metal junk under rocker cover

[ADRay]

at the same time (like the same hour) that I discovered the vacuum leaks in my carb, the engine was making a knocking sound when I hit the gas. Got it all back together and the knock persists. I looked under the valve cover and found there were little pieces of wire that were wound up like springs. I found (3) 1 inch or so sized pieces, and was able to retrieve two of them. The car is running somewhat reasonably despite the noise.

I didn't open up the engine below the head (except to replace tappet cover gaskets and a new fuel pump) when I had it off the road for so long, so I don't recognize what the might be or where they came from.

Does anybody know what this is?I'm already assuming it's something horrible.

[ADRay]

alright, upon further inspection and chatting with Mudhen and my mechanic uncle, not such a crisis.

Looks like I had at least one valve stem seal get trashed.

How might / does that happen?

[MPlayle]

High lift cam and high lift ratio rocker arms?

Too much lift causing the valve stem seals to get mashed?

Poor quality seals falling apart under use afte sitting?

Theories and guesses that came to mind.

[MiniDave]

Those look awfully long to be stem seal springs, maybe take a pic with something for scale, a quarter or something? They do look like they could have come from a seal, but I'm thinking more like the main crank seal. If so, how the heck did they get up there?

But if they're only an inch long, then stem seals are a possibility I guess.....

[94touring]

I couldn't even find anything on minispares searching for springs that looks anything like those.

[ADRay]

little update - at this point I'm 99% sure that they are the gaiters from the valve seals.

A little more research last night and found that my valve assemblies are vintage 1950's 948 style, and they include a top hat looking piece that newer ones don't have. Theory is the top hat piece mashed up the seals.

I'm planning on pulling the head tonight for further inspection.

[MiniDave]

Wow, I don't think I've seen those......ever!

It does look like if you tried to use stem seals with those baskets, things might not all fit?

I love those old line drawings in the repair manuals - so much easier to see than the new ones with their dark, fuzzy photos printed on course grade paper.

[ADRay]

pulled the head yesterday and found the head gasket had blow-by between the cylinders. Next step is to have the smoothness of the head checked.

[94touring]

If you reuse a copper gasket I'll tell you how I do it, which is what Spares has as a recommendation also.

[MiniDave]

Really? I can't imagine reusing a head gasket - for sure not this one with a chunk missing!

I prefer the composite gaskets anyway, especially if you're running higher compression.

[94touring]

I'm saying if the replacement gasket is copper I have the recommended way to keep a good seal.

[MiniDave]

That copper spray stuff?

[94touring]

The copper gaskets already have an adhesive on them.  You just clean the block and head surfaces very meticulously (I de grease then use rubbing alcohol or acetone), torque down the head, run it dry at idle a couple minutes till it's getting warm to the touch, let cool overnight, check torques, and add fluid.