Mysterious piece of steel solved
 

i took that piece that i found to a couple of buddies that are ford freaks and they made the decision that it was a piece of the spring that sets inside of the valve spring. i don't know what they call those springs. i went home and looked and yep that is what it is. how serious do you think this could be? thanks for all the input. everybuddy on this site is very helpful. thanks again. now what should i do to fix it or just leave it along?

huh?
 

Sooo...you're saying that it was a "piece of the spring that sets inside of the valve spring"?? Meaning you have dual valve springs...and a piece of one of the inner springs fell off and somehow got down into your oil pan? I don't see how that is possible. IMO, it looks like a piece of a bearing...or a sleeve of somesort... :confused:
Regardless...you need to find out exactly where it came from and DEFINITELY fix this problem before starting your motor. That piece of metal came from somewhere inside your motor...and it is supposed to be there... If you think it has something to do with a valve spring...simply pull your valvecovers off and look at your valvesprings. Keep us posted.

Are you talking about the spring retainers?

--nathan

I think he means the spring damper. On the stock springs, it looks like a dual spring, but the one inside is sort of flattened and acts as a damper.
If that were a retainer, I would guess that the engine would have gone by now:)

fiveohpatrol is right on, its a piece of the spring 'dampner'. you dont 'need' it, but you should have it replaced. you'll have to take the head to a machine shop where they have cylinder head spring compressors. good luck, i feel for ya!

Wait I minute, Your trying to tell me that it went down a oil drain to the oil pan. Unless you really magnified that picture I don't see that happening that would be a 1,000k to 1 shot and I still think that is to big. I would lift and pull that pan at least.

i pulled my heads last night to have them looked at sometime with in the week. my buddy call me last night and said he showed the piece to the guy that does his machine work and he agreed that is what it is. it is small enough to make its way down through an oil journal. sorry about the picture it is blown up a little. the piece is only maybe 1/4" wide.

WOW!