well here goes. Went out for a little canyon run with some friends yesterday. Through the mtns east of San Diego out to the desert, and back up the mtn.
As usual before I go on the runs, I give the car the once over, check the
oil belts, hoses, tires and etc. The previous run about 6 weeks ago, I head a clanging noise up front. Stopped, and the bolt holding the breather on had backed out, and the breather had fallen off to the passengers side of the manifold and was resting against the valve cover. Was really thankfull it had not fallen on the linkage side of the carb. Took the breather off, finished the run and took it home. Just happened to have a threaded rod the same size but a little longer, and would go down the fitting on the carb a bit deeper. Screwed it in tight, put a nut on it tightened it down. Checked it each time I drove the car, remained tight no problems. (guess you can see where this is going by now) Checked it yesterday before the run, still tight and secure. In any event driving home after the run, just crusing behind traffic, let off the throttle going into a turn and the throttle hung up, was closing on the car in front of me, reached for the igintion switch at the same time I hit the clutch. the engine had just begun to race when it was shut off. It dieseled a bit, but shut down without anything weird happening or any signs of damage. Got out popped the hood, the nut that secured the breather was sitting on top of the breather, and the threaded rod was not there. Pulled the breather off, no sign of it anywhere. Looked in the carb did not see it, pulled the carb did not see it, ran a magnet in the runners as far as we could did not get it. Pull the manifold off tomorrow, and if it managed to get to the valves I can only imagine the damage it will have done.
Thing about it is, I will have a new carb Tue, and ..... but it has happend, so I deal with it, and go on. But i'm upset at myself, thankfull it did not come part during the run in the canyons, and just hope for the best at this point. Figure if I have to get new heads, might as well upgrade.