Parts found in my oil pan
 

I took the pan off to replace a leaking gasket, and found a few extra parts that I can't identify their origin. I am hoping the vast FE knowledge in the forum can assist with identification.

The 2 small curved metal shards are what worry me the most.
The white hard plastic pieces, I just have no idea.
The black pieces appear to be gasket materials.

They were in the center of the Aviaid pan, with 1 of the metal shards stuck between the trap door frame and the pan, took needle nose to get it out.

Any help is much appreciated.

Jim

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/Misc_045.jpg
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/Misc_047.jpg
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/Misc_049.jpg
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/Misc_048.jpg

White plastic looks like teflon stem seals. I'll guess that the shards are keepers.

Pull your valve covers and check the valve seals and dampers in the valve springs. If all are intact then they maybe left over from a previous build of your block. The good news if your motor is intact is that nothing on your motor is broken. The bad news is that who knows what other crap is in there or how poorly other aspects of the build were given cleanliness was obviously not a priority. Hope it's nothing!

THe metal pieces look like the split ends of a cotter pin.

Check the upper ends of the push rods. Could be the cups are hitting the rocker arms and breaking off the edges of the cup.
I had this happen to me..found the parts in the pan. :eek:
Bill

No damage, just a new push rod and valve adjustment.

Cut the filter open, I'll bet the the rest of it is in there.

Thanks for the quick replies.
I will cut the filter open and see if there are additional pieces there.

In the mean time, I am going to put the engine back together, then check the valve train to see if it is a seal.

If I seen 16 good seals, I am going to assume the parts were there from the previous build, and move on.

Thanks everyone.

Chas, I read your thread on the oil pan gasket, I am going to follow that step by step, having just ordered the milodon gaskets.. I had felpro that will now be used for wall hanging.

Jim

Jim,
Get the TA-31 RTV and use as Barry describes-thin coats on all surfaces.
Also a key is to inspect the side seal area on the rear main cap. Be sure it's dry and put a smear on the parting lines at the pan rail. If it's not-REPLACE THE SIDE SEALS WHILE THE PAN IS DOWN and then close as above.
Best luck.

Looks like you haved had some teflon seals come apart. They have a wire clip around them and sometimes they break. This helps hold the seal on the guide. You have some of the wire there and peices of the teflon seal. If you look inside the springs you will find some seals missing and probably some other messed up. May not had enough clearance at max lift and the retainer may be hitting the seal causing this problem.
Good luck, Keith Craft

The metal pieces almost look like trimmings of metal during the construction of Aviaid pan, they curve when cut with Aviation snips. Metal thickness looks about right for the constuction of the center gates and trap etc. Lucky you, they would certainly lock up an Oil Pump.

I'm with Keith here mostly. The white pieces look like teflon and in the first picture you can see what looks like rust or metal staining the inside, which looks like they were around probably iron guides, but maybe bronze guides. The metal pieces look like the interlocking 'fingers' from the type of teflon valve seal that has the flat band around it. I know some of the pictures look like this is wire, but thats because the photgrapher stood them up on edge - you can see in the first and the third photos the shiny metal is flat and curved.

The black stuff is certainly gasket materal and it also looks like you found a piece of red silicone as well, but you could tell for sure if it is rubbery.

The gasket material and silicone could be from this build, but you really shlouldn't get that. If this si the result of a sloppy re-build and they left some old gasket and silicone lurking about, the teflon and tension band pieces could have been left from a previous build as well.

You really need to look inside each valve spring for the valve seal. They will be white with a wire or band tensioner around them. The wire or band is usually silvery, like the debris you found. If they are all there and not damaged, this may be from a previous failure and not removed during the following rebuild.

If you find damage, you need to repair it AND look for retainer interference or some cause like Keith said (the seals should not fail on their own). If you find no damage, you're probably OK to just seal her up and go on... probably... but know your engine may have more chunks in it...