Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi,

Just removed my oil pan (engine is out) to respray etc and found some metal pieces in the bottom. I have attached some pictures. Can anyone diagnose what they might be and if there is a problem I should attend to while the engine is out?

thanks in advance

Dave - Datsun 1966 (2000cc U20 engine) - FL

they kinda look like valve retainers to me. We any missing from the head?

Was the engine rebuilt? The pieces look a lot like oil galley plug/plugs that have been drilled out. Doesn't make sense that there wouldn't be new ones or there wouldn't be any pressure and a pretty big oil leak. I thought valve retainer as well, but they have a taper to them. Was it operational when you pulled it to paint?

V/r
Buddy

They look like an alinement sleeve. Been too long for me to remember if the cam towers had sleeves.

fj20spl311 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 03, 2018 5:54 pmThey look like an alinement sleeve.

I missed that is was a U20. This may be the winning answer.

I believe that there are two alignment sleeves for the head to block marriage that would be about that size. There is no way they could come loose once the engine is assembled. Even if someone accidentally dropped them down an oil gallery what would cause them to be split in half?

Looks like broken rollers from a timing chain.

Datrock wrote: ↑Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:35 am Looks like broken rollers from a timing chain.

+1 that a good guess...

+2 I was thinking that also after I went to bed last nite. That would explain them being split in half, and they would have easy access to the sump. Looks like it's time for new chains at a minimum, probably gears as well. You got lucky!!

Are they not to thin for a broken roller?
I go for the valve retainers if it was a R16.

peter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:01 am Are they not to thin for a broken roller?
I go for the valve retainers if it was a R16.

2L have valve spring keepers too , it was probably someones first try ,like the driver , at replacing them

I was expecting a bunch of bearing shavings

If they were valve retainers the two "halves" would be equal in size, these are not. Could be part of the valve seal, but the metal looks to thick. Still going with chain rollers.

Yep, measured them against the timing chain and they are identical. Hopefully that is not too hard to replace

Suggezt you examine the chains and identify where the broken rollers came from. Something is very wrong if chain rollers are breaking in half.
Dan

thanks - what do you reckon may have broken them? How do I rotate the chain to inspect?