Need help fishing a dropped wrench. Was working on the rear side window on a 68 Dart and dropped a 7/16 wrench down the inside of the quarter panel. It slid perfectly down the side between the inner rocker panel and the quarter panel. The wrench went right down to the belly of the rocker. Any ideas fishing it out. Tried everything I have or learned in the past to no avail. Magnets coat hangers, wire. The gap at the bottom must be the same width as the wrench. Need to get it out or may have a permanent rattle. Ideas please, or am I the only idiot who has done this. Thanks.

All I can say is



followed by

Semi flexible rod with some duct tape(sticky side out) on the end of it

I wonder...with a real strong magnet, from the outside of the body, could you drag the wrench back up the panel to where you can get hold of it. If your car is already in paint, use a soft cloth to protect the paint from the magnet. I can't really picture exactly where your wrench fell to, just thinking out loud...

Already tried it with earth magnets on the outside body with a piece is paper towel, no luck.

How about filling the void with spray in foam and let it be, if all else fails.

That's what came to mind as an all-end solution in my head as well.

Bendy magnets can be handy here, or the little grabber tools

I would be worried about spray foam holding moisture. If all else fails on B bodies there is an end cap on the rocker panel that could be removed and then welded back in. I imagine Darts are similar. That would be the least intrusive. Then put duct tape over the drop location. Can you remove the back seat and interior panel for better access to the location to use some of the magnet ideas?

Use a stiff, bent wire to dislodge it and a magnet to pull it out.

I used a slightly bent brazing rod long time ago, complete with a little booger of braze still on the end of it and fished a tool out years ago.

If the flex magnet or tape suggestions don't work from inside trunk/quarter, then try a Rare Earth magnet, which are strong. Place a microfiber rag over the magnet and place the magnet on the class A surface (outside quarter panel/rocker) where you believe it is. Once you feel/hear wrench drag it toward rear quarter (trunk area).

I used this type of magnet/process to assist operators locate torque converter nuts when dropped into trans housing during assembly (trans to fly wheel secure). There was no access hole at the bottom of trans, so the operators would place the magnet at the bottom of case then they dragged the magnet toward starter pocket where they were able to grab lost torque nut.

Perhaps you might find a small powerful electro magnet that might slurp the wrench out of it hiding place.

Perhaps a borescope to locate it so that you can fish it out

You could use one of those cheap usb borescopes to look inside and see what you are doing.

Turn the car upside down.

Buy a new wrench and forget about it... it's not going to rattle much if at all. Don't spray foam it. Cut apart a new challenger and see how the inside of the panels look with that crap in there.

If the car is pretty much complete, put two of those drive-on ramps on the opposite side and drive the car onto them. Maybe that angle will help you out.

I drove my Durango on two ramps placed on the same side. I was able to get the gas tank straps replaced that way.

If you don't have ramps, you can make some out of scrap 2x8s.
http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/News/mwramps/ramps7.JPG

Slim Jim..bend the corners out slightly to make a 'hook'...

that's what I was thinking tho it does mess with a persons' pride to leave it there. You've sure gotten alot of love on this one tho, I think it struck a nerve cuz we've all been there!

Isn't there a drain hole there you can push a wire through from the bottom and maybe dislodge it?

Being a 7/16 it can't be very big,don't loose sleep over it,forget it!