chevy 350 crate engine distributor bolt problem

Yes I made a mistake. I was working on my son's 70 firebird with a worked 350 crate motor. I'm only a backyard motorhead. I installed the motor five years ago for my younger son, along with an MSD ignition, coil,distributor, Holly 750. He drove it every day. Now my older son has it. He doesn't run it enough. As a result I went over to check it out. Replaced battery, coil, MSD, coil wire,cap, rotor. Still no spark. Today checked ignition switch and wiring. Last resort is the coil in the distributor. Solid rust. Pulled the distributor. So I didn't lose it I went to put the distributor bolt back in the head and ooops!
My question is: Do I need to find this bolt or can I leave it? Where can it get to? Someone told me I may get lucky,pull the pan, and reach up! Is this true or am I going to have to yank this motor and tear it down?

If you dropped the bolt down the dist. hole. I would pull the intake and remove the bolt.

I DID THE SAME THING,AND JUST HAPPEND to be on the phone with the girl/sales person looking to visit,she said to just put some gum/sticky stuff on the end of a stick.No kidding it worked!