lost head washer in 5VZ-FE engine

[4runnerproject]

My oldest son and I bought a crippled 97 4Runner for our next project, this is our first Toyota, but we both really like the body style. Among other things, the 4Runner needed a valve job, so we diligently disassembled and removed the heads to bring them to the shop. As I was removing the head bolt on the driver’s side nearest the front of the vehicle, as I slid the head bolt up, the washer slid down. Had I realized there was an oil port in the front lower corner, I would have been much more careful; as the washer slid down and disappeared into that oil port. I have tried magnets and inspection cameras to find the washer, I drained the oil, came in from the oil pan, slid a magnet along the outside of the oil pan, etc. No luck. Can anyone confirm if that port runs straight down to the oil pan and if so, perhaps there is a plate above or in the oil pan that the washer may be resting on?
We have already completed the transmission, so would rather not pull the engine to get the oil pan off. If it was on the bottom of the pan, I could place a powerful magnet on the pan to assure it stays put. Let me know if anyone has any thoughts or info on the path and direction of this oil port.
Thanks for your help

 

[jgue467]

... Let me know if anyone has any thoughts or info on the path and direction of this oil port.
Thanks for your help

Maybe you can start analyzing with this: http://www.mr2.com/files/mr2/techinfo/Random FSM Data/3vzVS5vz.pdf


Luck! :cowboy:

 

[MandAtaco]

It does, my buddy "ajonesnv" just literately did the same thing about a month ago. I know he fished around with a long magnet for about 2 hours before giving up. You have to pull the front diff to get the oil pan off. His ended up on the "crank shield" right at the very front, you'd never hit it with a magnet cause it's not in the bottom of the actual pan.

 

[4runnerproject]

Thanks for the confirmation, I will need to look at it to decide if pulling the engine mounts to remove the pan is easier at this stage than removing the from differential which sounds terrible. The project is drawing out, so I am running the risk of my son losing interest. I hate to turn a project that should be fun into work.
Thanks for your help