Im guessing thats what this plasticy feeling stuff is.
my new to me 73 cutlass 350. I was thinking I'd put a mild cam in it someday. I might make that day sooner after seeing this.
going to put a few miles and cut another filter. Maybe its just grime. Feels like plastic to my fingers though. Any mild cam recommendations? Keeping stock valve train unless I see something goofy. Engine runs great . 150psi all 8 cylinders. No smoke which is odd to me. Don't oldsmobiles have the same disease as sbc with valve seals? Pretty sure the valve covers have never been off but not sure.

 

I'd suspect valve seal particles first. It could be just coke from long durations of non use at some point in the engine's life. Timing chain bits I've found in the past are much larger pieces and usually don't get passed the screen sieve in the pick up.

 

Try putting a piece on the work bench and try to "squish" it with a screwdriver or something similar. The timing gear material is pretty hard. If you can flatten it easily it is probably just hardened sludge like Don said.

 

My thought as well. But, if the OP needs an excuse to do a cam swap, who am I to argue.

 

yeah, these particles are not as hard as the timing gear pieces described, and they're tiny.. so we'll look at valve seals while in doing the cam. Seems prudent to inspect springs and such anyways. The engine needs to be cleaned up with some new gaskets anyways was planning on that next year but I'll push the time frame up. I'll probably lift the engine out for the cam - then I can change rear main, and paint everything too.
.

 

better add that timing chain and sprockets at the same time as the cam if original your definitely on borrowed time

 

heres the day i decided to change mine

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...e-65616/page2/

 

that whole thread reads like my future... what's a MAW?

 

MAW - Might As Well.... Since you are already in the neighborhood, working on X, you MAW go the extra mile and work on Y and Z while you're at it... If you don't do it now as a MAW, you know you will have to come back and do Y and Z later, anyway..., so you MAW.

 

I have used the generic 204/214 cam in my 76 350. I advanced it in the advanced position on the timing set, 140 to 142 psi with that cam. It performed well with with the 2004R's stock 1900 rpm converter and 3.42 gears. It ran equal to mid 15's in the 1/4, 9.9 in the 1/8 in a 3750 pound car with the ignition breaking up over 4000 rpm. The Sanderson and 2.5" X pipe exhaust no doubt helped as well.