You warned, but I somehow dropped it anyway!

It was the last step in a 2L engine rebuild that so far has gone well ... and then I did it. Despite all the warnings on this BB, I managed to drop the master-link "fish." It is somewhere down in the engine's innards. (And, yes, I had a towel under the chain when it went down.)

I flipped the engine over (it's on an engine stand), expecting gravity to do its thing. Nothing.

I wriggled the upper timing chain around and flipped the engine over again. Nothing. I messed with the chain while it was upside down. More nothing.

I got a strong light and I peered into it. Nowhere to be seen.

I got the trusty magnet on a telescoping wand and fished for the fish. the magnet stuck on the chains and everything else ferrous down there. But it did not come up with the little "fish."

Here's the question: I guess that pulling the oil pan is next, then the front cover if that doesn't do it. But before I do that, is there some other trick I haven't thought of?

This project is resurrection of a 1988 Spider that by all rights should have been a parts car. I bought it for $450 and promised my wife it would take no more than $2,500 to get it onto the road. I'm now $400 over that budget. But it now has a potentially great engine (if I find that fish and can finish it). It has refurbished brake calipers and new pads. There is a roll bar ready to be installed. I just got delivery on a a nice fuel cell to replace the tar-filled gas tank (this car sat for several years). It still needs seats, new gas lines and -- later -- a paint job.

Until tonight It has all been fun.