Nooooo!

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V8 Sam

V8 Sam

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99.9% sure I dropped the distributor clamp down the distributor hole!! Huge thing too.

La small block 318

Looks like that.

So, should I start by taking the intake off first? Or sump?

Can't see it down there. Tried with a magnet.

I've spent the last hour looking all around the engine can't see it so my only guess is down the pot! :mad::mad::mad:



IMG_20250810_115018.jpg
 
If you haven't done so yet, check the top of the tranny. Get under the car and use a mirror if needed. Make sure it's not hanging off the speedo cable, tranny linkage, exhaust, etc..
 
I would exhaust all possibilities of that clip dropping elsewhere outside the engine, and then pull the hood and anything else in the way on top to get a really good look down the hole with a good light before removing the intake.
 
Siksty7 Dart 270 said:
I would exhaust all possibilities of that clip dropping elsewhere outside the engine, and then pull the hood and anything else in the way on top to get a really good look down the hole with a good light before removing the intake.
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Yeah, that's what I'm currently doing. Will try and borrow a borescope too might make things easier
 
Pulling the intake is a easy job. But here's a tip that I do. First cover the disruptor hole and take the other clip and drop it from where you dropped the other one, carefully watching its path. This really works for me. If no luck pull the intake.
 

Might take sump off first. Prob more chance of it falling into that then it making its way along the block so I cant see it via the distributor hole.

:BangHead:
 
yeah i bought a cheep one with 4ft camara for cheep
the snap-on is much better but doesn'r have the reach
 
Before I would pull the intake, you might want to pull the valve covers, rocker arms, and push rods to maybe use your magnet down the rear push rod holes on each side. Maybe even through one of the head rear drain holes to the lifter area. I doubt that clip could have made it all the way to the oil pan, but, I guess it's possible to bounce sideways and go down a block drain hole past the cam. If so, just get another clip. It won't hurt a thing down in the pan. Might even come out at the next oil change.
 
Jeff Seighman said:
If that clip is not setting on top of the oil pump drive gear, I wouldn't start that motor till it was found, no matter what I had to take apart.
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Yeah that's a given, I'm not starting it till it's in my hand.

Gonna have a dive into it once I get a decent borescope and Im not as angry

SUCH a ball ache! Let you guys know how it goes.

Any other tips keep em coming
 
V8 Sam said:
Any other tips keep em coming
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I know the pain, small ss flat washer slid off my air cleaner, couldn`t find it anywhere, being ss magnet wouldn`t work, I tore the whole top end off the engine, heads and all. Found it years later in a crotch of the ds header.

If you have headers look in there.:realcrazy:
 
mopar head said:
I know the pain, small ss flat washer slid off my air cleaner, couldn`t find it anywhere, being ss magnet wouldn`t work, I tore the whole top end off the engine, heads and all. Found it years later in a crotch of the ds header.

If you have headers look in there.:realcrazy:
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Think you would've found it when you pulled the header off
 
Dan the man said:
Think you would've found it when you pulled the header off
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Didn`t pull it off, just pulled it away an inch or so. Years later I changed heads, I believe I pulled the #7 slip tube-tti`s, and seen it in the crotch and pulled it out with needle nose`s. Pulling that top end off was worth the peace of mind.
Buy a Mopar yet?
 
When was your last oil change? If you can't locate it with the scope from up top, before you pull the intake you could drain the oil pan and run a scope up thru the oil drain hole. You wouldn't be out much time if you don't find it down there. I'm inclined to think it's higher up in the engine, but who knows? With a whole lot of luck you might find it in the pan. It would be nice if you could locate the clip with a scope before you start pulling parts off. Are you running a windage tray?
 
Ironmike said:
try attaching a 3/4 diameter hose to your shop vac and root around in there. Might get lucky . Best first option though is a fiber optic scope.
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I did this once using duct tape over the crevice tool and sucked a piece of a pencil out a spark plug hole, that I accidentally broke off while checking for TDC. Just poked the rubber hose through the duct tape and got instant suck!
 
Attach some very sticky tape ( sticky side out ) to piece of rubber hose and see if you can get it to stick to it.
 
Mag on a stick ..
Have a bendy one that is long
Sometimes fishing a couple of gets you lucky
 
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