During the plenum gasket repair I had a bolt crack off the intake (driver side closest to radiator). We tried everything to remove it eventually welding a nut to the top of the bolt and using a wrench to turn it out.

The nut eventually cracked off and via some miracle made it past the rags I had in the intake area and down into the cam shaft.

I cannot see the nut anywhere in the cam shaft and I looked for a very long time. I used a piece of wire and stuck it down past the cam and it feels like it goes all the way into the oil pan.

I will get a flexible magnet and see if I can get anything but I am very doubtful that will work.

I guess my question would be
1) Is there a bottom under the cam or does it drop right down to the oil pan?
2) What should my next move be?

Ive attached a picture and circled the area the bolt fell into in red.

Thanks a lot for any help you can provide.

 

Wow, good luck. Nice idea with welding a nut. I think Dodge is making mechanics out of us owners. Hopefully one of the fine lads will chime in and help you out.

 

Remove the plate.

 

Welding a nut was the last chance before having to drill and tap. I guess I got lucky it was a front bolt and not one near the fire wall.

My only other idea to find the nut would be to take the valve covers off and pull a few push rods to try and see in there.

If there is no bottom to the cam shaft area then I will pull the oil pan and try to find it in there.

These dodges are killing me I paid 40,000 for mine and with 110,000 miles on it I have done so many repairs its crazy. A heater core alone takes a whole day and in the process your entire dash cracks apart.

Oh well its kinda fun some times.

Any help with the bolt is appreciated im kinda lost right now.

 

The plate I have in a yellow square?



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If so I have removed it and cannot see anything in the cam.

 

Sorry , I mis read your post. I thought the pic you posted was the bolt in question. I'd still remove that plate and look.

 

I have removed the plate in the yellow square and crawled in the engine bay and shinned a flash light in all the opening that are exposed when the plate is removed.

When the plate is removed you can see the cam but no where in it can I see the nut. I just need to find out if it would have fallen in the oil pan or is there a bottom to the cam that it could get hung up in.

 

If you can't find it under there, drop the oil pan, and go exploring. You don't wanna leave that in there, as you just KNOW it will find itself in some place it really shouldn't be.

 

Is there a bottom to the cam shaft or would the bolt fall past it and into the oil pan?

Is it possible it fell into the timing chain? Can you hit the timing by dropping a bolt into anything in the yellow square?

 

There is other stuff it can get caught on on the way down, (and totally destroy when you start the engine....) but, it would eventually make it's way to the pan. With the pan off, you can shine a bright light around, and probably find it.