain one of these? Thanks.

[304065]

www.samstagsales.com Wayne doesn't sell Stahlwille. Talk to Andrew Poston.

[fastfredracing]

Nice catch, I hate it when I loose a fastener when I am building a motor, one can drive themselves nuts looking all over the shop floor for it, trying to figure out, if it is indeed in the motor.
I dropped a small 10 mm nut down the intake of a 5.4 triton while doing head gaskets. I did not notice it. Lit the motor, all was well for about 5 seconds, and Kaboom!!!!, mass destruction, actually broke through the cylinder bore, holed a piston, and bent a rod, oops.

[harvardma]

After further disassembly (removed timing chain cover and chain ramps) I was able to spot the nut hiding under the intermediate shaft gear. I tried to recover it with a magnetic probe but could not get it into the right location (the tool John posted would have worked). I also tried with a piece of wire but just pushed it farther under the gear. Finally I put a small amount of mineral spirits in to get thin out the residual oil and hoisted engine with flywheel side up and it fell out onto the floor. Thanks for all the advice!

[911pcars]

I'm glad you guys had happy endings.

For a change-of-pace reference point, can someone post some pics of the bb's into the intake manifold of a 4-banger?

Sherwood

[gtihop]

been there, done that. spent almost 3 hours fishing out a nut that got dropped into the oil return tube. magnet, and a light are your best friends.!!

[ischmitz]

I once "lost" a nickel-sized nylon washer in my 964 that I was using as protection for the mechanical chain tensioner devices. What a PITA. No magnet to fish since nylon isn't magnetic. I spent hours searching for the bugger with a tiny flash light and eventually found it sticking to the inside case wall due to residual oil in the crankcase. I know how frustrating this can be...... good job finding yours.

Ingo