Pressure release plug question(the plug on the timing plate)

[shadow001dsm]

Ok everybody I am doing a semi bottem end rebuild, the oil pump plate was leaking and so was the crank seals. Anyways after gettng the gasket kit and tearing into it, I noticed after removing the oil pump shaft plate from the rear of the oil pump cover, there was no spring or plunger behind the plug. How bad is that? And if it is not damaging can i leave it that way? Second i got lucky and droped my gear wratchet in the oil pan and what do i find but a bunch of black hard flakes....? i cant figure out what they are. any idea as to what could leave metallic black flakes? there about the size of a drywall nail head. thanks in advance.

 

[19Eclipse90]

I'm pretty confused by what you are asking. There are no springs or plungers in the front case/oil pump. There should be one of each in the oil filter housing, though.

As far as the little black pieces go, it may sound silly but are you sure they are metallic? I've seen old, dried, and hard black RTV pieces broken off from overuse on previous oil pan "seals".

 

[shadow001dsm]

Im not 100% but there small black hard peices. And on the oil pump cover, when you take the oil pump shaft off, the book says to remove the plug (its the plug directly above the oil pump shaft, you have to have a special tool for it, but neeedle nose works fine too.) and the spring and plunger behind it. but theres nothing there.

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its the weid looking plug in the pic

 

[19Eclipse90]

It's commonly known as the "castle plug" on here. There is no plunger or spring behind that plug. It covers an access hole to the oil pump driven gear bolt. The plug has an o-ring to seal it, but behind that (in the oil pump) lies the gear.

 

[shadow001dsm]

Oh, well now i feel dumb. Learn something new everyday. thanks for the help. and what color purple is on your 1g? my wife loves the color and i have another 1g in the back thats getting prepped for paint.

 

[19Eclipse90]

My car is black.