I dropped a 3/8 to 1/4 conversion socket into the top of the head and down into the block it went What are the odds something catastrophic will happen? Is it possible to take the oil pan off and get it with the block still mounted in the 4runner? This is a 3vze engine with AUTO tranny btw

 

did it get past the pistons, and what where you doing to the motor???

 

I doubt it got passed a piston. Looks like you will have to remove the head to get it out.

 

or you could get one of those magentic tools and remove the spark plug and try to fish it out.....

 

Before you pull the head try one of those magnetic tools to try and get it out.

 

That would probibly work

 

The heads are off. If fell in the biggest square hole on the passenger closest to the firewall on the block. I'm doing head gasket replacement

 

Just last night I was working on mine and thought...."you know what would really suck?" I plugged all my openings with rags and stuff right away. That hole is a water passage. I'm not sure where it goes to but it wont lead to the oil pan. You will have to fish it out with the magnetic tool like was mentioned. You can get flexible ones as well as flexible grabbers and mirrors pretty cheap at a place like Princess Auto. Good luck man.

 

that wont be in your oil pan buddy, you better get a magnet -- should not be too hard to get it out with a magnet

 

Sorry to be a dick but, its awfully nice to know that I'm not the only one the "Auto Gods" hate!
Good Luck!

 

I'll try the magnet thing. First time head gasket job for me! And man, what a PITA. Thanks you all.

 

Hey Corvey.....don't sweat it. Things like that happen to guys who've been doin' it for years.

If it makes you feel any better, the first time I rebuilt my top end I neglected to put the headbolt spacers/washers on before I torqued 'em down....which led to breaking a headbolt. Several others almost snapped, but by the time I'd gotten to them I'd already relieved most of the pressure so they came out before actually snapping. What a nightmare that was. Moral of the story....be sure to use the spacers...and lube them and the headbolts lightly before installing them. Of course, chase the threads first.

 

i think you will be fine with a long flexible magnet, I haven't lost anything in a coolant passage before, but I have had similar problems. you will get it out.

 

my dad lost a bolt i think once, while working on his motor. never found it, till he fired up the engine, and trashed the block, valve and piston.

 

Sport Tuner Magazine (Not our style, I know) built a super nice SRT-4 Neon with Bigger tuerbo, and all the works, it was a work of art, blew apart a spark plug, and it disspaeared into the cylinder...they towed it home, and couldn't find it....fired it up, they heard clinking in the ehaust, tore into it, and there was the end of the spark plug, it has escaped through an exhaust valve, and did 0 harm to the motor!!

 

Try using a vacumm

 

I was working on a carb 1 time on a 390 Ford engine and i left 1 of the screws loose on the top.. It went straight to number 8 piston. Ruined the block , that was a 550 dollar mistake for me,, The price of another short block, The 1 i ruined was less than a month old... I was SICK!

 

part of my grandpa's spark plug broke off in the cyl. and he got it out just fine with a magnet so...

 

If it fell into a coolant passage in the block-1) it should be pretty easy to get out; 2) the water jackets around the cylinders are a 'dead end' meaning it can't go anywhere and it can't fall into the crankcase; 3) even if you can't get it out, no big deal it's stuck where it is; 4) like it's been mentioned a magnet is your best bet, you could even drain the block to look for it with a flashlight.

 

Did you get it out yet? If the magnet doesn't work just take the block out and shake it upside down. It'll come right out no problem.