[Richiehd]

Maybe you can borascope through the spark plug holes. I have a small Snap on camera that I could use for that sort of thing.

[bigdog7373]

Wait you were driving and the nut loosened itself, went against gravity, upwards on the air cleaner stud, fell perfectly straight down, through the solid metal air cleaner top and into the engine and somehow you witnessed this through the steel hood from inside the car while driving? And then when you saw this with your wizard x-ray vision you decided to keep driving the car which has hardware that works against the laws of gravity and physics? Yea.

[1Gary]

Because he said he has something pinging around in the engine the logical deduction ,lost nut or not,he needs to look closely at that.And the last touch rule applies.What was the last thing he touched working on the engine??.

[skullandpistons]

thanks for all the suggestions. and to those who asked. i know it whent into the carb because it happened right when i was about to park. the bolt that hold the air cleaner on my motor is kinda of ghetto so it had a nut on the bottom to sort of lock the bolt to the carb to keep it from backing out. i originally thought it was a belt slapping and looked under the hood and noticed the bolt had backed out and was loose. i immediately new what it was. i took the air cleaner off and low and behold the nut on the bottom of the bolt was missing and there was only one place it could go.

[poncho62]

OK...that makes more sense.....We were all thinking it was the wing nut you were talking about...I can see the lock nut working loose.

Still think you should pll carb, fish around and go from there

[bigdog7373]

Ok that makes more sense. At least now you learned your lesson to do things right the first time.
You might get lucky and have it sitting on a valve. Don't run it any more till you find it.

[454 Rattler]

Originally Posted by skullandpistons

thanks for all the suggestions. and to those who asked. i know it whent into the carb because it happened right when i was about to park. the bolt that hold the air cleaner on my motor is kinda of ghetto so it had a nut on the bottom to sort of lock the bolt to the carb to keep it from backing out. i originally thought it was a belt slapping and looked under the hood and noticed the bolt had backed out and was loose. i immediately new what it was. i took the air cleaner off and low and behold the nut on the bottom of the bolt was missing and there was only one place it could go.

This still doesn't make sense to me. Are we talking about the nut that locks the air cleaner stud to the carb ? Or maybe it's something that I can't picture.

Anyway, good luck !!


454 RATTLER

[123pugsy]

Originally Posted by 454 Rattler

This still doesn't make sense to me. Are we talking about the nut that locks the air cleaner stud to the carb ? Or maybe it's something that I can't picture.

Anyway, good luck !!


454 RATTLER

That's it. Maybe not an official stud but a piece of all thread and a nut to lock it.

I've made them up like that before.

[bigdog7373]

Originally Posted by 454 Rattler

This still doesn't make sense to me. Are we talking about the nut that locks the air cleaner stud to the carb ? Or maybe it's something that I can't picture.

Anyway, good luck !!


454 RATTLER

He had a bolt to hold the air cleaner down with a nut that hit the top of the carb to lock it down. Should have just put a bolt, the nut was a stupid idea. (no offense)

[gearheadslife]

Originally Posted by skullandpistons

thanks for all the suggestions. and to those who asked. i know it whent into the carb because it happened right when i was about to park. the bolt that hold the air cleaner on my motor is kinda of ghetto so it had a nut on the bottom to sort of lock the bolt to the carb to keep it from backing out. i originally thought it was a belt slapping and looked under the hood and noticed the bolt had backed out and was loose. i immediately new what it was. i took the air cleaner off and low and behold the nut on the bottom of the bolt was missing and there was only one place it could go.

thats not ghetto.. but next time.. put red lock tight on the nut so it can't come off the stud even if the stud backs off..

[gearheadslife]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

He had a bolt to hold the air cleaner down with a nut that hit the top of the carb to lock it down. Should have just put a bolt, the nut was a stupid idea. (no offense)

a bolt is another way..
but most that have lost the carbs original air cleaner stud that has a built in stop.. they use standard 1/4 thread rod and a nut as a stop. as to not let the rod thread to far into the carb body and crack the mount.
his only mistake was not use'n red locktight on the nut..
I tack weld mine so it'll never move..
hard way to learn that a 1.59 tube of lock tight would've stopped this from happening..
hopefully it's in the intake and an eazy fix...

[1Gary]

The whole point of this is not totally to get out the nut,but also to see what damage was done.RIGHT??. I have never met anyone after spending good money for a build,will fudge a repair.To me the cost of a gasket set is well worth it.

[gearheadslife]

Originally Posted by 1Gary

The whole point of this is not totally to get out the nut,but also to see what damage was done.RIGHT??. I have never met anyone after spending good money for a build,will fudge a repair.To me the cost of a gasket set is well worth it.

if the nuts in the intake.. all you have to do is a leakdown test, you'll know right then if a valve face or seat is damaged.. no need to open it up.. other than like'n to waste money and time.. if it past the valve you already know there is damage..

[1Gary]

Originally Posted by gearheadslife

if the nuts in the intake.. all you have to do is a leakdown test, you'll know right then if a valve face or seat is damaged.. no need to open it up.. other than like'n to waste money and time.. if it past the valve you already know there is damage..

I respectfully disagree.The reason why is after all the time and money to get the intake runner just right,to have a nut bouncing around even on the back side of the valve can't be good.I would want to know where I'm at for certain.That is the reason why I built it.

[boothboy]

OK let me put my two cents in. I had a similar experience years ago. Lost a 1/4 inch nut down the carb. I didn't know where it went until I fired it up. Funny noise. End result? One broken piston, one bent valve, and one cracked block.
My advice? Don't run it until you find that nut. Do all the things everyone else has suggested and dismantle your engine as far down as you have to. It will be cheaper in the long run.

BB