help me identify this fastener?

[MattInTheCouv]

so i jacked my car up, and was removing the exhaust, and i noticed this fastener laying on the floor next to my head. i have no idea where it came from and was hoping someone might have some suggestions. it looks to be a stud, with a nut on the end of it that has a washer type thing attached to it. for size reference the nut is 14mm. also, there is an A or possibly a V stamped into the end of the stud where the nut is.

[E30Gus]

That is a Copper exhaust nut. I would check all your flanges and make sure you aren't missing any studs. Looks too short to be a manifold bolt.

[MattInTheCouv]

it's not copper, the nut or the stud. it's some sort of steel. it didn't come from the exhaust (i'm sure because i've removed it all before, and know every fastener from front to back), i just happened to be working on the exhaust when i noticed it. i mean, there's a possibility this could have been in my tire tread and just popped out when came in the garage or when i jacked the car up. just seems unlikely though.

[jlevie]

You may have picked it up from the road and it was laying on top of the exhaust and then fell off. It doesn't look like any E30 fastener.

[MattInTheCouv]

thanks. i knew it didn't look like anything i'd ever seen on my car. so i guess i'll just go with the road debris explanation