The story goes: Valve cover leak->busted valve cover stud->busted Easy Out->LOTS of grinding with a carbide dremel bit->Helicoil+JB Weld->New Stud in hole...

I'm standing there trying to figure out how much of the stud should go into the hole, so I decided to compare it to one of the other studs already in place. I removed the carefully placed plastic wrap and masking tape that I'd put there to keep metal chips out. (See? I'm very cautious)

That exposes the front valve cover stud. I placed the new stud next to the other one to compare it to the exposed height and...dropped an M6x40 stud right down along the timing chain.

I know oil pump bolts back out all the time and collect in the oil pan. No harm seems to come of it. Lets now imagine what would happen to the aforementioned stud on its way down the timing chain casing....

Do I disassemble the front of the engine or just pray to god it made its way down to the oil pan? What would you do?