Dropped a bolt... need help finding, haha

[DavidPartay]

I had to make a bodgey clutch fluid reservoir mounting bracket since my manual conversion kit didn't come with one, and when I undid the bolt on the brake fluid reservoir bracket, I dropped it. I heard it bounce off metal, so I moved the car back to look for it and I only found the washer.

So, when I get home from work I'm going to grab a really strong magnet to try and pick it up, but something tells me it's actually caught in somewhere underneath the engine.

Any tips as to where it might have got caught? Most of area through which it could have fallen seems to be empty space between the headers, but I actually found the washer on the other side, so it seems as though it must have gotten caught under the engine.

Any advice on where it might have got caught?? I *really* don't want to have to try hunting for a new bolt, and I know it's there somewhere. I'm thinking of jacking up the car and having a bit of a feel around from underneath but obviously I'd prefer not to do that.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

It could be on the chassis rail.

[227shanno]

whenever i try to use a magnet (cause it seems like a cool smart idea) to find a bolt it never works cause it sticks to everything else in the engine bay and really annoys the hell outa me. you might just have to get another one from bunnigs or something

[greenfoam]

I reckon my chasis rails are full of bolts and nuts :P, they get in the holes on top, it could also better sitting on the engine mount or the kframe, lots of places really

[VPplayer]

Just get another bolt man.

I dropped a spark plug in my engine bay while i was changing them, havent found it since.

[summerZ]

depends on how messy ur engine bay is too.. :P

highly unlikely that it will be found, rip bolt :P

[DavidPartay]

Ok, so since I've pretty much given up on finding it, can someone else measure their one for me and tell me how long it is and how wide the thread is? It'll make it easier for me to replace it

[Philthy]

Whenever I drop a bolt the first thing that goes through my mind is "I'm never seeing that again", and it's a bonus if it does show up.
These things happen, a new bolt could save hours of hunting

[illusionalvr]

got an air compressor? give the bay a shot of air. anywhere you think it could of gone spray with air.

[Swordsy]

This is why i'm now glad that i work on concrete now rather than gravel.....
Around the chassis rail would be the most likely. They always turn up somewhere. (radiator cap was 6 months later tho.....)

[illusionalvr]

maybe even a blower if you have no compressor

[DavidPartay]

Haha yeah, I got nothing . I really should stop playing in the bonnet over sand and grass. I'm just annoyed that I found the washer and no bolt washers are much easier to replace.

I'm hoping next time I drive the car out the driveway it'll come loose and I'll have a quick look after I get back, but I'm just going to try and hunt down some cheap bolts.

I really should stock up on random ones... I don't have a stash of anything at all yet

[DavidPartay]

Well I went to Bunnings using the size of my key as a rough measurement.

Ended up getting a pack of 8mmx16mm bolts and it turned out to be the perfect fit .

Very pleased, cost just under $5 and now I have more bolts in case I ever need them.