Last night I was getting ready to reinstall the intake manifold&amp\\;nbsp\\;on the new engine (Replaced a bad engine in a ’95, 3.8L.)&amp\\;nbsp\\;when one of the alignment studs I had made (per the manual) slipped out of my hand and fell down into the engine.&amp\\;nbsp\\; I believe it is somewhere around the crakshaft as it didn’t sound like it fell all the way to the oil pan.&amp\\;nbsp\\; Still, I removed the drain plug on the oil pan and fished around in there with a magnet, nothing.&amp\\;nbsp\\; Fished around the crankshaft with the magnet, nothing.&amp\\;nbsp\\; Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the stud&amp\\;nbsp\\;out, or am I totally screwed and destined to pull the new engine out to find this&amp\\;nbsp\\;thing?

 

You were installing an intake manifold and dropped a bolt down one of the intake ports?&amp\\;nbsp\\; Am I understanding that correctly?

 

&lt\\;P&gt\\;It fell down around the cam shaft I believe.&lt\\;/P&gt\\;
&lt\\;P&gt\\;&amp\\;nbsp\\;&lt\\;/P&gt\\;
&lt\\;P&gt\\;Having trouble attaching a picture.&amp\\;nbsp\\; I posted&amp\\;nbsp\\;one at &lt\\;A href=&quot\\;http://www.flickr.com/photos/1688825...&lt\\;/P&gt\\;
&lt\\;P&gt\\;&amp\\;nbsp\\;&lt\\;/P&gt\\;
&lt\\;P&gt\\;The yellow arrow points to where it went in.&lt\\;/P&gt\\;

 

are you trying to post pics?

youre doing it wrong. check out the link:

https://mustangforums.com/m_3003142/tm.htm

 

Start at the top and work down.I mean,remove the valve covers and see if it's in there.If it dropped down the intake,it'll have to come off.
Actually if it went into the oil pan you're probably safe.There just ain't enough turbulence in the oil close to the bottom of the pan to cause the bolt to fly into the crank.
Until you KNOW where it is don't turn the engine.If it were my car I'd hunt until the missing part was found.
Yes I've dropped parts into engines myself,so it happens to everyone sooner or later.

 

Ok, lets try this again.

The arrow shows where I dropped the stud in the engine. The intake manifold is off so the arrow shows pretty much exactly where it went in. The engine is currently in the car, with the transmission hooked up and timing chain cover on.

 

I bet it's somewhere in the valley near the camshaft, I don't think it could have made it all the way down to the crankcase/oilpan.

 

Thanks. We got it out this weekend. Had to pull the engine out. Mounted it on the engine stand and flipped it over to see if it would come out. Half way over I heard it bounce around and then drop into the oil pan. Fortunately, we were able to jockey it over to the drain plug hole and fish it out with a magnet. Thanks again.

 

wow, congrats on getting it out...