Valley full of debris under PCV?

[Algershick]

I'm in the process of replacing my PCV among other issues. The grommet has become hard and cracked so I had to pull it out. I had to fish a chunk of it out that dropped in the PCV hole. While in there, I discovered a handful (that I could see) of black pebbley type stuff. I did a quick google search and saw something about charcoal canister media possibly being the culprit... has anyone deatlt with this before? I'm concerned with all of the crap under the PCV valve and HOW it got there in the first place! This is a '78 Pontiac 301.

Thanks,

Austin

 

[Algershick]

Through some more googling, I learned that Pontiac's have a 2 piece stamped steel valley pan that basically sandwiches debris above the lifter valley. I'm familiar with SBC's and LS motors, so this is a little different to me.
One school of thought I read said that no debris can escape and fall into the crank case once its in the pan. The other said that rebuilt motors have been trashed by running a used valley pan.
I suppose my major concern is what is all of the junk that I saw? have any of you encountered this before?

 

[pontiacgp]

was there any of the grommet that was missing...

 

[Algershick]

I don't think so, it had just hardened to the point that it was like plastic. I was able to remove all of the broken pieces as far as I could tell. The stuff in the valley pan was like crushed rock, larger than sand. It was in a pile, concentrated directly under the PCV valve.

 

[pontiacgp]

the pvc always has pressure from the crankcase and when the pvc is open the vacuum from the carb is sucking it out. I don't see how anything could pass through the pvc the other way. The only time there is any pressure from the top is if there is a backfire but at that point the pvc is closed.

 

[Algershick]

I don't believe it passed through the PCV into the valley pan, and I don't know if vacuum could have managed to pull all of that debris into a pile under the PCV. It had to have gotten in somehow.
I'd like to make my GP my driver, hopefully she doesn't give up the ghost on me. While the interior and body are well preserved aside from old, dull paint, it doesn't seem like engine maintenance was performed in its 125,000 miles.
I like the idea of sticking with BOP power, but I'm not sure if I want to go through the trouble of searching for a rebuildable Poncho. I have in my possession a 5.3 LM7 painted, wired up and ready for install. I just need a transmission... Its almost been installed in 4 different vehicles over the years but I never got around to it. Maybe its destined for the Grand Prix.

 

[lilbowtie]

I'm going to guess it's oil coking probably caused from cheap oil, time, and lack of maintenance. What's it look like under the rockers??

 

[Algershick]

I haven't pulled the valve covers because I haven't picked up gaskets yet. They're pretty gnarly judging from what I can see through the oil fill cap, though.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

I found this exact same thing when i pulled the valve covers off a small block i tore down a couple years ago.

It was the remnants of the valve stem seals..... big surprise there lol. I'm willing to bet thats your problem