Dropped a wrench in a dark place

[twosocks90]

I changed out my wiper motor on my '83 K10 Suburban and in doing so, dropped a wrench down inside the body. I can't find it with either a long magnet or with a grabber tool. Is there any hope to retrieve it? I can't even tell exactly where it is other than it sounds like it went down in the door pillar or the back part of the fender.

Any suggestions?

[19silverado77]

scope with a magnet?

[Flthead]

If you go inside kick panel vent area you might be able to get it that way

[71swb4x4]

Just turn the truck over and shake it a little.

[donut]

Ugly as all get out, but if you can check the area where you see the weld patch, behind the front wheel. This is where it could end up. That area actually opens up, if you get lucky, you may be able to feel/touch the wrench if it's sticking out the drain hole. Otherwise, it could be stuck anywhere in that piece. It actually runs all the way from the cowl to the ground behind the fender.

The patch was fixing a big rust hole on the '73.

[twosocks90]

Just turn the truck over and shake it a little.

We did. Found $7.86 in small change and an old Bee Gee's cassette tape, but no wrench.

That area actually opens up

Opens up from where? I'm about to take the kick panel off like Flthead suggested and see if that helps. Is that what you mean?

[chengny]

It's probably down at the bottom of the fresh air intake plenum.



Remove the manual louver (inside, down by the e-brake), reach in and feel around.

[donut]

What chengny said.

There is a small hole at the bottom of the plenem that lets water drain through. maybe it'll be there, otherwise pop the vent.

My small wrench traveled through, after that the hole got plugged with a rag until I was done.

[twosocks90]

Is the plenum the black duct that runs sideways below the steering wheel?

[BONUSCAB]

Disco Bee Gee's, or pre-disco bee Gee's? If it's pre disco, I'll take it. "I started a joke" brings me to tears every time I hear it. 3rd greatest song ever recorded.

[donut]

Originally Posted by twosocks90

Is the plenum the black duct that runs sideways below the steering wheel?

No, that's just an ac/vent duct to your dash vents. The plenum that we're talking about is actually the cowl area, it actually runs down both sides. Your fresh air vents in the cab pull air from them. If you pull the vent panel that's behind the e-brake arm, you can get pretty good access. (iirc it's about a 6" diameter hole.)
This is the vent in the kick panel next to your left foot while sitting in the truck.

[twosocks90]

This is the vent in the kick panel next to your left foot while sitting in the truck.

This is my kick panel. Removed it, no vent anywhere I can see. Do some trucks have vents down there? Or am I looking in the wrong place?

[hrc200x]

I think trucks with A/C don't have a vent on the left kick pannel, but do have a vaccume powered vent on the right kick pannel. Trucks without A/C have manual vents at both kick pannels.

[hrc200x]

In your first picture there is a hood bracket/hinge that has some rubber or foam around it, does that rubber foam/hinge come off easy? If I recall its held on by 3 or 4 bolts, I thought there is a larger hole down into the area where your wrench went.

[buddy_1]

I've got a magnet with a flexable shaft like this one http://www.restockit.com/ullman-flex...FcVQ7AoddhwABQ that works good in situations like this. I got it at my local parts house for less tha ten bucks. Remove the cowl vent so you can get your hand inside and run the magnet around the corner and fish around.

[twosocks90]

I finally got it out! It was deep inside, behind the front wheel. I used electric tape to attach my magnet-on-a-stick to a long piece of stiff wire. That way I was able to push the magnet down in there and it came up with the wrench.

Thanks for the help.