Any idea what this is?

[Ct_Cobra]

Has a look of a piece of tube or stamped steel like material found on oil pickup screen?.? Maybe…

[Buzz]

Everyone loves a good mystery! Going by the cross section of the piece, this is roughly what it might look like if it's actually a segment of a complete circle. About 1" in diameter as estimated by the OP.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Everyone loves a good mystery!

Absolutely. I'm now starting to think it's a part of the candlestick, carried by Professor Plum, as he exited the conservatory.

[twobjshelbys]

You'll probably never find where it came from. I doubt seriously that it came from inside but somehow was left behind when dropped. It certainly doesn't look like it was a structural engine part that broke loose - it's uniformly too thin. I wouldn't worry about it. Check your magnet again on next oil change. Do it sooner if it concerns you.

To me it looks like a decorative piece that came off and somehow got into the engine. The shape reminds me of the front bumperettes. It's a chromed something or other...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I wouldn't worry about it. Check your magnet again on next oil change. Do it sooner if it concerns you.

If you inspect the valve trains on each head, and maybe put an inspection camera down the distributor hole, you will eliminate a lot of the guesses on this thread.

[kevins2]

Thanks for all the great info. Keep it coming if you have more. Over the winter, I’ll do the suggestions that have been offered.

It’s disconcerting that I don’t know what it is. However, it likely didn’t happen just before I changed the oil so it could have been stuck to the magnetic drain bolt for as many as 3,000 miles and the engine hasn’t blown up yet. If I don’t spot anything wrong, I’ll keep driving it. Not going to tear into the engine for something that is likely insignificant.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Kevin

[767Jockey]

Process of elimination. Start your thinking at the oil pan and work your way up to the intake to carb flange. The part in question is ferrous. It looks like it was stamped or formed, not forged or cast. There aren't many parts in the engine that meet those criteria. Oil pump pickup. Valve spring shims, valve spring retainers. Rocker shaft endcap. Roller lifter link. There just arent many items inside the engine it can be. Most likely valvetrain related. Pull the covers and check everything up there in great detail.

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Everyone loves a good mystery! Going by the cross section of the piece, this is roughly what it might look like if it's actually a segment of a complete circle. About 1" in diameter as estimated by the OP.

Attachment 38347

What rendering software did you use to create that image Buzz?

[sunman]

Stick a dozen small super magnets on oil pan.
No glue required.
Seriously I’m not kidding… but go ahead and laugh.

[eschaider]

Here is one more idea Kevin.

Oil pickups typically retain the bottom side screen by rolling the metal top over the screen and retaining ring like in the pic below;


If a portion of that retaining ring was damaged, cracked or ? and broke off the pickup it could look like what you have in your hand. The only disconnect for me is yours appears to be a smaller diameter than the typical round pickup. That said if the pickup is not round and has corners this could be a piece off one of those corners.

[Buzz]

I'm with patrickt. Definitely part of the candlestick .

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by eschaider

What rendering software did you use to create that image Buzz?

Nothing fancy - just a quick 3d illustrator sketch