So I'm putting my intake manifold back on my v6, and I am 90% sure that I dropped a nut into one of the coolant passages in the head. (specifically one of the 2 on the D/s closest to the timing belt)
I have tried to use a magnet to grab it, but have no signs of anything... If this nut is still there, will it affect anything? I've been thinking it over, and I really dont think that will hurt anything since the system is only for cooling, and the only moving part is the water pump. Let me know what you think, I really don't want to take of the head... I just torqued it down.

ps, here are pictures of so far...

 

i highly recommend getting if that nut just so happens to move throught the coolant system and get jammed up somewhere like the water pump or restrict flow.... you might wanna get it... whats the bolt from anyway?

 

If the nut makes its way to the water pump, things are going to come apart.

take it apart, and find that nut

 

It was a nut i was using to double nut the studs for the intake manifold. The way it looks to me it would just get pushed away from the water pump if anything. 12mm.
I turned around and i heard it hit something once, and never saw it, so i'm only saying that because it's not on the floor or below the intake manifold...

 

Think about it. It might take you longer than you want to take the head off and find the nut. But think about how much time AND money you will have to spend if you leave it and something happens. It wouldnt be worth the risk to me. Listen to DC hes right.

 

Hate that when it happens...
Before doing the last resort...try..
PlanA: use a flexible magnet thingy ... if this does not work
plan B: stick a flex hose on a vac (preferably shop wet/dry vac) and try to suck the bolt...try it first on one fo the bolts in hand so that you will know that it can pick it up...

hope this helps...

 

i would have restless nights thinking where that bolt went if that happened to me

 

would i have to get a new felpro head gasket?, can anyone think long and hard about exactly where those 2 holes go? One seems to just channel down the entire head, and it's probably not in that one, the other does it go right down into the block, i tried a flex magnet, no luck, it's too twisty and windy. I'm going to bed tomorrow will be a loooong day.

 

Remove heads, get TOYOTA headgaskets.

Remove that nut, or don't. You will be tearing apart the motor regaurless, unless you can get the nut out with a magnet or something... try a magnet on a string or something??

 

I dropped the "short" head bolt down one of my oil passages; said "screw it", it'll end up in the oil pan...

 

I take exception to all the other posts. The nut will just lie in the bottom of the block and be of no concern. It may some day find itself behind the thermostat. If you remove the heads, chances are you will not find the nut. Proceed ahead with the assembly and don't worry. I pushed a freeze plug into a block and the engine ran fine for years.

My $0.02 but many years of 3.0 engine work.