Where did I drop the bolt head washer????

Ok, here we go...
2004 Toyota Tundra, With the 4.7L, 2UZ engine.
My son and I are in the process of doing a head job, and replacing the head gasket,
WHEN............................................................................................................
In removing the "Right" head (Passenger Side), we accidentally dropped the bottom
Right Head Bolt WASHER (when looking at the head) down the oil passage hole.
(See Pic's 2, 3 & 4)....

My question/s are:
1-Where did the washer go?
- Did it go straight down to the oil pan?
- Did it go into the oil pump? (concerned after looking at Pic #5)

2-What is my next step?
-Can I just remove the lower oil pan and retrieve the washer?
-Do I have to remove the oil pump in order to retrieve the washer?

Additional Information.... We've been trying to use a magnet but have not been able
to retrieve the washer......

Thank you for your help, and,
I used the below linked video, and pictures from the video in an attempt to best illustrate
what we're going through.

(Pic 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRlcN6vRHhg&t=2s


(Pic 2)

(Pic 3)

(Pic 4)


(Pic 5)

 

Look up telescoping magnet. Would that work to fish around and attempt to pick it up?

 

Pick up a boroscope and see if you can locate it that way. There are some inexpensive ones that work pretty well. Try one of these https://steelmantools.com/products/...Dx_NUCuTKs_Izxauzp4A8v5RxZTA3-jf-oO2Zn0jLOxcc.

 

Morning guys (Shifty & 04 TundraTRD),
My plan this morning is to go by WallyWorld or Harbor Freight and see about an inexpensive borescope/camera,
to at least see around the first corner....I just don't want to go further down the rabit hole than I "Need" to, and
disassemble this thing any more than it already is, if I don't have to....
Thank you for the recommendation....I'll circle back with pictures, God willing.
Jeremy

 

Honestly, grab a telescoping magnet while there. The kits with multiple sizes are under $10 last I checked. You may not even need a borescope, just fish around with the magnet and you may pull it up. Depending on where it fell (I'm not drawing a great mental pic), it may have fallen all the way down into the pan, I think, but I'd have expected you to hear something in the moment that was indicative of that.

 

Did you spin the motor upside down on the motor stand to see if it would fall out?

 

Shifty,
Yes, we've tried that ("telescoping magnet"), because you're correct, we definitely "THINK" we heard it "land".....
Also, the gentleman who completed the valve job agrees with you....thinking it probaly dropped all the way to the pan...
I'm just worried to drop the pan if it went into the oil pump...but looking at "that" job (removing the oil pump), I have
to remove the pan anyway.....so I'm thinking I just need to drop the pan no matter what....
Thank you for your continued input,
Jeremy

UPDATE: Ordering a Borescope off Amazon to see what we can see...

Knabores,
No, can't flip the motor because it's still in the truck...the pics I used to show what happened was from a youtube video.
But right there with you, and wish I could have...
Jeremy

 

Doing all that work on the motor with it still in the truck??? You like pain.

 

Get your cars are pain shirt here lol

 

OK,
7/21/2025 update....
Almost a week since my initial post.....
LONG STORY SHORT....NO Washer, YET......
I "think" I'm just going to drop the oil pan, and remove the baffle to see if it's there.
......................................................................................................................
I "did" speak with a mechanic, AT a Toyota shop, and here are the take aways, IF you ever find yourself in the same place:

1st - He has done the same thing (With his personal truck, not on a job, to defend the guy), and ended up leaving the bolt
he dropped, and just adding magnets on the bottom of his oil pan.....20+ thousand miles later and he's had no issues.

2nd - He was extremely confident in saying the washer ("I" dropped) went to the oil pan, is not in the oil pump.

Thoughts?
Anyone "New" reading this and have a stripped down 4.7 that can answer my original question as to where the "HOLE" leads?

Thank you all following along this journey,
Jeremy

 

I think you better do a stellar job of sealing up that oil pan, because every person who’s had an oil pan leak, there was evidence someone previously had the oil pan off. They seal it like a beast from the factory, and it almost seems like it’s really difficult to get it equally re-sealed

 

Shifty.....Yeah, thanks for that bod of confidence....
BUT, I'm right there with you, which is why I didn't want to pull it,

ALTHOUGH............................the GOOD news is the WASHER WAS FOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(If you're following along, this is the top of the Baffle, which is accessable once
the oil pan is pulled)

So....What did we learn?????????????????????????????????????????
If anyone ever drops anything down the same hole in their 4.7L 2UZ Toyota engine
then you know that hole goes STRAIGT DOWN to the Oil Pan.

Thank you all for joining me on this adventure.....Now to put everything back together
Starting with that Oil Pan....and if anyone wondering, I'm using the FIPG, From Toyota.
Jeremy

 

I can't see the picture. That's great news though.