The Ford Barn

JOHN CT · 02-03-2022, 02:25 PM

I changed the oil and when I was cleaning out the drain plug I found a small pice of copper. It looks like a shim stock. I have about 30K on the engine. It runs fine no knocking or tapping. Shall I be alarmed?
Thanks

Y-Blockhead · 02-03-2022, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHN CT

I changed the oil and when I was cleaning out the drain plug I found a small pice of copper. It looks like a shim stock. I have about 30K on the engine. It runs fine no knocking or tapping. Shall I be alarmed?
Thanks

I will admit I don't know what material they are made of, but I don't think shim stock is copper. Not for the mains and rods anyway.

Maybe a picture will help us before people start guessing?

Y-Blockhead · 02-03-2022, 02:50 PM

OK, I see. Bratton's has steel or brass shims.

https://www.brattons.com/BRASS-CONNE...ductinfo/8650/

old ugly · 02-03-2022, 08:44 PM

if it were mine i would worry about it, but thats the way i am.
and if it was mine i would pull the pan and have a look.
i would be able to sleep, that thought on my brain.

old ugly · 02-03-2022, 08:46 PM

picture of the piece?

fordcragar · 02-03-2022, 09:30 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If it were mine, I’d be looking at the bottom end to figure where it came from or what it is. If you don’t, you probably will, only it might cost more than a few gaskets.

chap52 · 02-04-2022, 06:36 AM

Worth dropping the pan for a look see for sure. That's why God gives us winter... Chap

nkaminar · 02-04-2022, 08:11 AM

Worth a look. After 30K miles it is time to take up the bearings anyway. This is a maintenance task on an engine that has babbett bearings.

JOHN CT · 02-04-2022, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old ugly

picture of the piece?

I don’t have a picture. The pice got tangled up in my shop rags and thrown out

I thought of taking when it was to late. Now I have fresh oil in. Before I get involved I’m going to put a few miles on and watch and listen! It’s definitely on my mind

fordcragar · 02-04-2022, 11:55 AM

By the time you hear anything, it might be too late.

JOHN CT · 02-04-2022, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordcragar

By the time you hear anything, it might be too late.

You know ..your right! I’m going to drop the pan. Hopefully I just have to make some adjustments and don’t get the domino affect. I will feel better once I take a look
Thanks everyone!

Fullraceflathead · 02-04-2022, 01:26 PM

Is there a chance somebody put 1 of those copper Brillo pads in the oil filter tube maybe just a small fragment in 1 of those if so it's nothing to worry about

Mikeinnj · 02-04-2022, 09:52 PM

Some oil drain plug gaskets are made of copper. Was the piece circular in shape?

JOHN CT · 02-05-2022, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

Some oil drain plug gaskets are made of copper. Was the piece circular in shape?

It didn’t look like a pice of the drain plug. It definitely was outside the edge of a shim. I wish I got a picture of it!

aermotor · 02-05-2022, 11:15 AM

I may be wrong, but I thought the shims were brass

katy · 02-05-2022, 12:07 PM

Is the engine lubrication system stock? Or modified?

WHN · 02-05-2022, 02:28 PM

Please don’t try to fix something that might not be broken.

It was running good before you drained the oil. How is it running now?

If still running and sounding great? Drive and enjoy you car.

People spend a lot of money fixing things that don’t need to be fixed.

Enjoy.

fordcragar · 02-05-2022, 02:36 PM

I believe in not fixing stuff that isn’t broken, but would at least drop the pan and have a good look. This would be a good time to check the bearings too, and check everything else. Who knows, whoever was in there before might have left something.

Brentwood Bob · 02-05-2022, 02:37 PM

Any grandchildren helpers?

JOHN CT · 02-05-2022, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brentwood Bob

Any grandchildren helpers?

Yep …..you read my mind. I have 2 grand sons. It’s going to be a good learning experience

after 30k i think it time to take a look anyhow
My A is a great car. For 25 years it’s been turn key and go

02-03-2022, 02:25 PM	#1
JOHN CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: In my garage Posts: 465	Oil change surprise ! I changed the oil and when I was cleaning out the drain plug I found a small pice of copper. It looks like a shim stock. I have about 30K on the engine. It runs fine no knocking or tapping. Shall I be alarmed? Thanks __________________ 31 Tudor 66 Bonneville 57 Chevy pickup 27 T roadster pick up

02-03-2022, 02:50 PM	#3
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Oil change surprise ! OK, I see. Bratton's has steel or brass shims. https://www.brattons.com/BRASS-CONNE...ductinfo/8650/

02-03-2022, 08:44 PM	#4
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 585	Re: Oil change surprise ! if it were mine i would worry about it, but thats the way i am. and if it was mine i would pull the pan and have a look. i would be able to sleep, that thought on my brain. __________________ old ugly my old father-in-law told me. "listen close when people tell you how to do stuff they may know something. then do it the way you want."

02-03-2022, 08:46 PM	#5
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 585	Re: Oil change surprise ! picture of the piece? __________________ old ugly my old father-in-law told me. "listen close when people tell you how to do stuff they may know something. then do it the way you want."

02-03-2022, 09:30 PM	#6
fordcragar Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 479	Re: Oil change surprise ! Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If it were mine, I’d be looking at the bottom end to figure where it came from or what it is. If you don’t, you probably will, only it might cost more than a few gaskets.

02-04-2022, 06:36 AM	#7
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,776	Re: Oil change surprise ! Worth dropping the pan for a look see for sure. That's why God gives us winter... Chap

02-04-2022, 08:11 AM	#8
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,897	Re: Oil change surprise ! Worth a look. After 30K miles it is time to take up the bearings anyway. This is a maintenance task on an engine that has babbett bearings. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-04-2022, 11:55 AM	#10
fordcragar Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 479	Re: Oil change surprise ! By the time you hear anything, it might be too late.

02-04-2022, 01:26 PM	#12
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Oil change surprise ! Is there a chance somebody put 1 of those copper Brillo pads in the oil filter tube maybe just a small fragment in 1 of those if so it's nothing to worry about __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

02-04-2022, 09:52 PM	#13
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,262	Re: Oil change surprise ! Some oil drain plug gaskets are made of copper. Was the piece circular in shape?

02-05-2022, 11:15 AM	#15
aermotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,099	Re: Oil change surprise ! I may be wrong, but I thought the shims were brass

02-05-2022, 12:07 PM	#16
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Oil change surprise ! Is the engine lubrication system stock? Or modified? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

02-05-2022, 02:28 PM	#17
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,824	Re: Oil change surprise ! Please don’t try to fix something that might not be broken. It was running good before you drained the oil. How is it running now? If still running and sounding great? Drive and enjoy you car. People spend a lot of money fixing things that don’t need to be fixed. Enjoy.

02-05-2022, 02:36 PM	#18
fordcragar Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 479	Re: Oil change surprise ! I believe in not fixing stuff that isn’t broken, but would at least drop the pan and have a good look. This would be a good time to check the bearings too, and check everything else. Who knows, whoever was in there before might have left something.

02-05-2022, 02:37 PM	#19
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,246	Re: Oil change surprise ! Any grandchildren helpers?