headbolt washers dropped somewhere into head sigh retrieval?

[jt15833]

ok like an idiot i tilted my head backwards forgetting i left the headbolt washers on their perch

i have 7 retrieved, I can't really hear them rattling but i know they are in there as there is nothing on the ground.

i really don't want to take the cams out.

anyone else had this unfortunate thing happen to them, if so any tips for getting them?

flipping it on its topside gave me 2 or 3, but thats it

[r34 gtr]

Magnet on a stick!! Make sure its really freaking powerful. Works every time, and I do have this problem a whole lot.

[r34 gtr]

This

[Buddyworm]

I did that once, found one sitting perfectly on a the head of a cam bracket bolt. The others were just in various places near the valve springs and other low points.

I like the magnet idea though, otherwise, just tilt the head at various angles to try and get a peek everywhere you can. I also used a piece of wire bent into a hook and fished around in places I couldn't see.

[jt15833]

ah thanks team that should do the trick!

also on a side note, what are you doing for an additional washer if using the ARP hardware that places the water pump stud threads higher than the rests?

home depot washer?seems like it needs to be pretty beefy

[r34 gtr]

Use the stock washers with the ARP studs. The stock washer for that location is taller than the rest. If you double stack washers, you will destroy lifters. I know, I did it, and then I had to replace several lifters.

[jt15833]

oh wow good thing i asked...doesnt everybody say use another washer for that one...*not everybody of course but atleast someone, i swear i've seen it

how does it destroy the lifter?

[r34 gtr]

There isnt enough clearance and the skirt of the lifter catches on the top washer. After a while it will eat away at the skirt and pretty much ruin the lifter. Just use the stock washer set, it works fine.

Yeah, you probably saw me do it. Heres what happens when you double stack them (excuse the crappy cell phone pics)

[jt15833]

searching through the archives was less than satisfying. I did get the right kit, the SR main stud kit. However some people say they worked fine, some people say they needed to double the washer.

Machining tolerances are not enough to make some work fine and some not, but installation procedure is. Anyhow, the uncertainty associated with these studs makes me want to install my stock bolts. I'm going to go at it with a caliper tonight and try to get some conclusive results.

[Buddyworm]

Jeebus R34, that's scary. My ****'s double-stacked on ALL the bolts. My valvetrain isn't making any odd noises though and I've put a lot of miles on the engine since then... Hard ones.

[r34 gtr]

Mine didn't make any noise either...

[bradt]

Magnet on a stick gets them for me every time. It's a nice thing to have around period if you dont have one already.

[HighwayStar22]

ah thanks team that should do the trick!

also on a side note, what are you doing for an additional washer if using the ARP hardware that places the water pump stud threads higher than the rests?

home depot washer?seems like it needs to be pretty beefy

What is this you speak of? I'm getting the ARP CA head stud kit. Is there fitment issues?

[jt15833]

ha! welcome to the journey. search the archives for arp and ca18 forums you'll find it.

anyhow, if people say they work then it is simply up to the installer to do a correct job. I am going to do some measuring with a caliper of the block, head and studs to get a definitive answer.

[HighwayStar22]

ha! welcome to the journey. search the archives for arp and ca18 forums you'll find it.

anyhow, if people say they work then it is simply up to the installer to do a correct job. I am going to do some measuring with a caliper of the block, head and studs to get a definitive answer.

Lol well I do all the machine work and install myself so I'll have to check it.

[r34 gtr]

Make sure you get all the oil and whatever out of the bolt holes on the block, otherwise the bolts won't be able to thread in all the way. The water pump one will sit a little taller than the others, but not by a whole lot.

[jt15833]

alright so the magnet stick got me 1 washer...8/10 aint bad

the strange thing, i have 7 black washers, and 1 washer that has a slight larger outer diameter, and a slightly larger inner diameter. It's also lighter in color. Is this the one you were talking about that sits by the water pump?

Also, as far as getting the remaining washers out of the head (if they're in there), i tilted the head so it is sitting vertical for the night. I'm trying to get the oil completely out so it's easier.

After that i do not know what to do... I took the cams / lifters out and i have a pretty good shot with the magnet stick but not much luck. How difficult is it to remove valves and springs, and also will this free up some space that these washers may have gone but i can't get to right now?

I have never seen this head in depth, or without springs/retainers/valves, so it is tough for my to decide what needs to happen. I can get replacement washers at a junkyard,

BUT I NEED A WAY TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO FLOATING WASHERS IN MY HEAD! ideas welcome!

ps - i hate unnecessary **** that adds time onto jobs. planning is the best mod!

[r34 gtr]

You just need to figure out where the oil passages go. They all funnel down into a central sort of channel down the middle. If you can snake the magnet down there, and it will take some practice, you'll get them out. I got the hang of it quick, because it always happens when I pull the head off.

[jt15833]

when i leave work im going to get my brother to hold one side and ill hold the other and shake the F out of it. i don't care if i lose the washers but i cannot have them in the head during reinstall!

any guesses on if KA washers will work? I'm assuming so...

I'm trying to think of the best fitting, most available washer i could get @ nissan and KA came to mind, they usually don't stock too many pulsar parts.

thanks team

[jt15833]

bah i tried shaking the heck out of the head but couldn't really hear / get anything out...

how hard is it to take the valve springs out?

[jt15833]

ok woot so the shaking did put them BOTH right by one of the washer perches on the intake side.

got all 10, except i have 9 black ones and 1 other one ha. I think i used 9 of the ARP ones and 1 of the stock? dunno why...

did the arp hardware come w/ washers? i forgot but im guessing so.

[r34 gtr]

If that washer is taller than the others, its the one that goes on the water pump stud. One of those stockers is BEEFY.

[jt15833]

is this mentioned anywhere in the FSM?

I assume it must be...

[r34 gtr]

Has to be.