Lesson for me is:

When something doesn't feel right and you have bits in the oil, stop driving it!

I continued to drive the car as the oil pressure was fine - for awhile.

 

Never like reading these but nice to know what it was. The worst is a mystery.

This is a good leasson for all...replace your locktabs everytime and be certain they are in good knick when installing/bending.

Looks like the little bits were parts of a lock tab on the first motion shaft drive gear.

I have not seen it in person, looks like a likely suspect...

Engine taken apart for a rebuild. Engine builder says the transmission is toast, probably worse than Todd's picture.

Big mistake to keep running it, even if the oil pressure was OK.

Terry

We will be at the race. I would not miss it, but we will probably skip the MMEW event. I have a race engine's dollar equivalent of new photo gear for the Can-Am.

Terry

Dang, Terry. Very disappointed to hear you won't make those events, as I'll be there and was eager to see the old girl again. Maybe you can come up for the Portland ABFM over Labor Day. Big event with 800+ cars.

Any of the work done to get ready for the cross-country trip would have needed to be done at some point anyway.

In some ways I am ahead of the game on maintenance, but behind on engine durability at this point

With three engines in the garage and one in Auburn, you would think I would have one ready to go

Terry

Aloha Terry,

Sorry to hear about your latest problems with the mystery bits turning up on the oil plugs. Such are the Mini gremblins. On a more positive note, that is one sweet looking Woody Wagon you have there! Good luck on getting to the bottom of things, (rather than the bottom things getting to you!)                Mini Estate

The engine has other issues which are going to prevent us from driving the car out for Mid-Ohio and Milwaukee, quite disappointing as we had spent alot of time preparing the car for its journey.

Terry

Lucky for you Terry.

Yes, I think the consensus is that it is a foreign object.

Interesting that it decided to reveal itself now as I had done two previous oil changes in the several motnths we have had the car. It also seems to be quite intact.

Terry

Looks too small for a gudgen pin clip. Definitely a C clip of some description. Looks about the same size as the clips that hold locking mechanism together on internal hinge doors. SU's with lifting pins have these clips securing the lifting pin spring. Can't see how one of those would get from the underside of the carb into the gearbox though. I suspect it's a foreign body dropped in there by mistake during a rebuild at some stage.

this looks like a gudgeon pin circlip..

This seems to be my year for strangeness.

The engine that we were to use for the long haul to Ohio and Milwaukee developed a noise.

Check the oil looking for chunks, but I find this?

Seems way too small to have come loose from something...

So now I have two engines that need major attention

 

How about the shift detent boss? I keep thinking of the OP's saying about a clicking through 3rd gear?

It would ne nice to add a poll to an existing thread, as we could vote on the suggestions received so far. I am afraid the final answer will be a few months down the road, Craig's offer not with standing.

I have a car to prepare for a long trip and I have another to put back together. Oh and my son's 67 El camino has some wiring issues...

Tab of layshaft thrust washer?

Went over to Terry's house and helped take out the tranny.  Still looks the same from when we put it in last rebuild.

ManuelB's suggestion looks pretty close in size and shape. I tried thinking about what from the engine could drop down but only could thing of things like bearing cap straps. 

Could it be one of the mounting tabs for the oil tube, looks like the same shape on the corners, looks too thin for a locktab to me and the break looks like a brittle metal, this will be a great mystery to follow.