Grommet fell into manifold, how screwed am I?

Found a cracked PCV? hose on my 69 skylark 350, pulled it off, valve came with it. Valve seems ok, but the grommet was shot. Tried to get the grommet out, it disintegrated and fell in. I can't find it to fish it out. How screwed am I? Photo of the hole attached.

 

Shop vac.

You might need to get a few different diameters of PVC pipe or even heater hose that will fit in the hole and some duct tape.

It's time you own up to being a sucker!

 

I dont think a shop vac will work, The bottom of the grommett stayed intact enough that it won't fit through the hole without squishing it.

 

I think you are fine leaving the old grommet inside the motor. It may be laying on the intake gasket pan or the lifter valley. It should not damage anything. Clean up around that hole and get you a new grommet installed and you should be good to go.

 

Can anybody corroborate that? Leaving it in there seems like a big bet.

 

If you can get to it, you might try mechanical fingers. And grab it, pull it up then you should be able to get a hold with needle nose and pull it out.

 

It won't hurt a thing.

 

I did the same thing with my 455 but I have aluminum heads and an aftermarket flat valley pan. I was able to get to it with some really long needle nose pliers and pull it out. I too am of the belief that it will be fine to leave it in there. That was my backup plan if I couldn't get it out. Otherwise if it is really going to bother you, you can always pull the intake.
Cliff

 

It was the old grommet. I heard that leaving it was fine from enough places to believe it, and just stuck a new grommet and stuff on there. Getting the new one in was tricky but I eventually got it without any trimming. Thanks, all.

 

It will live a happy life hanging out in the there, no worries. Hell I took a 350 apart one time that had 4 grommets laying in the valley pan, they put a body plug in the hole and ran the valve to the valve cover Chevy style, would have been fun to have been there for all that drama ha

 

A career in aircraft maintenance made me anal about a lot of things. And "knowing" the FO is in a place it is not supposed to be living, would keep me awake.
Even a soft part, especially something that could break down due to dry rot, age, or mechanical action and plug an oil passage, is not worth the cost of "letting it slide".

But if someone made that choice on their own ride, I won't denigrate that at all. A man makes his choices and accepts the good and the bad.

 

Haha, sooo true.

I've had plenty of luck simply fishing it out with a coat hanger. Rather get it up to the hole with the coat hanger then use a pair of pliers to pull it through the hole again. Typically its sitting right on the intake gasket's valley pan.

 

--
And knowing anal people like you service the planes I fly in makes me sleep better!! :_)

 

This stuff creeps into my mind everytime I'm flying past 100mph in one of my cars that I have had my finger on each and every bolt and nut......"Did I forget anything?"

 

Why not take the intake off? Might as well. I would. Looks like it's never been off before. I'd replace a valley pan and the end seals, (if needed, some intakes hang down a bit lower so you can get away with just a thick bead of sealant), it's only $30 bucks and about an hour's time.
Those bolts look a lil crusty, I'd clean up the threads on a wire wheel if you do take em off. Don't be afraid to use some heat and some pb blaster or zep to wick in there.

 

I have also learned the hard way to install the PVC grommet on Buick intakes before you install the intake and yes the PVC valve is very tight using a new aftermarket grommet. I never used a drum sander but that is a good idea.

 

Ditto, I put mine in on the bench before installing intake....Jim

 

think I applied a little wd40 to the grommet and in it went.

 

I use silicone grease. Very little and wipe it off the part, and it makes easy work.