Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SuperNathanSunshine · 01-26-2021, 10:15 AM

Newly built 292 motor. Engine builder did initial break in and oil change. I just performed a 500 mile oil change and found a chunk on the end of my magnetic drain plug.

Any ideas what it is? Should I be crying?

Davidf · 01-26-2021, 10:23 AM

Wow, that sure would make me nervous...no idea what it is.

Redneck Rydes · 01-26-2021, 10:48 AM

Take the piece to the engine builder,and let him figure out what to do,he built it should fix it!!

Happy_dan · 01-26-2021, 11:16 AM

Take off valve covers at least and see if all the keepers are in the springs.

:dunno:

**kwmech** · 01-26-2021, 11:22 AM

How does it run, good oil pressure? I agree with taking the piece to the builder

SuperNathanSunshine · 01-26-2021, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwmech

How does it run, good oil pressure? I agree with taking the piece to the builder

I would love to send the motor back to the builder but thats a weird wrinkle in in itself. I bought the engine on Ebay from the original builder. I have been in contact with him and have talked about The Chunk but no resolution. The builder built this engine for a personal project that got abandoned, it isnt a commissioned engine build. I am not sure I have much recourse.

As far as running goes it has been running and driving great. Strong with plenty of power. This morning on the way to work I had a miss that went away after it heated up, but other than that its been running well. Oil pressure is strong!

**HO455** · 01-26-2021, 11:27 AM

Only one piece with no other pieces or filings? If so it may just be something that got missed in the cleaning process. If you had other pieces, or a bunch of metal filings I would definitely look at dropping the oil pan at a minimum. For more piece of mind you could cut the oil filter apart and inspect the pleats for metal.

SuperNathanSunshine · 01-26-2021, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

Only one piece with no other pieces or filings? If so t may just be something that got missed in the cleaning. If you had other pieces, or a bunch of metal filings I would definitely look at dropping the oil pan at a minimum. For more piece of mind you could cut the oil filter apart and inspect the pleats for metal.

I did cut the filter apart. No chunks. Just some small paint flakes and other trash that i would consider normal.

**jayoldschool** · 01-26-2021, 11:29 AM

I'll +1 on pulling valve cover to check to missing valve keepers...

**kwmech** · 01-26-2021, 11:30 AM

Part does look like it was bounced around a bit. I think a valve keeper would have just washed down and stuck to the magnet without getting damaged. I'd pull the valve cover and have a look just to be sure of at least that

**HO455** · 01-26-2021, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperNathanSunshine

I did cut the filter apart. No chunks. Just some small paint flakes and other trash that i would consider normal.

I'm sure that removing the valve cover and doing an inspection would add to your piece of mind. It would for me.
GOOD LUCK!

**Ol Blue K20** · 01-26-2021, 11:41 AM

Another pull the valve cover. A little peace of mind couldn't hurt. A dropped valve would hurt.

sick472 · 01-26-2021, 12:15 PM

Can you tell if it is cast iron?

gmc684x4 · 01-26-2021, 01:11 PM

Looking at the picture several times I agree it looks most like a valve keeper that got munched probably when it worked its way out
Have you pulled the valve cover off yet to inspect if all the keepers are in place ?

SuperNathanSunshine · 01-26-2021, 05:42 PM

Thanks all!

I pulled the valve cover and checked (image attached) all keepers are present and accounted for. This is not that.

If I had to guess the chunk was cast. My running theory is that it might be the outside corner of a connecting rod cap.

**jayoldschool** · 01-26-2021, 06:01 PM

Nice rockers.

Inspection camera up the drain hole to check the rods?

**BigBird05** · 01-26-2021, 10:12 PM

While you are looking inside the oil pan with a bore scope, I would pull the spark plugs and look at the cylinders and valves. Again for piece of mind.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 01-26-2021, 11:11 PM

Man! I hate 292 horror stories.

**Ol Blue K20** · 01-26-2021, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBird05

While you are looking inside the oil pan with a bore scope, I would pull the spark plugs and look at the cylinders and valves. Again for piece of mind.

X2, the more peace of mind you can find the better.

**Ironangel** · 01-27-2021, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Man! I hate 292 horror stories.

weq92f · 01-27-2021, 12:38 PM

.

I'm going to camp solidly on the chunk-is-foreign-to-that-engine side of this mystery!

Happy motoring...

-klb

sick472 · 01-27-2021, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weq92f

I'm going to camp solidly on the chunk-is-foreign-to-that-engine side of this mystery!...

Good chance weq is onto something.

I've seen some junk come out of fresh blocks that just came from the machine shop. It's not like they are "clean rooms". Hopefully that's all it is...junk from sloppy machine work. At least your mag-plug did its job!

arkansas · 01-27-2021, 03:01 PM

Looks like some serious money and effort went into that engine build. I see the intake headbolt bosses were milled out too. And a nice intake. I’d be nervous about that chunk also. I’d probably drop the pan and do a really hard bottom end inspection. Then if all looks good, do a compression check before I fired it up again.

