So I finally decided to remove my front clam, no problemo.

2 Annoyances... the "hidden bolts" near the windshield washer motor and the bolts right next to the door hinges. Ugh.

Whatever, got them both off.

OK, so now for the hard part.

I got the clam off no problem. No scratches anywhere, no forgotten screws, oil lines, wires, etc. BUT.

a. I dropped 2 of the white nylon shims that hold the front fuse box (I thought they were attached to the plate (for some dumb reason) but they were just stuck... there are too many freakin wires, hoses, a/c lines, etc to see very clear, but they're clearly not just "on the top" of things. IDEAS???

b. I dropped ONE yes ONE shim into the body, yes IN to the body on the Driver's side -- in between the bonded box painted body color and the side sill below the door -- so I have NO IDEA how to get into there. IDEAS???

Help!!!

Cheers.
Freakin car...
God I love it and hate it. don't worry about it. I lost those whote rubber washers a year ago while doing my driving light project, No big loss. at east they are not metal ones that are going to rattle and bug your for the rest of your life. don't worry about it. I lost those whote rubber washers a year ago while doing my driving light project, No big loss. at east they are not metal ones that are going to rattle and bug your for the rest of your life.
Yeah, those ones I wasn't quite as worried about, I was actually thinking about getting a vacuum of some kind and trying to get them out.

But the metal shim I really am worried about....

Ideas???? Can you see the part? How about one of those claw pick-up tools. They come in many sizes. I suppose magnetic won't work. I like the vaccume idea. Maybe try a shop vac or blower of some kind.

http://store.yahoo.com/cvfsupplyco-s...pto36clty.html

Reminds me of a CarTalk episode where a guy had lost his cell phone in the A/C vent of his BMW. One humorous suggestion was to drive really, really fast and then slam on the brakes. See if it would come out by itself.

Good luck. Yeah, those ones I wasn't quite as worried about, I was actually thinking about getting a vacuum of some kind and trying to get them out.

But the metal shim I really am worried about....

Ideas????
Hi, Try a good shop vac or hi presure air to dislodge it. Be very careful that
all the bolts go back in the same place, I've seen cars with bolts punched thru
the clam. It may be a good idea to Norton ( blue ) tape all edges until you
have shimmed to have good non fouling shut gaps.
All the Best, Don. Hi, Try a good shop vac or hi presure air to dislodge it. Be very careful that
all the bolts go back in the same place, I've seen cars with bolts punched thru
the clam. It may be a good idea to Norton ( blue ) tape all edges until you
have shimmed to have good non fouling shut gaps.
All the Best, Don.
That's all I can think of. To answer both questions, nope I can't see the shim at all -- it fell WELL inside there, murphy's law of course... On the front, there are basically five body pieces -- the front clam (removed) -- the side sills (below the doors) and the part that has the side marker lights (well actually behind that).

Can the side sills be removed? I noted that the part behind the side marker lights is bonded to the aluminum chassis (by some kind of black glue, not the orange stuff)... If I could remove the sill I'm sure I could get to the shim at least...

As for the nylon spacers for the fuse box -- any ideas there? Can I remove the panel beneath that somehow? I think it's bonded with that orange stuff...
Ideas?? That's all I can think of. To answer both questions, nope I can't see the shim at all -- it fell WELL inside there, murphy's law of course... On the front, there are basically five body pieces -- the front clam (removed) -- the side sills (below the doors) and the part that has the side marker lights (well actually behind that).

Can the side sills be removed? I noted that the part behind the side marker lights is bonded to the aluminum chassis (by some kind of black glue, not the orange stuff)... If I could remove the sill I'm sure I could get to the shim at least...

As for the nylon spacers for the fuse box -- any ideas there? Can I remove the panel beneath that somehow? I think it's bonded with that orange stuff...
Ideas??
You need to forget about removing the rocker panel or sills as you call it, they
are bonded. The fuse box spacer may be hiding down near the A.C. heater box, try looking there with a very bright light.Did you lose the shim @ the base of the windsheld piller ? Don. You need to forget about removing the rocker panel or sills as you call it, they
are bonded. The fuse box spacer may be hiding down near the A.C. heater box, try looking there with a very bright light.Did you lose the shim @ the base of the windsheld piller ? Don.
Yeah, sure did. It somehow fell inbetween the panel it sits in front of (the one it touches that holds the side marker light) and the body colored box behind it which the door is bolted to. It's a thin air gap between those two pieces, about 10x the thickness of spacer, with no hope of access!

I figured they were bonded. Is there no way to get to that area other than to start cutting or drilling? Hmm... weep hole time?
Thanks for the help Don! Ok, well, after getting over my temper tantrum induced rage of fury I read the service manual... and got my answer to the shim at least -- there was one more body panel I could remove -- I did, cleaned out some leaves and sand -- and there was my shim! Thanks Don!

Of course, now that still leaves the nylon spacers for the fuse box up front... sigh...

Cheers Over the years of working on small sports cars I have dropped countless nuts, bolts washers and essentially irrepalecable parts into inacccessible narrows and crevises that seem inaccessible. The new neodymium magnets are great but coathangers, thin dowls etc.. with duct tape, tar, derivatives or any not easily transfered stickem (re: Fred Belitnadog) has saved my butt countless times. You don't even need to see the part at times.

Good luck.

I still have a 7/32"' wrench in the rear quarter panel of an '86 Alfa I want before I sell it but it appears to be wedged in. But give this method a try before dismantleing the car. Ok, well, after getting over my temper tantrum induced rage of fury I read the service manual... and got my answer to the shim at least -- there was one more body panel I could remove -- I did, cleaned out some leaves and sand -- and there was my shim! Thanks Don!

Of course, now that still leaves the nylon spacers for the fuse box up front... sigh...

Cheers
Cool, I was about to tell you to remove the Door hinge cover panels if they were still in place. When I used to work on boats we would curse at the ''Bilge
Dog'' for eating our bits, I guess with Elise we can call him the ''Panel Dog''.
All the best, Don As for the nylon spacers for the fuse box -- any ideas there? Can I remove the panel beneath that somehow? I think it's bonded with that orange stuff...
Ideas??
Go to Sears Hardware and buy a couple of replacements. I don't remember the excat size, but I didn't like the 2 spacers on mine so I bought 1 piece replacement at Sears. Go to Sears Hardware and buy a couple of replacements. I don't remember the excat size, but I didn't like the 2 spacers on mine so I bought 1 piece replacement at Sears.
Just did exactly that, local hw store but same idea. Forget the 2 piece ones! I think I'll even friction tape them to the fuse box!!

As for fishing with some tape and a hanger, good idea. I tried the vacuum and no dice. I tried using a smaller hose off my vacuum (to increase the suction force) no dice... I think I kind of know where one is, but I'd need to do two 90 deg bends to get to it. Well, anything's worth a try once..

Otherwise my frame/undertray (non-removable) panels might have some optional weep holes in the bottom -- and I'll put plastic plugs in em when I'm done haha