i was working on my 93 rx7 r1 yesterday and might have accidently dropped something in one of the chambers of the lower intake manifold (the one closest to the firewall).

whatever got dropped could be made of plastic or iron. maybe nothing got dropped, and i just heard a noise and am all paranoid.

but whats the easiest way to check if something is in there, and then take it out without having the take the lower intake manifold off.

and if i have to take the lower intake manifold off. then, do i have to replace the gasket? can i reuse it?

 

If your gasket is metal then you don't have to replace it. If it's paper then I would.

 

do a search somone did this a few months back but it was a nut off of throttle body... I think they used a manget... don't rotate the engine (obviously)
Good luck
Ryker

 

Go to Sears and buy a powerful magnet, probably with a flexible neck, that would help.

Start with that.

Second is a rather larger project, because in order to remove the Lower Intake Manifold. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE the turbos first. Which isn't too hard actually.

 

try a telescoping magnet retrieval tool, I guess you can't see anything? I would take off the manifold but if it went into the port and the port was open at the time you may have to take off the exhaust manifold too! and carefully move the rotor until the part is accesable in the exhaust port. I feel for ya!

 

The guy who dropped the nut in there used this contraption on his shopvac...



and here's what he got out!

 

Since it might be plastic a magnet won't work. Use a magnet first because I doubt plastic would make that noise you heard. If nothing after that, use the shop vac.

 

Yeah that was me with the nut removal tool, it worked like a charm. Take the filter off and make sure to use a lot of duct tape to get a good tight seal and just thread the hose down as far as you can and then turn it on. Good luck!

 

I think the vacuum idea would be your best bet. Removing the LIM is a major pain in the ***! I just got done doing it to replace the gasket (the turbos have to come off). I think I spent about $250 just in gaskets and nuts/studs. I would absolutely not re-use the LIM gasket, even if it is metal, since its such a bitch to get at.

 

thanks everyone for the help.

i tried the magnet, and the shop vac. but nothing came out. i am gonna start the engine assuming theres nothing in there.

lets say there is something there. what do you think will happen?

 

If you dropped something down there, I don't think it would be pretty.

 

If its plastic, it will probably burn up eventually. I think you'll only have problems if its metal.

 

turn it over slow by hand first before you try to start it... less damage if there is somthing in there...

 

I used to work with a guy who dropped a #10 nut down the intake manifold on a Ford V-8. He got tired of looking after an hour and promptly blew three holes through the block when he started it! Three thousand dollars later he was back on the road. Keep looking.

 

thanks everyone for the help!!!

i used the magnet and the shop vac, but nothing came out. so i assumed nothing was in there.

this morning i started the car and took it out for a spin. the engine is working fine. the car is idling at 2100 rpm (i need the adjust the TPS and the accelerator cable i guess for that).

but, i guess nothing got dropped in the LIM.