1937 Flathead lost bolt... Help!

[Goodguy65]

My arthritic fingers enabled me to lose a SS torx head fuel stand bolt down the intake fuel stand hole in my 36 Ford 5W..
I have removed the entire intake assembly as well as the oil pan ( with the engine still in the car ).
I have inspected the entire crank assembly for a hidden pocket where this bolt might be hiding.
The 2 crankcase breather holes on either side of the fuel pump rod bushing are just the right size for the bolt to enter.
Question: is there a space somewhere at the back of the block that this mysterious bolt could be hiding?
Embarrassed and needing help.
Cheers

[51 MERC-CT]

Maybe never really fell in but slipped outside, if not to the floor but somewhere in one of the recesses that would catch it.

[19Fordy]

I am sure you have checked but check again in the valve lifter area and also down the hole where the fuel pump push rod goes. I feel your anxiety and sure hope you find it.
It might have bounced after landing. I know this sounds stupid but, are you really sure it went down the fuel pump stand opening instead of just rolling off the back of the engine?

[1931 flamingo]

Have you tried an extendable magnet, like an old style antenna with a magnet at the end??
Paul in CT

[34PKUP]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Have you tried an extendable magnet, like an old style antenna with a magnet at the end??
Paul in CT

Won't work on an SS bolt. ( maybe chewing gum)

[JSeery]

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Magnet won't work on most stainless steel bolts. It would depend on the alloy, but most SS bolts I have worked with are not attracted to a magnet.

[19Fordy]

It might be laying in the oil in the valley and you can't see it.

[Lanny]

goodguy65, if you have one of the other bolts, like the one you dropped,
then test it with a magnet to see if it's stainless magnetic alloy.








.

[Goodguy65]

51 Merc : I will have an another search tonight..
19 Fordy : I have looked from the block back past the tranny and nothing..I will look again..my eyes arent what the used to be..I think the disbelief of watching the bolt tumble in slow motion down into the intake hole was such a shock maybe i was mistaken?
1931 Flamingo: The bolt is stainless so the magnet will not work

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Have you tried an extendable magnet, like an old style antenna with a magnet at the end??
Paul in CT

Paul, I bet you already know that SS is non-magnetic, but I wonder if you knew that any flathead engine worth it's salt would tend to self-righteously spit out a torx head bolt to the farthest corner of the shop?

[Goodguy65]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

It might be laying in the oil in the valley and you can't see it.

I have searched the entire valley..( sounds like I am looking for a lost steer on the ranch ) I even looked under the 2 splash pans

[Goodguy65]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Paul, I bet you already know that SS is non-magnetic, but I wonder if you knew that any flathead engine worth it's salt would tend to self-righteously spit out a torx head bolt to the farthest corner of the shop?

Hilarious 38v8...I knew that was coming from someone..I deserve that trying to be all fancy under the hood..should have just stuck with the original bolts. I feel shame now.

[Goodguy65]

so I suppose there is no hidden cavity or space in the back of the block where it could be.
I have very cautiously manually turned the crank and nothing fell out.

[Ronnieroadster]

Actually there is a hole in the rear of the block that allows the oil that fills the oil pump idler gear cavity to drain down into the pan. Its a stretch that the missing bolt might be in that location but who knows. Also the detail about stainless not being magnetic is not completely true some lower grade stainless hardware is magnetic.
Ronnieroadster

[Tudortomnz]

I feel your pain on this. Did you actually see it go in ? If not, look elsewhere.
I recently thought I dropped [ same old fingers] a small feeler gauge into the valve gear of a small motorcycle engine ; pulled head off etc & no gauge. Finally found it lying amongst some tools I had under the bike. Good luck.

[woodiewagon46]

Some stainless steel, 302, 303, 304, is slightly magnetic when annealed or cold worked. 403, thru 446 stainless is magnetic at all times. Cheap screws are probably 302 or 304 so you might get lucky with a magnet.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Not sure you have actually done what Lanny has suggested in post #8...get an identical SS bolt just like the one that you think went down the oil fill hole, and actually test it to determine if it is somewhat magnetic.
Keep looking, and good luck!!

Check, or recheck for possible places on top of Transmission, crossmembers, frame, etc, etc, where that bolt may be laying on top of, since it may not have made it all the way to the floor. Also, if that bolt did hit the flood, it may have bounced out quite a way from the area where it first hit the floor

[swoopNZ]

A bit like the old lost golf ball trick.
If you can't find it drop another one and see where that goes.
( just kidding - I hope it turns up for you )

[Goodguy65]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Actually there is a hole in the rear of the block that allows the oil that fills the oil pump idler gear cavity to drain down into the pan. Its a stretch that the missing bolt might be in that location but who knows. Also the detail about stainless not being magnetic is not completely true some lower grade stainless hardware is magnetic.
Ronnieroadster

where is this hole located? is it accessible from the top or the bottom of the engine?

[Tony, NY]

Are the spark plugs out? I've been down this road before with a lost small nut and my flathead.. Engine started running poorly a few weeks later. Had very little compression in one cylinder. Pulled the head and there it was imbedded in the piston along side a small hole. I assume it fell in the spark plug hole because they were out at the time. Hope that's not your case.