Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

[Tommy F.]

Today, I was installing the distributor in the '75 (motor is out of the car, and mated with the transmission on a dolly). A very thin flat washer for the aftermarket distributor hold down disappeared. I can't swear that the washer went in the distributor hole in the block, but being the pessimist that I am, I have to assume that it did. Carefull examination of the hole leads me nowhere. The washer isn't in the lifter gallery, it isn't at the bottom where the oil pump shaft comes up from the pump. and is not stuck to the sides or anywhere around the cam gear. Based on what I see, I don't think that there is any route for the washer to get out of that area, except if it fell into the valley...I spent at least an hour on hands and knees around the motor, hoping that I would find the washer on the floor or otherwise on the motor.....no dice.

I'm afraid that I know the answer, but if I can't see it, do I risk leaving it wherever it is? Hours away from lighting the thing and I get careless and do somthing stupid like this.

Any advice?

Thanks

[Mike M.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

tear it down. you'll rest easier on start-up regardless of the washers location.i did a real stupid thing last year. rebuilt the 371 Olds engine in our 57 fiesta. had rebuilt the carb months before i got the engine bolted back together. went to nut cabinet and got 4 new 1/4 fine nuts and fastened the carb to the intake and fired her off. heard a slight niose then huge amounts of steam from right bank and antifreeze all over the floor. i'd forgotten i'd laid the 4 original nuts on top the choke plate months before. one of them got into a cylinder, put hole in top of piston which then launched the nut thru the head into a coolant passage.one sleeve job, new piston and used head later, i was back in buisness. call me dumb-ass. mike

[Mark L.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

I'd stick a magnet down the distributor hole and see if you get lucky. Unfortunately Mike is right, if the magnet trick doesn't work I'd take it apart.

Hope this helps.

[Peter J.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Wasn't a stainlees steel washer was it? Knew somebody who went after a nut in the intake with a magnet and found out after a damaged piston it was. He wasn't sure either and when the magnet trick didn't come up with it, he assumed it was on the floor. Very very bad day.

[Joe R.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Tommy,

All you gotta do is take the pan off!

Shouldn't take more than an hour for an R & R. Cheap labor for peace of mind!

JR

[Stuart F.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Mike;

Remember the days of individual Air cleaners on the old tri-powers? My buddy with a 59 Chev 335hp would put the wing nuts back on the studs so he wouldn't loose any, but one day at the strip he did (soft metal, just bent a valve). I had a Rochester 4GC on which I removed the secondary air butterflys, but left the hardened spring pin in it with a set screw to hold. One day I went around a corner and btttttttttttt! I knew right away what it was. That pin lodged into #8 piston top, broke every ring land and put a nice deep scratch in the cylinder. So, don't feel bad. You're not alone.

Stu Fox

[Dennis C.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

I also had a scare today. I am restoring the top half of my engine. There was an after market manifold, carb, valve covers, and distributor on it when I purchased the car (the interior was also in pieces - still is).

So today I was installing the intake manifold (2X4) and had removed the old towel I had covering the lifter valley. I was just going to adhere the intake gaskets when I realized I hadn't cleaned the bolt holes.

I had the tap chaser close by, along with a rag and after laying the rag in the valley started cleaning the holes. I finished the side I was working on and with the tap in my hand tried to start it in a hole on the far side before moving the rag.

Sure enough I dropped the tap and it fell straight down the return slot at the rear of the engine.

I was able to fish it out with a magnet, but not until I lost it two more times.

Scary thought.....

Dennis

[Steven B.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Then there was the time I was tuning a new engine build (over the counter block, etc. ) and the throttle spring flew off, the carbs WOT and thhhooooopppppppppp! 'Just glad they were not original parts

---and that was not my last time

[Tim S.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Tommy,

All you gotta do is take the pan off!

Shouldn't take more than an hour for an R & R. Cheap labor for peace of mind!

JR

Yea, what he said! You're gunna be ticked off if you gotta pull it apart after the car is in 1 piece!

[Tommy F.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Daddy is doing his "Happy Dance"! I went in the shop this morning, went over the area again with a fine toothed comb, peered down the distributor hole AGAIN.....Dropped the pan with the motor/trans hanging from the hoist (nobody from OSHA out there I hope)...There it was, laying right on the top tray of the pan. Cleared out the pan and bolted everything back up ( my genius engine builder used a "one piece" gasket....You gotta love it! Next week we make some NOISE!
Thanks for all of the advice to All!

[Peter J.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

Good for you Tommy, Sure beats never finding and always wondering.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

when i was a kid we rebuild a flat head ford and seems we lost a wrench in the process. found it when we started the engine !!!!!~

[Robert B.]

Re: Need Advice - Washer Dropped In Motor

You might try a boroscope trip down the distributor opening. I don't know where you could rent one but someone might know. I used one a lot when I was in aerospace and they are great tools.