jim2527

Dropped a valve cover bolt/washer down the head. I'm trying to run down a persistent miss I've had for years. The iginition system is good so I figured it may be a wiped cam lobe. Removed the intake first and then moved to the valve covers...

Before starting the work I said to myself...cover all the holes.

If all the lifter faces are smooth and convex does that the cam lobes are good?

MelWff

yes plus if you had no lifter noise

Kacyc3

get something like one of these and try to fish it out?

Big2Bird

Flat tappet cams have a slight taper ground in to rotate the lifters. This also pulls the cam back against the block face.

If you wipe a lobe, the taper goes first.

Pull the valve covers, and mark each push rod with a bright marking.

Start the car.

If you can see all the push rods rotating, your good. If one does not, then that lobe is probably kaputz.(Taper bye bye, lifter no spin, grinding increases)

testing35

good luck.

redvetracr

down the head...where down the head? like an oil drain back passage?

jim2527

Intake port....I'm hoping the valve was closed.

Les

OP, good luck fishing those bits out of there.

7T1vette

Don't rotate the engine; disconnect the battery; get out the fishing line, magnet and duct tape.

P.S. Don't "assume" you know which port the bolt went in! Check them all until you find the bolt.

P.P.S. I doubt the bolt would pass a valve.

redvetracr

and if it hit a valve you would probably have more than just a mis-fire

testing35

slickfx3

we are all Bubbas, u r not alone

jim2527

I looked down the intake ports with flashlight and there it was in number 4. I was able to fish out the bolt and washer with a telescoping magnet. Lucky me!!!

Now its decision time....do I continue tearing it down and upgrade the top end? Hmmm...

AboveTheLogic

Depends on how you want to spend your time, wrenching or driving...