Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Hello all! Quick background - I purchased a 65 GMC Suburban 2 weeks ago. I was told the 305 was rebuilt approx. 10,000 miles ago. The engine was running rough and was told it was the carb. I installed a new carb but still was running rough. Pulled the valve covers and found 2 bent pushrods, 2 loose push rods, and 2 stuck valves. Everything else looks new. I pulled the oil pan off to see what was going on below. Everything looks good and cranks smooth, but I found these 4 clips/retainers attached to the magnet in the bottom of the pan. I apologize up front for being inexperienced, but I have no clue what these are? Is it a sign that the engine needs pulled and completely rebuilt again? Is this something I can fix while the engine is still in? I really appreciate any input you can provide. Thank you.
Ken

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Those clips don't look like anything that belongs in one of these engines, I've torn into and assembled these engines numerous times and not seen anything like it.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Thank you for the quick response Bigblock! Man I hope so. I've never seen anything like them. Really dumbfounded.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Could it be parts of a mangled ring?

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

They look like broken wrist pin clips, when you have full floating wrist pins.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Clyde,

Thank you!!! Yep, that's exactly what they are. Unfortunately, with the spiral locks broken that floating pin was moving side to side in the piston which scored the cylinder. Not sure if it is repairable. Uggghhhh.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Have you actually torn down the engine to see the damage in the cylinder wall? That retaining clip looked more like a u joint clip. All the ones I worked on and pistons sets I have look like a normal snap ring with the two eye holes. If damage is too severe on the cylinder wall it can be sleeved.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

Yes, unfortunately there are 4 perpendicular, symmetric gouges (2 on each side of the wall) where the ends of the floating pin would be hitting. I haven't taken piston out yet, but the gouge can be seen when the piston is at the lowest point in the cylinder. It probably doesn't make sense to just replace the clips and not fix the cylinder wall. Could a machine shop install a sleeve fairly easy without tearing down the lower end of the engine? The pistons and rings are newer, so can a sleeve be installed to match the current diameter so I can reuse the piston and rings? Thanks again for the advise!!

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

The lower part of the engine will have to be torn down, there's machining involved to install a sleeve. As long as your piston has no damage it can be used again, I know someone with a 478 V6 that had a sleeve put in the block and used the existing piston. Check out the rest of those piston pin clips, maybe they're the wrong ones and post some pics of them, I want to compare them with what I have.

Re: Help: Metal in Oil Pan
 

What do you think caused the bent push rods? I think I would start over and check every thing. Bob