Mysterious piece of steel solved

92ufogt · 10-15-2003, 10:42 AM

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?

10-15-2003, 02:07 PM

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...

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.

silver_pilate · 10-15-2003, 02:14 PM

Are you talking about the spring retainers?

--nathan

fiveohpatrol · 10-15-2003, 03:36 PM

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

stang_racer20 · 10-15-2003, 06:57 PM

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!

speedytang · 10-16-2003, 03:19 AM

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.

92ufogt · 10-16-2003, 06:04 AM

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.

speedytang · 10-17-2003, 02:47 AM

10-15-2003, 10:42 AM	#1
92ufogt Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 19	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? __________________ 02 GT Stock 92 GT Carbed 351

10-15-2003, 02:07 PM	#2
Simi Stang Guest Posts: n/a	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... 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.

10-15-2003, 02:14 PM	#3
silver_pilate DURKA DURKA!! Join Date: Sep 1997 Location: Lubbock, TX...(TX panhandle) Posts: 1,418	Are you talking about the spring retainers? --nathan __________________ '91 GT, Coast 347, 9.5:1 compression, full intake, Wolverine 1087 cam, exhaust, Keith Craft ported Windsor Jr. Irons (235 cfm intake, 195 cfm exhaust), AOD, PI 3500 converter, Lentech valve body, 3.73's (4.10's in the works), and Yokohama ES100's out back. Daily Car: '04 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

10-15-2003, 03:36 PM	#4
fiveohpatrol I'd rather be basketweaving Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,551	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 __________________ NMRA O/C 9516 NA pumpgas stickshift 347 10.65@125.6, 6.73@100, 1.41 60ft

10-15-2003, 06:57 PM	#5
stang_racer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 348	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! __________________ 92 Mustang GT, 347 Stroker(Forged Steel Crank/Rods-Balanced, Forged Aluminum Dished Pistons), Trick Flow Track Heat Intake, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Heads w/ Stage 3 port/polish, 80mm C&L MAF, FMS 30# Inj., BBK AFPR, Trick Flow Stage 2 Cam, Trick Flow 1.6R Rockers, BBK E.L. Headers, Flowmaster Cat-Back, MAC CAI, FMS Pulleys, Griffin Alum. Radiator, MSD Pro-Billet Distributor; AOD, Dynamic 3300 Lockup Converter, B & M Super Cooler, B&M Ratchet Shifter; 3:73 gears.

10-16-2003, 03:19 AM	#6
speedytang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Marengo, Ohio.USA Posts: 135	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.

10-16-2003, 06:04 AM	#7
92ufogt Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 19	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. __________________ 02 GT Stock 92 GT Carbed 351

10-17-2003, 02:47 AM	#8
speedytang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Marengo, Ohio.USA Posts: 135	WOW!

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