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Topic: Ooops! Dropped it.... (Read 673 times) |
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sector-9
Senior Member
No scorpio anymore
Posts: 1069
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Ooops! Dropped it....
« on: Jun 28th, 2008, 9:41pm » |
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One of the exhaust manifold bolts, down the front pipe! I don't really want to remove the front pipe from the cat as that'll mean a lot more work, new gasket and bolts for the cat, etc. 
Is there a way I can extract the bolt?  I did think of a magnet on a stick type thing, but being as the front pipe is metal I think that'd make it difficult to guide the magnet round the bend to where the bolt is probably lurking. I've tried bending a piece of wire to a hook shape and fishing that down the pipe, but it's not doing much - or at least not getting the bolt far enough forward to be seen or reached.
I need to get the exhaust manifold all bolted up and the engine running by tomorrow night so if I don't get it out it'll just have to stay there and I'll find a replacement bolt! I assume apart from an annoying rattle, it won't cause any damage, or at least not for a while? 
The reason I took the manifold is because the car failed it's MOT on Friday with an exhaust leak. Taking the gasket off I can see where it was leaking from; the outlet from #1 cylinder because both studs have snapped off. I managed to extract one of the studs and find a replacement bolt (the one I've dropped down the exhaust!), but the other has snapped below the face of the cylinder head. I tried drilling it out today but there is a non-removable dipstick tube in front so I couldn't get a standard drill in there, and I'm not about to remove the head again.  If I can fish out the bolt, or find a suitable replacement, I'll just coat both sides of a new gasket with exhaust paste and try that. With no paste and two studs broken on the same port it wasn't very noticeable so I think/hope it will hold long enough to get through the re-test next week...
Darren
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gozz
Senior Member
Been around awhile
Posts: 3475
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #1 on: Jun 28th, 2008, 9:53pm » |
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A strong little magnet secured to a piece of thin welding rod.Poke it down the pipe and listen for the click as the magnet attracts the bolt.
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Scorpio_Mike
Senior Member
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
Posts: 2359
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #2 on: Jun 28th, 2008, 10:24pm » |
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Get one of those gadgets which look like a car aerial with a magnet on the end - you often see garage mechanics with them in their top pockets.
They fold down to the length of a biro but extend to about 18 ~ 24 inches.
Don't know what the proper name is but pretty sure you can find them in any motor accessory shop or Halfords or maybe on fleabay
I bought one years ago and find it very useful.
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Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD 
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mr._floppy
Junior Member
Posts: 100
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #3 on: Jun 29th, 2008, 8:30pm » |
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The magnet idea is good but it will have to be insulated so that it does'nt stick to the inside of the downpipe, but leave enough magnet area un-insulated to attract the bolt.
I wonder what ripe language was used when that bolt clunked down the exhaust pipe ? 
Good Luck.
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joe-satch
Senior Member
joe satriani is the best guitarist in the world.
Posts: 1161
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #4 on: Jun 29th, 2008, 8:46pm » |
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how about a strong magnet on the outside of the exhaust pipe..and move the magnet up the pipe towards the manifold end and with luck the bolt will follow the magnet so you cant get it?. ..worth a try .
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scruffygyt
Full Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 129
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #5 on: Jun 29th, 2008, 8:55pm » |
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ive used bluetack on the end of a welding rod in the past to get at dropped nuts and bolts
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98 24v ultima (facelift) now sold & missing it
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Baz
Moderator
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S Reg. 1998 24v Cosworth S2.9 COS (Deceased)
Posts: 4010
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #6 on: Jul 3rd, 2008, 9:20am » |
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Tip the car upside down and give it a shake.... that'll work 
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sector-9
Senior Member
No scorpio anymore
Posts: 1069
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #7 on: Jul 4th, 2008, 10:29pm » |
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 Much as I was tempted to go with Baz's suggestion  , I did manage to recover the bolt. Apparently my dad had one of those flexible things with a claw at one end that opens and grabs whatever's in front of it when you press the button at the other end.
Even better news, after plastering exhaust cement all over the new gasket and manifold, followed by fitting a bolt to #1 cylinder port, it's now passed it's MOT for another year!
The insecure CV boots were, believe it or not, actually more work (and certainly more mess) to rectify - obviously they were universal boots but the joints needed specific ones, so even with crimp type clips, they could still be pulled off the joint. Still, creative use of several small cable ties  , plus the crimp clips mean that they won't be coming off in a hurry...
Darren
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pete from Hull
Senior Member
Non Scorpio at the moment, but still interested...
Posts: 1365
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Re: Ooops! Dropped it....
« Reply #8 on: Jul 5th, 2008, 11:16am » |
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on Jul 4th, 2008, 10:29pm, sector-9 wrote: I did manage to recover the bolt. Apparently my dad had one of those flexible things with a claw at one end that opens and grabs whatever's in front of it when you press the button at the other end.
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Just shows how handy dads can be....
Glad you sorted it, a good story and a good outcome...
Pete
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Bring back fair wages.........
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