Carl Spangler · 01-27-2021, 03:07 PM

It really looks like a munched valve keeper to me. So, given you verified none are missing from this engine the little part is likely just FOD left in the engine from the machine shop.

In a couple weeks/months you won't give a rats-a.... Enjoy your truck!

Davidf · 01-27-2021, 03:23 PM

Ok, I will admit it...I have been known to loose a valve spring keeper or some other small object when working on the topside. Unless I drop something down the intake (been there done that), I don't worry too much about it. I just assume it will work its way down and either come out with next oil change or stay harmlessly in the pan. Never has this caused an engine issue.

01-26-2021, 10:15 AM	#1
SuperNathanSunshine Registered User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 9	Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Newly built 292 motor. Engine builder did initial break in and oil change. I just performed a 500 mile oil change and found a chunk on the end of my magnetic drain plug. Any ideas what it is? Should I be crying? Attached Images

01-26-2021, 10:23 AM	#2
Davidf Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Austin Posts: 749	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Wow, that sure would make me nervous...no idea what it is.

01-26-2021, 10:48 AM	#3
Redneck Rydes Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Trenton,Ontario & South Carolina Posts: 755	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Take the piece to the engine builder,and let him figure out what to do,he built it should fix it!!

01-26-2021, 11:16 AM	#4
Happy_dan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: New Boston, NH Posts: 456	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Take off valve covers at least and see if all the keepers are in the springs. :dunno:

01-26-2021, 11:22 AM	#5
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,389	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. How does it run, good oil pressure? I agree with taking the piece to the builder

01-26-2021, 11:27 AM	#7
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,804	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Only one piece with no other pieces or filings? If so it may just be something that got missed in the cleaning process. If you had other pieces, or a bunch of metal filings I would definitely look at dropping the oil pan at a minimum. For more piece of mind you could cut the oil filter apart and inspect the pleats for metal. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

01-26-2021, 11:29 AM	#9
jayoldschool Moderator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 2,151	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. I'll +1 on pulling valve cover to check to missing valve keepers...

01-26-2021, 11:30 AM	#10
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,389	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Part does look like it was bounced around a bit. I think a valve keeper would have just washed down and stuck to the magnet without getting damaged. I'd pull the valve cover and have a look just to be sure of at least that

01-26-2021, 11:41 AM	#12
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 15,834	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Another pull the valve cover. A little peace of mind couldn't hurt. A dropped valve would hurt. __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man

01-26-2021, 12:15 PM	#13
sick472 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sedalia Mo. Posts: 1,130	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Can you tell if it is cast iron? __________________ He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20

01-26-2021, 01:11 PM	#14
gmc684x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Whitehorse yukon Posts: 1,218	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Looking at the picture several times I agree it looks most like a valve keeper that got munched probably when it worked its way out Have you pulled the valve cover off yet to inspect if all the keepers are in place ?

01-26-2021, 05:42 PM	#15
SuperNathanSunshine Registered User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 9	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Thanks all! I pulled the valve cover and checked (image attached) all keepers are present and accounted for. This is not that. If I had to guess the chunk was cast. My running theory is that it might be the outside corner of a connecting rod cap. Attached Images

01-26-2021, 06:01 PM	#16
jayoldschool Moderator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: ON, Canada Posts: 2,151	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Nice rockers. Inspection camera up the drain hole to check the rods?

01-26-2021, 10:12 PM	#17
BigBird05 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cheraw Posts: 1,305	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. While you are looking inside the oil pan with a bore scope, I would pull the spark plugs and look at the cylinders and valves. Again for piece of mind.

01-26-2021, 11:11 PM	#18
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,042	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Man! I hate 292 horror stories. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.



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01-27-2021, 12:38 PM	#21
weq92f Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 2,877	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. . I'm going to camp solidly on the chunk-is-foreign-to-that-engine side of this mystery! Happy motoring... -klb __________________ 67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold

01-27-2021, 03:01 PM	#23
arkansas Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pleasant Plains, Arkansas Posts: 51	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Looks like some serious money and effort went into that engine build. I see the intake headbolt bosses were milled out too. And a nice intake. I’d be nervous about that chunk also. I’d probably drop the pan and do a really hard bottom end inspection. Then if all looks good, do a compression check before I fired it up again.

01-27-2021, 03:07 PM	#24
Carl Spangler Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Central Coast Ca. Posts: 417	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. It really looks like a munched valve keeper to me. So, given you verified none are missing from this engine the little part is likely just FOD left in the engine from the machine shop. In a couple weeks/months you won't give a rats-a.... Enjoy your truck! __________________ 1971 SWB step side: Original NM Forestry and then NM Fire truck

01-27-2021, 03:23 PM	#25
Davidf Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Austin Posts: 749	Re: Trying not to panic. Chunk in oil. Ok, I will admit it...I have been known to loose a valve spring keeper or some other small object when working on the topside. Unless I drop something down the intake (been there done that), I don't worry too much about it. I just assume it will work its way down and either come out with next oil change or stay harmlessly in the pan. Never has this caused an engine issue.

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