HELP! Dropped tool into engine!!

[MeatyCrab]

OK, so I'm a dumbass...

I was doing 00M12 on my beloved this morning, and at the half way point, taking off the bolts on the lower intake manifold, my quality set of tools come apart and I dropped a socket into the port...no biggy, once I get the whole lot off, I grab a magnet and scoop it out...

Problem solved, so I think...

I get the rest of the work done in 3 hours (pat on the back) and fire up the truck.

OK, so here's where there is good and bad news...

She's fires up PERFECT...fantastic, I think, cold idle and it's smooth...

BUT there's this rattling noise. I figure it's something to do with the cam chain, as it sounds similar...only slightly pissed off, I turn off the engine. Then I fire her back up, and the rattle is there, but then disappears. AWESOME!!

So I take her for a test drive and it's fine. I come back to the garage and start cleaning up, and then I realise.

I'm missing a little socket connector thingy...you know the thing that connects a socket to a handle or a drill?

I am currently minus one of those AND I KNOW IT'S IN THE ENGINE!!

I am so angry...what can I do about it? It's not making any noise, it idles perfectly and drive fine???

And also, does anyone have a cure for stupidity???

Hope someone can help this poor, stupid boy.
Cheers,
BK

 

[hrbib21]

It seems to me, though I'm no expert, that that part would be too big to make it through the engine but that's probably just stating the obvious.

 

[Gonzo]

That's not good. As for a cure for stupidity, I'm sorry, nothing can be done... j/k, everyone has done something stupid at some point. Just look at it this way: now you have more experience. Is there not even the slightest chance that you might have misplaced that tool?

 

[MeatyCrab]

It was one of those mini socket sets...it was only an 8mm socket...

the offending part is only about half and inch long and an 1/8th wide/deep...

any other ideas?

I hope to god I've misplaced it...but i'm almost certain it's down there...

Thanks,
BK

 

[rocket 5979]

Hey Meaty i say just give it a few goodrevtillabout 5000 rpms, that way it will chop and grind anything that may be in the engine up. But make sureyou put a bicket under the exhaust. Dont want to ditry the garage floor, might make the wife mad. Just gots to do these things carefully. hehe.

 

[zensius]

I'd take off the upper intake and put a flexible magnteic retriever down all the ports. It couldn't have made it past a valve. It must be sitting somewhere.

 

[mbryda]

How hard was it?

I'm thinking I need to do that or the 2000-3000 RPM Rattle TSB to my '00 - according to Ford it's not covered uner 00M12 and it's rattling like marbles...

However, I'm a little scared to do this with this engine. I've rebuilt the head on my '86 Mustang all myself, so I do know my way around an engine. But with all the timing chains (5) and the fact that you are basically replacing the whiole timing system has me a little scared....

Is there anything to it or is it similar to my Mustang (line up all the marks)?

Since Ford 'Ain't payin' and I've already dropped $1800 for a rebuilt trans, I'm going to take a stab at this myself if it isn't too hard...

 

[Doug]

If I was you I'd get that taken care of right away. You do not want to drive around with something in one of your cylinders. Doing that will be all bad.

 

[Muskrat]

time to overhaul the engine

 

[MeatyCrab]

So here's what I did to solve it...

I revved the crap out of the engine, and out the back of the exhaust flew this little bullet sized piece of metal...

Just kidding...

So I got the whole lot apart again (it really is a lot quicker the second time around)...then my neighbour came around with an endoscope (he's an oncologist - a cancer doctor)...

With this $12,000 instrument (from a public hospital - damn sure getting my tax dollars back!!), he poked the fibre optic down a dirty intake port, past the valve and had a peek...

Turns out, that while there is enough clearance for the socket thingy to get in there width wise, it was a tight fit for it because valves are round and not square, if you get my drift...so, I guess it's not down there after all...

I assume the rattle I heard the first time was the cam chain rattling, then getting adjusted (they are automatic tensioners, right?)

Anyway, thanks for you replies, much appreciated.

Anyone thinking about doing this job (00M12), as long as you put RAGS DOWN THE INTAKE PORTS, everything will be OK. It wasn't that difficult, just a bit fiddly and time consuming...

 

[MeatyCrab]

BTW The engine runs great and the cold start ups are a dreammmm now...

 

[Muskrat]

good, glad to hear

 

[MeatyCrab]

And I'm still missing a socket connector...

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally posted by MeatyCrab
I was doing 00M12

What is 00M12?

 

[MeatyCrab]

00M12:

lower intake manifold gasket and O rings...

lots of fun and bloody knuckles...

 

[Ryan1]

did you check your oil pan....maybe it made it all the way down there.

Who know??

I was like this when reading about how you revved it up and out shot a piece of metal... then I saw the just kidding.

Ryan

 

[676cyl]

Maybe dropping the oil pan ?
Some drain contractors have small optical cameras they use on drains. They dont charge too much. It may fit in the drain plug hole ??? Just a thought.
Tom

 

[matey]

i cant see it being in the engine mate when i used to work for gm we used to drop things in to the motors. and when they did the hot testing they used to shoot out the side of the engine block

 

[MO_GUY]

were you when this happened? this just sounds so hard to do! but in a way its a bit funny hope you get it out

 

[Black Magic]

Wow, that was interisting reading! A bit funny too. Glad to see that eveything came out ok, well I guess it did not comeout. But you know what I mean.