HELP! 1986 944 Turbo Intake Manifold Bolt

[64GearHead]

HELP! I have a1986 944 Turbo and I am replacing all of the vacuum lines. When I removed the Intake Manifold the front brace bolt fell into the bowels of the engine bay and didn't drop out the bottom. I need to replace that bolt. I need to know the size and thread pattern. I saw that it should be a 8mm x 20mm bolt. I got one from the store and it seems to be the right size but the threads are wrong. Does anyone know what it is?Thanks Picture below.

[rhett]

Chances are if you got your replacement from a hardware store the thread is the right size but the wrong pitch. Metric bolts come in a variety of different pitches, common bolts are normally quite course. Porsche tend to use a fine thread. Best thing to do is take another 8mm bolt out from some other component (don't drop it!), check that it fits into the empty hole and then take that down to the hardware store for them to match it up. There are only a few fittings that can't be easily bought that way.

However, I would try to locate the missing bolt, I wouldn't want that just rattling around..who knows where it might end up!

[Gawernator]

You could invest in a magnet tipped flexible extension and fish it out, I need it regularly lol

[9FF]

First you need to find that lost bolt especially if it was from the rear/firewall end of the manifold just in case it fell into the clutch housing.

As said you probably have the wrong pitch on the new bolt. Match up (interlock) the pitch of one of the old bolts with the ones at the hardware store and don't fit the course pitch.

[64GearHead]

Thanks for the suggestions. I forgot to say this is the bolt next to the throttle body housing so above the alternator. I've been fishing with my magnet but nothing yet. What makes matters worse this bolt didn't need to be removed to remove the intake manifold.

[tamathumper]

Harbor Freight has a flexible magnetic pick-up tool with a light in it... I might as well keep it in my pocket whenever I work on the car... In the last month I've used it to retrieve the ball bearing for the fuel rail cap, some of the nuts and bolts for the supercharger, my 1/4" socket extension, and probably a lot more.

[Gawernator]

With a light!!?? Wow that's the holy grail. I need that lol

[rhett]

What an excellent tool - looks slightly surgical though - wish I had had one of those on many occasions...

The consensus of opinion seems to be - find that bolt!

[64GearHead]

Great news! I didn't find the bolt yet, but did get info on a replacement that works. The size is 8mm x 20mm pitch 1.25. Will keep looking, but in the meantime I am able to put things back the way they were when I'm finished with the vacuum lines.

[tamathumper]

Any chance it went in behind the belt covers? I dropped a washer off the supercharger this spring and sure as shootin' it bounced inside the back of the belt covers and was sitting on a boss right next to the timing belt, waiting to pounce. I know it's tempting, but I wouldn't put anything else *in to* that engine until I got that bolt *out of* the engine.

[64GearHead]

I hear you loud and clear. Time to take more parts off and find that bolt.

[944tothefloor]

Originally Posted by 64gearhead

i hear you loud and clear. Time to take more parts off and find that bolt.

good luck!

[Gawernator]

Yikes!!!