Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

So I've been working on my '87 f250 project.  I bought it off my Dad in pretty rough shape (been a farm truck its entire life in the rust belt) and have been trying to fix some of its small issues to get it more roadworthy.  It badly needs valve cover gaskets so I've spent the afternoon working on removing the upper intake manifold so I can get to the passenger side valve cover.

I got all the bolts out but the center one which is a T-40 torx bolt.  I had to use two 1/4 extensions to get down thru the intake.  As I was loosening the bolt I held my telescoping magnet against the bolt so I could retrieve it.  About this time I got majorly distracted by a phone call, and honestly think I did retrieve the bolt, but when I removed the intake from the motor I found my T-40 bit/socket still laying in the upper intake. 

So now I'm freaking out thinking the bolt fell down into the lower intake!  I REALLY do not want to remove the lower intake on a "maybe".  I tried fishing my telescoping magnet thingy into the ports but broke it trying to follow the bends.  I also have one of those long flexible "grabber" things but couldn't seem to retrieve anything.

I've searched everywhere and can't come up with the bolt so there's a pretty good chance it fell into the intake.

Any ideas guys?  Short of pulling the lower intake?

Praise the lord!  Thought I'd go back out to the garage to look around one more time and immediately found the bolt laying on the frame rail!!!  I have no idea how it got there, but it was sure a Relief to find it!  Sorry guys I was freaking out big time.  Lol

Don't ya just love working on cars, haha.

Here's an old pic of the truck.  It's mechanically sound just needs all new sheetmetal!

whew!!!

was going to suggest stepping down a shop vac hose to vac line size to suck up and hold the bolt.

I actually did drop a washer into the intake, I ended up pushing it deeper (single plane intake).

tiny ass washer to but still.

finally found it waiting for me inside the head

Thanks!  I actually tried the shop vac thing too.  I'm counting my lucky stars that I found it.

A small magnet on a string? Though it would probably just suck down on to the valve...

Least ya found it. ;)

That's actually a very good idea!  I'll have to remember that for next time, lol.

Nice truck I've always been partial to the older trucks.  By the way, I am glad you found it.    My horror story started when I took my work van to a well respected gm garage to have a minor oil leak fixed.  While pulling the intake manifold, a small 1/4" washer went down the intake of No. 3 cylinder.    They assembled the engine the mechanic was none the wiser.  When they started the engine all hell broke loose.  jcassity said that his was waiting inside the head for him.  Mine went a little deeper.  Cracked head, hole in the piston and a crack in the block.  Thanks to their insurance and the fact that it was a commercial vehicle, the garage insurance required them to replace it with a new GM reman long block with a 50k mile warranty.  I had 150k on the van when it happened and I put 140k on that engine before trading the van for the one I presently drive.    My mechanic nearly quite a 10 year career with no red marks over this incident.    He is still working today and still works on my van.  So again, Glad you found it.  It can be very destructive if not found.

I'm always worried about dropping nuts down the lower intake. It's one of those times where I make sure I pay attention to what I'm doing :hick:.

For me, if the two intake halves are separated on the engine, then as soon as that upper comes off, a strip of orange duct tape goes across the runners. Why orange? So I don't forget to remove the silly sumbitch before reassembly, LOL

That's a good one Beau. I haven't ever forgotten to remove my duct tape it but that's about as foolproof as it gets!
I guess I'm always so anxious by that point to get it done and running, that's usually the turning point. "It's FINALLY time to open the ports back up!" lol

You're fancier than I am. I just use regular silver/gray duct tape :hick:

I used some shop towels...too much of a tight was to waste duct tape hahaha.