HELP! I Messed up. Thread chaser down a headbolt hole...

[woodscavenger]

I am just about sick. After six months running great it suddenly ran rough. I was disgusted and then got busy with work and let it sit for 4 months. Finally tested the compression and found none in 3&4. Pulled the head and saw a huge defect in the gasket between the two. Ordered a new gasket, sent the head to be machined and tonight I was chasing the threads on the block to clean them up. Every thing went well until the middle one between the 5th and 6th cylinder. The handle came loose and I obviously chased it too far because I heard this sickening metallic clink and realized that the thread chaser had dropped all the way into the headbolt hole!

How in the heck do I retrieve it? Do I dare ask?

Man do I feel stupid. First of all because I could have had it back on the road a lot sooner. I thought I had some internal valve problems and was scared to tackle them......now I go and do this. Do I have a 50 year old paperweight on my hands?

[builtfercomfort]

I don't understand exactly where the thread chaser ended up. Is the thread chaser just now loose in the water passages? If so, will it obstruct water passing (can you ignore it, or will it rust away over time?) , or can you pull off a freeze plug to get at that area?

[TodFitch]

Seems like popping out the core plug that looks like it would give you the best access to the water jacket where you dropped the thread chaser would be prudent. If you are lucky you might be able to fish it out.

[aero3113]

If there is a core plug near where you think it is, fish it out with one of those long bendable magnets. You also may get lucky and stick the magnet down the head bolt hole and try to bring it up that way. May be tricky to get it to thread out though. Just take your time you will get it.It may not be a big deal if it is left in also.

[lugnut123]

pop the freeze plugs out and go fishin. There mite be some rust and gunk down in the block that needs flushed anyway. Freeze plugs are easy to replaace so go for broke.

[mikesinky]

last month i done something similar i took the head off to have it shaved and was cleaning everything up while it was being done and had some little bolts sitting on the cowl. i hit the box they were in and one fell in the headbolt hole. i was not wanting to leave it in there so i knocked out the freeze plug right below the hole and fished it out with a magnet. you will get it alot easier than you think. the freeze plugs can be bought at napa i think for like a buck fifty or something just clean the lip off good put some sealer on it and turn the concave part out and hit with a ball pin hammer.

[Flatie46]

I did the same thing in probably the same hole. I took magnet and pulled it right out, no fuss what so ever. When you pull it up to where the threads start you'll be able to grasp the tap and turn it back out. Yea, I 'bout crapped when I done it too!

[desoto1939]

I was taking off the wing nut on the top of aircleaner ofn the 39 DeSoto.

I then heard the sound of clink. I had noticed that the thread rod that is used to hold the wing nut and hold the lid to the cleaner had fallen into the carb.

Now i was very nervous because if the srew rolled then it could have gone into the manifold and then into the engine.

I lucked out and used a magnet onthe flexible spring style and was able to get it out of the carb.

I now had threaded an extra nut onto the thread screen so that it can not come loose again.

Suggest that everyone check this on their cars and add the extra nut just a word of caution and this might save a big headache for someone.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[1949P17BC]

You are not alone! I too must admit I did the same da@$ thing on my 49. Couldn't fish it out, have driven over 8M miles with no problem. Buy a replacement chaser