Just bought a truck with a 454 to put in my car. The previous owner had not changed the oil in a while. It was very black. Engine runs great, very strong. Mostly stock. I noticed before changing the oil, that there would be small bright metal particles on the end of the dipstick. After changing the oil, I cut open the filter (very, very dirty and long over-due to be changed) There were lots of small metal particles in the pleats of the filter. Is this somewhat normal due to the fact that it needed changed, or am I about to lose a cam lobe? I never have checked a filter before, so wasnt sure if its normal. The engine has 139,000 original miles on it, compression test was good. Slight lifter tick, not much, really hard to hear. Thanks for any advice! Rick

If the engine is worth saving, if you have some of that oil left, have it analyzed by a lube lab to find out exactly whats in it. That might give you a direction to from there. They run about $20 for the tests.
If you dont have access to a test kit shoot me an email and I can put you in touch with a lab.
click

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put a moroso prefilter screen on it fits on top of filter beats cutting them open an you can check an clean the screen any time the motor is cold

I had the same thing when I got the engine for my chevelle. It was the cam. Had to swap a bigger one in http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif

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67 prostreet BB Camaro
80 z28 Camaro 355ci
71 BB SS Chevelle (clone)
2002 35th anniv SS Z28 conv.

I presume the particles are steel. Did you wave a magnet over them?

-dnult