Engine builders and super mechanics - help identify this part please!
 

While changing the oil in prep for an upcoming event at Laguna Seca, this turd came out of the drain port. I'll know in a day or two its exact chemical make up, but some early speculation from you experts would be welcome.

Need any background info? Track car, not always treated nicely, Carrilo A-beams, JE Pistons, SUBs, double-springs, etc.

Thanks!

need better pics

Looks like a shim which goes between the crank and the rod. 2 on every rod.
I just removed my stock rods yesterday. Telltale sign is the little bent clip edge on both ends which locks it in.

Pray to the gods this fell into the sump and its one of the stock originals and not your new built engine. I would be talking to the engine builder.... And getting them to check it.
However the fact its bent..... :eek3: Did you blow the stock rods? May have fallen in and sat there under the sump pickup shield.

looks like a bearing but you'd know long before an oil change if your bearing went out.

I disagree, its too thin, and any bearing that has been fuked in the ass like that will show its copper colored layer, etc. Its also the wrong shape, although that could have changed during its exit.

Looks like a shim or the metal part of a seal or something. Maybe a piece of the windage tray.

looks like the shims that go under the valve springs to me. not sure how that would have broken but thats what it looks like.

Not sure what you are referring to??

Hes referring to the bearings... I think. I too have never heard them described as "a shim that goes between the crank and rod"

Good info so far, thank you.

Engine runs, sounds, idles, and pulls very well. . . at least for now. It's not a fresh build, but I'm not immune to a money shift here or there either, which is what I'm worried about.

Those aren't bearings unless your engine has been miniaturized. Some sort of shim.

Thrust washer?

Sure?

Edit: actually on second look, is it half moon flat shape?
I have 2 of those on either side of the cylinder 3 crank weight. Maybe just a balancer?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...074c297fe2.jpg

My first thought was thrust washer.

That would be my thought to. OP have someone sit in the passengers seat and pump the clutch. Watch the crank pulley and see if you see it moving in and out any.

Not sure if serious...

way way way too small for a thrust washer. see my pic below for the stock shim that goes under the stock valve springs. Not sure what was used on your double valve springs but this is the only thing in your engine that i could think it to be. I just assembled a 2003 VVT engine so it is fresh in my memory.

Attachment 231040

I think you should probably stop responding to these things which you clearly know nothing about man. no offense or anything but you are just going to cause confusion.

*Almost* looks like its been worn down too much to be a thrust washer. Also looks like its to small of a circumference to be a thrust washer.

My guess is an oil squirter crush washer some how broke. Heat maybe? although it doesn't look copper..

Hard to believe that something like that could get from the head down to the pan...

Don't think it's copper, either, but will be doing a chemical analysis on it tomorrow. Sure looks and feels like a steel component.

Stick a magnet on it?

isn't the drain plug magnetic?

It is really easy for it to get from the head to the pan. there are holes that go directly from the head to the pan for oil drain. broken pieces of that size would be easy to get down there.

How it broke is an entirely different question.

Things we know it isnt- Bearing, crush washer, thrust washer,

Yeah I now agree valve spring shim is probably the most likely culprit

What valve springs are you running OP? I think most like Supertech use a thicker shim which would be larger than the one pictured. the one i posted was a brand new stock one i had lying around.

What's this? I have 2 on my third cylinder, either side.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...5d7e4c934b.jpg

if you are taking apart your engine, you should probably consult your service manual for such info. Are you rebuilding it yourself? seems a bit scary if you dont know these basic parts.

Its a thrust washer.

OPs piece is about half the width and radius.

That's my destroyed engine. Opened her to check for bent rods out of interest.
Cyl 1 is cactus and heads trashed.

Did you see it come out of the drain or was it in the pan after draining? Drain plug crush washer?

Yup, magnetic.

It wasn't before, but is now AND caught this part. See below for more explanation.

I WAS running early 1.8 hydraulic lifter valve springs, then had an overrev earlier this year so we had to rebuild. I did not have a magnetic drain plug at the time. Of course we changed the oil, but we did not pull the drain pan. In the rebuild we used Supertech double springs with titanium retainers and SUBs. I agree (and hope) the theories are correct that this is a stock shim, and it broke earlier this year and sat in the oil pan until we installed the magnetic plug during the last oil change.

OR, we are wrong and it's a part from something else post-head rebuild.

It was stuck to the (now magnetic) drain plug; it's not copper.

This is what i am betting it is.