Unpleasant surprise in 50 year old pan!

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by 69WILD, Nov 5, 2021.

  1. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    My well maintained original 72 350 with 140k has has been leaking more oil out of rear main seal and has had low oil pressure at hot idle for the past 40 years. I started disassembly this week and was looking great until I removed the pan. I attached picture of shavings.

    Cylinders, heads, timing gears and main bearings look great. Any ideas?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. flh73

    flh73 Gold Level Contributor

    Steel, casting, aluminum, plastic?
     
  3. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    A magnet will tell all, but honestly there aren't many iron bits in the engine that will leave that much stuff without a big failure. Sorry to say it, but I think you'll have to take it all apart.

    Devon
     
  4. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    Could be aluminum or bearing material? No sparks on grinder.
     
  5. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    Not magnetic
     
  6. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    I'll take cam out this weekend
     
  7. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    Bearing caps
     

    Attached Files:

  8. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Get that flashlight in there. We're not missing a piece of a piston skirt maybe? Whatever it is, it got crunched by the rotating assembly.

    Devon
     
  9. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    Pistons look great. No cylinder scoring i can see. I'll try to look closer
     
  10. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    All shavings no chunks
     
  11. stump puller455

    stump puller455 1970 GS 455

    good time for a big block install :D
     
    68Buick-Jim and STAGE III like this.
  12. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Now now, lol. We need some stout 350 builds:).
     
  13. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    455 would be cheating :)
     
  14. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    That's the spirit!:).
     
  15. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Plastic timing gear teeth from original gearset.
     
    FLGS400, philbquick and STAGE III like this.
  16. Stage 2 iron

    Stage 2 iron 480 IRON HEAD STAGE 2

    Check number 7 and 8 connecting rod bearings that will tell the whole story if you have an oiling problem. Does your motor make a lot of noise on the driver side valve drain ? If so part of that could be cam bearing material.
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2021
  17. 69WILD

    69WILD Ron

    I changed original timing chain n gears at about 80k looked fine.

    I'll look at bearings closer tonight
     
  18. 72STAGE1

    72STAGE1 STAGE 1 & 2

    If it was bearing material you would have known for sure, you would have had a catastrophic failure!
     
  19. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Oh, you don't have to go there guys! No big block implant needed. The 350 is quite a beast all by itself.

    The 1970 350-4 was enough to scare the hell outta me on the back streets in Flint.

    Devon
     
  20. Mart

    Mart Gold level member

    Maybe it was changed once before you did and the pan still had the remnants? Are you 1st owner?
     
    72STAGE1 likes this.

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