1999 5.7 350 vortec P0304 cylinder 4 misfire

[socal k1500]

Here is a picture of the flat blade.
I used the camera for awhile and I can’t see it anywhere. Granted the camera only allowed me to see maybe 60% of the piston head. But I even blew some air in there to maybe move it into view and nothing, no noises or anything. I feel like it should have been visible. I’ll try again another day with some different magents and the shop vac
Here is a YouTube video of the camera

 

[Road Trip]

Here is a picture of the flat blade.
I used the camera for awhile and I can’t see it anywhere. Granted the camera only allowed me to see maybe 60% of the piston head. But I even blew some air in there to maybe move it into view and nothing, no noises or anything. I feel like it should have been visible. I’ll try again another day with some different magents and the shop vac
Here is a YouTube video of the camera

I agree, that should be findable/removable.

By the way, I'm sure that you have already
disconnected the battery so as to prevent
an accidental spinning of the engine at this time?

If it was me I'd spend another 15 seconds and
also pull the Starter Relay out of the Underhood
Fuse Block. That way if some extra helpful
buddy reconnects the battery and then asks
you why won't it turn over there's no need to
panic. :0)

So many crazy things happen in the fog of repair...

 

[socal k1500]

I agree, that should be findable/removable.

By the way, I'm sure that you have already
disconnected the battery so as to prevent
an accidental spinning of the engine at this time?

If it was me I'd spend another 15 seconds and
also pull the Starter Relay out of the Underhood
Fuse Block. That way if some extra helpful
buddy reconnects the battery and then asks
you why won't it turn over there's no need to
panic. :0)

So many crazy things happen in the fog of repair...

Im having no luck at all, its looking like im going to just have to pull the heads and if i do that i might aswell replace them. You guys have any thoughts on these two companies?

 

[Orpedcrow]

Dang that sucks. I’d look into a local machine shop for the heads. My experiences working at auto parts stores has made me stay away from ATK as a reman source. Everything I sold from them came back.

 

[socal k1500]

Dang that sucks. I’d look into a local machine shop for the heads. My experiences working at auto parts stores has made me stay away from ATK as a reman source. Everything I sold from them came back.

pull the heads and have them rebuild them? Whats a good ballpark price to pay for that so i know what to look for

 

[Orpedcrow]

pull the heads and have them rebuild them? Whats a good ballpark price to pay for that so i know what to look for

Yep or see if they can swap cores. My machine shop only charged me $200 for 2 rebuilt heads when they were doing my engine. I have no idea if that’s typical but it sounded like a smoking deal to me lol

 

[socal k1500]

I bought a more expensive camera that articulates manually 180* I have found the tip. Now I must retrieve it

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[Orpedcrow]

Good lort have mercy! That’s the whole thing! I’m glad to see it’s not lodged between the piston and the cylinder wall. Does this new camera have a magnetic head?

 

[Road Trip]

SUCCESS! I remember how this very moment felt back in the day:
"We have located the FOD in the cockpit." (Message to Expo)

...now to retrieve it. My recommendation:

1) Get the top of the piston closer to the same level as the spark plug hole.
*Not* TDC, maybe 30° Before Top Dead Center?

2) A bamboo or wooden chopstick, with the stickiest putty you can find.
(on Aircraft, we used to get small amounts of canopy seal from Egress? IIRC)

ATTN: Can anybody reading this recommend a specific seam sealer, windshield mounting goo,
or anything else that can be rolled up into a ball that can be speared onto a chopstick
and then inserted through a spark plug hole?

3) Using the bamboo/sticky mass combo, push it into the spark plug hole, snare
the broken bit, and then pull it gently back towards the spark plug hole. If you
have a small telescoping magnet (sold at parts stores) waiting to snag the
tool, you should be able to get that part navigated through the hole.

And when you accomplish this, take a victory photo and share it with us.

Congrats on employing the articulating borescope camera. It's always
satisfying to watch someone rise to the challenge. (!)

 

[socal k1500]

The camera comes with a magnet attachment. That is sturdy and it should help get it out. I have all day tomorrow to get it out so I feel pretty confident with the new camera