Spoiler alert - I have the feeling this isn’t good.
In replacing the oil pan on a 68 302, we found several good sized metal shards/shavings (roughly 2 inches long) along with some smaller ones, some plastic bits and what looks like solidified sludge. I don’t think it’s coming across clearly in the pictures but the larger ones have what I’d describe as a rim. Any ideas as to what this is and how serious?
Thanks in advance.
The plastic bits look like parts from the factory timing chain gear. The metal has me concerned. I can’t tell what they are from. They don’t look like piston parts. I think you might want to do some more investigating.
Thanks badcatt. It’s running reasonably well (and has since I got it a year ago) with the exception of a hesitation when accelerating which the current thinking is a fuel/carburetor issue. Any suggestions as to what to watch or check?
Hard to tell, but could be the oil slinger or part of the front crank seal. If the timing gear went bad it could have damage those parts as well. Then when the timing chain & gears were replaced they didn’t clean out the oil pan.
Thanks Brian/Boss. There’s no info on any maintenance by the original (and only) owner or the dealer so it sounds like it will just be a detective exercise. (The shop was starting to drool about replacing it with a 390…hmmm…)
Update from a Lincoln/Mercury service director’s diagnosis. Always nice to find someone who’s actually worked on cars from that era.
Based on the type of metal and the small plastic bits in the debris, he thinks the likely answer is that the metal is is from an oil splash guard (perhaps dislodged during other open engine work), the plastic from changing out a timing chain and that the oil pan wasn’t cleared when that work was done. If so, he says there’s nothing much to do except not to run it at 100 MPH but it should be OK otherwise. Still running well.
Not sure I could live with that option. 
I’m still babying it even after a year - I’ll keep it down to the 85 limit on one of our toll roads for a while… 