Loose Nuts in Exhaust

[evolutionmovement]

What would happen if, theoretically of course *ahem*, one dropped a small bolt and it bounced off the X-member and right into the hanging exhaust manifold? There's no way to suck it up so I imagine it would just rattle around and annoyingly. There's no way to retrieve it without taking the whole thing apart so I'm just think about leaving it.

Steve

[WRXdan]

What would happen if, theoretically of course *ahem*, one dropped a small bolt and it bounced off the X-member and right into the hanging exhaust manifold? There's no way to suck it up so I imagine it would just rattle around and annoyingly. There's no way to retrieve it without taking the whole thing apart so I'm just think about leaving it.

Steve

Your options are limited. Listen to it rattle and hope it passes or take down the exhaust and be lucky to find it.

[THAWA]

it'll probably get stuck on the cat and burn up there, or melt or get real hot or something.

[kastrix]

Theoretically, dont do that... LOL

It sounds like its too late for that, so i would probably take the whole thing apart. I'm really anal about weird ratteling noises. I scuffed all five of my right knuckels, broke 1 left finger, and many many burns. All to get those damn heat sheilds off.

[THAWA]

can you just turn the exhaust over and shake and move it until it slides back out?

[evolutionmovement]

I'm doing enough work on this damn car - I'm not touching the exhaust if I don't have to. It will need some work soon anyway as it rattles (even with half the heat shields off and the other half strapped down) and the muffler's skin is coming unravelled. I still don't know what I'm doing with this thing - I might sell it as is to someone who'd be interested in finishing the turbo conversion or who'd want the engine for another project. But the sticker is that I can't afford a new GT wagon or a G35 coupe (impractical as it is for kayak carrying) and nothing appeals to me otherwise unless it's even older. I could go for a Grand National/T-Type or 65-66 Mustang fastback, but that's just more shit I really should have a garage for. A $500 Caprice Classic is sounding more appealing, though and I'm sure it'll hold up well as it's not a car that encourages hard driving and I could use it to tow my brother-in-law's boat rather than being dependent on his useless brother.

Steve

[ultrasonic]

What would happen if, theoretically of course *ahem*, one dropped a small bolt and it bounced off the X-member and right into the hanging exhaust manifold? There's no way to suck it up so I imagine it would just rattle around and annoyingly. There's no way to retrieve it without taking the whole thing apart so I'm just think about leaving it.

Steve

Try using a magnet.

Either on a string, passed into the manifold, or on the outside of the manifold and 'walk' the bolt up to where you can grab it.

[evolutionmovement]

I thought oof that, but it's non-magnetic. Looked like aluminum.

Steve

[tris91ricer]

something sticky? glue? how about one of those 25 cent machine sticky hands? you know, those jelly-kind that you slap people in the face with after it's gathered dust, food, lint, and other particulates from your pocket...

good luck,
-=tris

[vrg3]

The nuts weren't steel? That's unusual, isn't it?

I agree that it shouldn't be a big deal... what harm could it do other than slowly banging away on whatever's left of your ~250,000-mile-old catalytic converter?

[evolutionmovement]

It was actually a bolt. The cheap one that came with the engine crane that ties the chain ends together. I'm pretty sure it was aluminum - it was very light and whitish.

Steve

[vrg3]

Weird... why would they use a material that's more expensive and less strong than steel?

[evolutionmovement]

I know, that's what I said out loud when I got it, only I proceded the statement with WTF?

Steve