You made 100% sure it's not in one of the intake ports of the head right? Me personally if I had the intake off and am missing a bolt I would find it before I put the key in the ignition. If it did get in the port then it's game over if you start it.
On a different note, Fill the knock sensor plug with dielectric grease and it will help prevent water from getting down there and shorting out the sensor, You can also fill the entire cavity after you plug it up. I have also RTV'd the rubber grommet to the plate to aid in keeping moisture out.
Good luck and hope you find it..
In this motor you can see the valves in the ports. I did check, and its not in there. I've got the truck back together aside from that bolt, and have ran it, but it has a vacuum leak and is running terribly. It did not go clank, ting, boom or anything. I heard the bolt fall and it fell somewhere in the fan/water pump area but I can't find it for the life of me. It runs much better with that knock sensor fixed, has it's balls back. Just idles rough and wants to and does cut out when you decelerate and turn. I cleared the knock sensor code, and it threw another code, I'd imagine a lean bank code.
I most definitely RTVed the rubber boots on the knock sensors, so I won't be doing this again. Dielectric grease wouldn't have been a bad idea either. :toast
Got it all taken care of. 3" bolt, a washer, five fiber spacers and a rubber washer made it work.
Come to find out, the running like crap wasn't vacuum leak...I forgot to plug the MAP sensor back in :pinch I hate when I do dumb stuff like that.
I think we all qualify for the "dumb stuff award". there is a long line I am sure.
Glad you got it fixed.
I have a few truck intakes at the shop I pulled off when I put superchargers on them so I probably have some stock intake bolts laying around if you want to put the correct one back in it one day. Only thing good about them is they keep you from over tightening the manifold and messing up the o-ring. I'll look this week and if I do and you want it i'll throw it in a envelope and send it your way.
I started putting in the new piston in my rhino yesterday and wrapped it up today. Plenty of dumb azz moves involved. Worst one was getting it cranked up and letting it idle for 5 min before I remembered I drained the radiator 2 months earlier. Glad you got it done.
