Piece of metal in oil pan

[Pender1]

I pulled my oil pan to replace timing and oil pan gaskets, but I found this piece of mangled up metal in the bottom of my oil pan. It kind of looks like it was originally a ~3/8" freeze plug shaped piece. Anyone have an idea about what this might be? The engine runs decent for a 30 year old 305. Haven't noticed anything that would indicate something being broken. Any ideas?

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[HotRodPC]

If it was a GMPP Crate motor, I'd say it's a plug for one side of the Oil dipstick tubes since you have the option of the stick on either side then plug the other, and that someone punched it on through.

 

[Pender1]

If it was a GMPP Crate motor, I'd say it's a plug for one side of the Oil dipstick tubes since you have the option of the stick on either side then plug the other, and that someone punched it on through.

It's the original motor that came with the truck. My dipstick is on the passenger side. Would it have such a plug?

 

[HotRodPC]

I guess it could be possible that it was done it at the factory when dipstick was being installed. Just not sure if they plugged those on OEM motors or not. But it does certainly appear to be that type of plug.

 

[Pender1]

I guess it could be possible that it was done it at the factory when dipstick was being installed. Just not sure if they plugged those on OEM motors or not. But it does certainly appear to be that type of plug.

Thanks. I'll look around just to see if I can find anything else, but if that's all it is I'm not worried all that much.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

It could be an oil gallery plug. There is one threaded plug on the back of the block near the intake surface that you have to remove then you shove a piece of ready rod down that passage and there's one of those thread less plugs that you just tap in. That's the only one I could think of that would get into the oil pan but I can't remember if the rear main cap has to be off for it to come out.

Noticed any oil pressure changes? Not sure if it would affect it or not

 

[HotRodPC]

That's what I was trying to think of. I've seen to many engine blocks tore down now and even though I have a photographic memory on some things, I don't remember which is which, but IIRC, there's engines that have plugs like that behind the timing cover, and also in the back of the block over the cam plug, but I don't think it's SBC, which I've seen the most of. I'm wanting to say it's Olds or Pontiac that has those.

 

[HotRodPC]

See the 3 small silver plugs.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Small blocks don't usually have the three in the back of the block those are usually threaded but I'm 99% sure all small blocks have the plug that you have to remove the threaded plug near the intake surface to access the knockout plug in that oil gallery passage. That's the only one that would go to the oil pan.

I'm 99% sure because when I started working at my uncles shop he always "yelled" at me for forgetting to hammer that damn plug out Or maybe I'm just crazy? Haha

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Ill have to look at my block

 

[Pender1]

Small blocks don't usually have the three in the back of the block those are usually threaded but I'm 99% sure all small blocks have the plug that you have to remove the threaded plug near the intake surface to access the knockout plug in that oil gallery passage. That's the only one that would go to the oil pan.

I'm 99% sure because when I started working at my uncles shop he always "yelled" at me for forgetting to hammer that damn plug out Or maybe I'm just crazy? Haha

Have a description or a picture of where I might find that plug for an uneducated newbie like me? I had someone on another board say it could be one of the ones behind the timing cover but he wasn't sure how it would end up in the oil pan. I don't have an oil pressure gauge and my idiot light is not working, so I'm not sure what my oil pressure is. This truck is a work in progress. I just need this motor to last until I can afford to put a 350 in it.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Ill get a picture as soon as I can find some bolts to put my motor on my new engine stand!

 

[NOPHO84K30]

I found pieces of a push rod in my oil pan when i did the oil pump acouple years ago. How it travled down there is a mystery. Someone along the way fixed it before i got it.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

One of the craziest things I've seen I pulled off an oil pan off of a 350 in i think a 76 k10 and there was a complete set of rod bearings brand new never installed just laying in the bottom of the pan they were pretty varnished up from the oil, who knows how long they were in there! I couldn't believe it!!! Haha

 

[firebane]

That my friend is a muffler bearing.