What did I find under my valve cover?

[olddog67]

I was changing the valve cover gaskets and found these laying in the corner of the head on the passenger side. They are made from some kind of plastic it seems. Can anyone tell me what these pieces are from?

 

[Dako]

Hard to tell how big, or small, they are with nothing to reference them to in the photo.

 

[lewtot184]

looks like umbrella valve seal pieces.

 

[silversedan]

valve seals for sure

 

[Dako]

Front or rear corner?
Original valve covers or aftermarket?
PCV valve in that area?

 

[Bill Monk]

looks like umbrella valve seal pieces.

I agree, does she smoke when you fire it up?

 

[olddog67]

Ya it does smoke when first started and I do plan on replacing the valve seals.

The pieces are about 1/3 the size of a nickel.

They were in the rear corner, aftermarket fugly chrome covers and the PVC is on that side but at the front of the cover.

They are hard as a rock and quite brittle. I thought they were metal at first but after closer inspection they are some type of plastic.

 

[mmissile]

They plug-up oil pickup tubes, real well.

 

[eldubb440]

pieces of old hardened cork gaskets?

 

[olddog67]

I dont think it was the valve gaskets, its very smooth and sort of rounded or U shaped. I thought is was a valve guide at first. I will get a better picture.
Thanks guys.

 

[lewtot184]

the oil pan may be full of those pieces. they get hard and brittle thru use.

 

[olddog67]

Here are a couple more photos

 

[Bill Monk]

Ya it does smoke when first started and I do plan on replacing the valve seals.

The pieces are about 1/3 the size of a nickel.

They were in the rear corner, aftermarket fugly chrome covers and the PVC is on that side but at the front of the cover.

They are hard as a rock and quite brittle. I thought they were metal at first but after closer inspection they are some type of plastic.

Dollar says it's the valve seals. If they are falling apart, I would be surprised if it doesn't smoke all the time. Shut her down until you get it resolved or you might end up with a LOT of other problems as well. You can change seals without taking the heads off but I would pull the heads and maybe the oil pan to see what you are looking at and get everything cleaned up.

 

[eldubb440]

after looking closer and seeing the rounded shape, I agree on valve seals, not gasket

 

[IQ52]

It's nuclear waste! RUN! RUN!

 

[olddog67]

Thanks guys,

 

[miller]

Just part of the game, olddog67. Those type seals don't last forever, then they start breaking up.

 

[olddog67]

I love this game miller! lol...just not when I was planning on touring around with her this weekend.

The car is a '67 with a 383, can anyone tell me the kind of seals I need to get? or are they all the same?

I will be getting them from Napa if that matters. Then to find a garage that will put them in...

 

[Bill Monk]

I love this game miller! lol...just not when I was planning on touring around with her this weekend.

The car is a '67 with a 383, can anyone tell me the kind of seals I need to get? or are they all the same?

I will be getting them from Napa if that matters. Then to find a garage that will put them in...

Just go with the stock seals for a street weekend cruiser. Napa should be fine.

 

[olddog67]

Are the seals different for the exhaust & intake side?