I took the valve covers off to check everything out a week after my cam swap, and I found 2 of these little springs just sitting at the rear of the left head. I thought maybe they were from my old front seal, and for some reason they stuck to the inside of valve cover when they were off. So I tightened some of the rockers, start the engine and its running a little rough.

I overtightened them!

So I remove the valve covers -again- and found FIVE more of these springs sitting in the oil at the lower part of the head.

I know the garter spring on the seal wasn't THAT big. Could they be from my oil filter?

 

They look more like shavings from something.

 

rod bearings?

 

No, they're definately NOT shavings. Here's one of them I stretched out (sorry my camera takes lousy pics.)

 

look like springs out of a seal...

Possibly the front crank seal...?

 

How would they get to the top of the head?

 

god only knows... lol

What else uses a small spring like that...?


What kind of valve seals are in there? Maybe some sort of goofy design that uses them?

 

If it was me I would not start the engine again until it is figured out. I have found all kinds of metal shavings/debris in oil filters before, that`s why I blow them out good with air before I install it. Might want to pull the pan and check it and the pump. Do what`s easiest first.

 

They look like the garter springs from the valve stem seals. The .465 lift of the cam with stock rockers on stock heads should not have been a problem. You aren't running 1.6's are you? You might want to check the retainer to valve seal clearance.

 

I bet thats what they are!

I changed the filter anyways. It doesn't seem to be burning any oil, so I'm gonna drive it. Takin it to the track tomorrow, lets see if I can blow it up!

 

I was thinking that they looked like a continuous shaving from a fine drill.

Your engine is drilling itself apart! lol