You know youre stupid when...

[Tom Vogel]

was working on the fuel pressure isolator baracket that I made on the back of the intake manifold. It was late in the day and I was in a hurry and tired. I pulled out the distributor to make room. When I positioned the bracket and bolts over the manifold... Ploook! 3 points, all net!
The picture you see is the chrome washer which spent the last 2 weeks in the motor because I was too in a hurry to place a peice of tape over the distributor hole. I know better... Slow Down.
I made up this little rare earth magnet on the end of a peice of tig wire. I was about to give up and start dismantling, but my buddy got it finally. Couldnt see it, but somehow snagged it out.
What a Maroon.

[Shyguy]

Lucky indeed.

This is a true story. A friend of mine years ago was replacing the carb on a engine and dropped a nut down in the intake. Being a inexperienced mechanic decided it would be ok and not hurt anything. Some time later he had to have the engine torn down and fixed because the nut did find its way into a place that called damage.

[shawno72]

Don't feel bad you are not alone. I too have to slow myself down cause I get in such a hurry that I find myself not thinking things out.
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[pat 70/71]

A good friend of mine was working on a vw motor (on a stand) and dropped a ten millimeter nut into the altinator bracket area! He was so bummed. He was getting ready to take it apart when I told him why don't you just spin the motor upside down? He did and it dropped out! (only knew this because I had the same happen to me two weeks earlier) cheers, Pat
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[CC69Rat]

I think sometimes bolts and washers take on their own personality and giggle their a$$ off as they go down the worst place they could possibly find to be in an engine. .. just hiding and dodging anything you use to try to get them out.

[custom1970]

Wow, sorry for your aggravation, but it's good to know i'm not the only one who does stuff like that...

[Shyguy]

A little off subject, but hide-a-keys seem to have a mind of their own. It seems I never find them when I need them.

On old vehicles I have found an assortment of nuts, washers, wrenches, screw drivers and such where they had fallen in the engine compartment and front end area.

I am sure glad I joined this site years ago, I have learned so many things.

[dracula4999]

I was installing a new engine in a 71 nova one day, spent all morning getting it buttoned up to put in there. As i was lowering it into the engine compartment a bolt fell out of the chain a dropped down the distributor hole. Had to pull engine back out and remove the pan to get it out.