Disaster!!! I am out for Dragweek

[AlanCasida]

I was doing some final prep today on the mustang and changed the oil. I decided to cut the oil filter open and I am glad I did (kind of). I found a bunch of copper/brass looking material in it. I pulled the distributor to see if it might have come from the gear but it looked perfect. So I am out.   

[jayb]

Boy, that sucks.  Looks like copper backing from one of the bearings.  Time to pull the pan and check the rods...

[AlanCasida]

I am glad I caught it when I did. I almost didn't change the oil since I only had about 400 miles and 11 passes on it. Then I almost didn't cut the filter open. But I noticed the last time I drove it the oil pressure was down some from it's normal so that kind of nagged at me. I think I will take a little break from it now.   

[428 GALAXIE]

What!!!!!
Oo man what a bummer.
Well I guess better this way than full qarnage at the strip.

[Bolted to Floor]

Man, that really sucks. But finding it now beats finding it on side of the raid somewhere!!

[Nightmist66]

Bummer! 

[machoneman]

Ouch!

Those look like pretty big pieces. I wonder if its from the thrust bearing as rod bearings usually produce finer particles. Ask me how I know this....................

[AlanCasida]

Ouch!

Those look like pretty big pieces. I wonder if its from the thrust bearing as rod bearings usually produce finer particles. Ask me how I know this....................

That is what I'm thinking, thrust bearing. it didn't knock or anything that would give me a hint something was wrong other than the oil pressure was some lower than normal when hot but I was driving it around in the heat more this year.

[falcongeorge]

Ouch!

Those look like pretty big pieces. I wonder if its from the thrust bearing as rod bearings usually produce finer particles. Ask me how I know this....................

my thoughts exactly, those are chunks. Lucky you cut the filter open, that's spooky looking.

[Stangman]

Sorry Alan, bummer for sure. I hope it’s not that bad. Was excited to follow you during dragweek.

[57 lima bean]

Have you compared to a new distributor gear?

[My427stang]

No noise?

Seems odd that much copper would be a wrist pin bushing, a blown our thrust bearing, or a regular bearing completely gone and make a lot of noise.

I'd be 100% sure that your bronze gear isn't the cause  (as you toss that junk in the trash anyway LOL)

Maybe check crank thrust from the bottom and see if there is a ton of it.  Loosen your belts and pry the balancer back and forth.

Not that that much getting through the motor is good, but you might get away with a good cleanup.

[AlanCasida]

The first thing I did was pull the distributor and check the gear. It shows a little wear but not enough to make that much debris and the color of the particles are more coppery looking than the gear too. Here is a pic comparing the gear to a new one.

[67428GT500]

I feel your pain. In and out two times in four months with a very expensive new paint job.  My hopes are that it hasn't done any heavy damage and is simple and inexpensive to correct.
                                                                   -Keith

[sixty9cobra]

Gulp. I just ordered a filter cutter. The last motor cost way to much. Good luck on finding the problem.