Dropped a valve cover bolt

[Joe’sMoparMess]

How do I get it out? I have a performance 440 intake manifold that has these great air gaps. I’m an idiot and dropped a bale cover bolt down into one. Any ideas on what I need to remove to get it?

 

[440 PHIXX]

A magnet. But I don’t think that drops into the bottom end. One of those telescoping magnets will get it. You may have to bend it to work.

 

[khryslerkid]

Like 440 said, find a small diameter telescoping magnet. That hole doesn't go anywhere if you can't get it.

 

[Gold Rush]

How do I get it out? I have a performance 440 intake manifold that has these great air gaps. I’m an idiot and dropped a bale cover bolt down into one. Any ideas on what I need to remove to get it?

View attachment 1229486 View attachment 1229487

This Harbor Freight retriever may do the trick. It has a pivoting magnet head so might get in there.. Good Luck

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-telescoping-magnet-37187.html

 

[khryslerkid]

Some screwdriver tips are magnetic. Test on another bolt on the workbench. Place a rag next to the valve springs to cover the pushrod holes so you don't drop it down there when you get it out.

Happy Fishing!

 

[gkent]

Won't do any harm if you can't get it out.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Probably won't work try a shop vacuum.

 

[WileERobby]

Fold a paper towel sorta in a shape to go into the crevice. Spread Indian Head on the front surface. Let it get tacky. Slowly push the paper towel in, slowly pull out. ( As one may surmise, something yours truly experienced ).

 

[1 Wild R/T]

As Stanton mentioned, it won't hurt anything if you can't get it out..

 

[Daves69]

Shop vac and a stiff wire with a small hook on the end has worked for me.

 

[R413]

It just fell in there, it wasn’t pounded in there. Now it will come out easily with a small magnet on a stick.

You aren’t the first or last person the do this!

 

[1 Wild R/T]

It just fell in there, it wasn’t pounded in there. Now it will come out easily with a small magnet on a stick.

You aren’t the first or last person the do this!

I agree with this, point of my post above is when I was young & dropped a throttle linkage clip in the hole & wasn't able to retrieve it I had no idea if the hole was an open passage to destruction, I was concerned that I had made a serious mistake.... Later I learned it's just a dead air space & doesn't go anywhere....

 

[Charles Cook]

I thought this hole was for catching the the clips and linkage stuff off the carburetor. lol.

 

[Ron H]

Yeah - I have a couple different size telescoping magnets and one of those extended spring grabbers that has done me well...like dropping a trim screw down the cowling opening..grrr

 

[1968rt]

Fold a paper towel sorta in a shape to go into the crevice. Spread Indian Head on the front surface. Let it get tacky. Slowly push the paper towel in, slowly pull out. ( As one may surmise, something yours truly experienced ).

If you put Indian head near the heat cross over, its going to smoke like a bitch when you start it!!

 

[WileERobby]

If you put Indian head near the heat cross over, its going to smoke like a bitch when you start it!!

Wipe off any with a rag with acetone.

 

[Joe’sMoparMess]

Thanks everyone, glad to know it is not the end of the world. I will try some different magnets (tried a couple different ones yesterday) and see if I have success.

 

[Mark Barnes]

Not to wish bad things on anyone else, but sometimes it's OK to see I'm not the only one this crap happens to!

 

[Bee1971]

At least you know where it went

It’s the bolts and nuts that you drop , and don’t know where they went

 

[MoparLeo]

Put the valve cover back on and blow it out with a high pressure air nozzle.