Plastic found in a road runner's 383?

[69_bad_bird]

Hey all, so yesterday I was tearing apart my 383 from 69. Since it lost oil pressure last year and while I was tearing it down, I found that some of the very outer edges of the cam lobes were pretty jagged but all the lifters looked in good shape and the lobes themselves looked fine as well. I found a bunch of debris in the oil pick up which seems to me that it's plastic. Probably why I lost oil pressure? I've got no idea where this plastic could've came from cause from what Ive been reading there shouldn't be any plastic bits in these engines? This is my first engine I tore down so I'm just looking for some information. I dont have a harmonic balancer puller, I havent been able to get around to picking one up, but from what I could see the timing assembly is still in good shape. Engine is from a 69 road runner.

 

[kiwigtx]

Timing gear possibly.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

I’ve seen nylon teeth from the cam gear in the oil pan. I’ve also seen old harden valve seals, crumble and make their way down into the oil pan.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Distributor shaft collar, typical, looks lie the roll pin also?

 

[Demonic]

It's the timing gear or distributor collar. I was surprised that my 4bbl 383 had the nylon gear when I rebuilt it.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

I would be more worried if that is a roll pin or not, Usually nylon wont damage anything but block oil passages. Usually accumulate on the pickup tube.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Probably came from the timing gear…

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Really wont know till you get eyes on it.

 

[lewtot184]

Cam gear and valve seals combination; typical.

 

[BSB67]

Cam gear and valve seals combination; typical.

This. And there is a good chance that the cam gear was already been replaced.

 

[493 Mike]

Clarify the oil pickup. It appears the pickup suction shield is shown on the left with the pickup tube to the right?
Mike

 

[gkent]

Jagged cam lobes are no big deal. The cams are rough cast iron. When they're ground the lobes take the proper shape but there is no operation to remove any rough casting on the edges. Doesn't matter because the lifter faces have a slight convex to them so nothing ever touches the edges anyhow.

 

[Fran Blacker]

I would be more worried if that is a roll pin or not, Usually nylon wont damage anything but block oil passages. Usually accumulate on the pickup tube.

Those roll pins can come out. Removed distributor to pre oil my engine and the roll pin was out 3/32". Wasn't like that when I put it in. Took a piece of wire put it threw the pin. Then twisted it 2 or 3 turns and solder the twist.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Happens when you reuse them they loose some of the outward tension. Seen it alot re doing them and hundreds with no collar left. One reason I had metal ones made up with new roll pins when I rebuild. I just toss the nylon ones.