So, digging through some stuff and found this trophy screw from about 23 years ago and decided to share it with the world

The year was 1988. I had (and still have) a pretty cool white '66 Bug with a slammed front end, 1600 dp, dual K-dogs, an 009, Euro-Tuck header and of corse, a 500 watt stereo. I loved that little car and practically lived in it. It was a $450 cream puff!

On the day I was to leave on a one week vacation to SLC in my trusty bug, the clutch shaft in the transmission broke. I had to do an emergency R&R of the engine just to replace the stinkin T.O. shaft, that at the time, cost about $7.00. With the help of a trusted friend who was going along, the job was done in a couple hours ...except where did that last tin screw disappear to? Oh well. I just dug around in my junk and got another to finish the job.

Off we went on the 500 mile drive to SLC from Reno. The car ran great and the vacation was a blast with side trips through American Fork Canyon, Bridal Veil and Mount Zion National Park and a couple nights camping in the Uintas. The miles probably added up to 2500 or more including the drive home.

The next week was business as usual driving to work and back plus all over town fulfilling my busy social agenda.

That weekend was a drive to Susanville, about 90 miles North of Reno, and around some of the river canyons and back to Reno. We (the Bug and I) another couple hundred miles that week.

Drove to work and back for another week and bla bla bla.

When I wen on my next weekend road trip to Donner Summit I found that missing screw. I was past Truckee heading up Donner Pass when all of a sudden my beautiful Bug lost almost all power. It sounded horrible and my Bugs life flashed before my eyes. I was envisioning spending $200 for another good running 1600 (Ahh, those were the days)!

I towed the car home and began my investigation. The engine turned freely and that was a welcome goo sign. Next, I pulled off the valve cover and rolled the engine over to check the rockers. One had huge slack in it because the valve was not even coming close to closing. With that, I pulled off the corresponding carb and looked down in the port with a flash light and a mirror. What do you suppose I saw? The ding-dong trusted friend had dropped it down the throat of the carburetor (because it sure wasn't me!).

I turned the motor to lift the intake valve, stuck a magnet down in there and pulled out the screw you see here in the picture. I rolled it over a few more times to check the action and all seemed fine. I bolted and baled everything back together, fired it up and PRESTO! It ran just as it always had. I tell you, it's a good thing the stock cams have such minuscule lift that they can't even suck in harmful objects! This screw had to bounce and bang around in there for probably 4000 or5000 miles before it was beat down small enough to get stuck in the valve!

Here is what it looked like along with a brand new one. I don't know what ever happened to the washer. ???