Head Gaskets..

Stovens, thieves couldn't get my Mustang to start, so they tossed the air cleaner nut down the carb and pumped the throttle, that dropped the wingnut into the intake.

Next morning I find the car tampered with and after starting it, the carbs on a fast idle, about 1300 rpm, number 2 cylinder sucked the nut into the cylinder. broke the piston and cracked the cylinder, ruined the head. It all happened in a flash.

I used to have a picture of the "before" and "after" of that nut. It was almost an inch wide but pretty flat originally. I wouldn't have ever believed it could get past a valve.. but it did!