My car was making some valve train clatter, so I pulled the cover to inspect... Lots of needle bearing scattered and the carrier broken in pieces! I know that I won"t get them all out..Is my motor in danger as they make there way into the oil pan.
Any advise is appreciated....also looking for advise on replacement rockers - running a .581 lift cam and Comp 921 springs....

 

You're looking at a motor tear down to track down all those needle bearings.
Sorry for the bad news.

 

Go to tearing the engine down, count the brgs in a good rocker, and see if you can find all of them. Also, take all the pieces of the carrier, and see if it will go back together, as like a jigsaw puzzle.
I'd also try a flex magnet into the oil drain, and see if that produces any of the parts...
You may also begin the teardown with the intake... might get lucky, and find the missing pieces in the lifter galley....

OR! You could just order up a new, 427 long block..

 

Besides using the magnet in the engine and in the drain hole in the pan, take a pretty strong magnet and go over the bottom of the pan from the off side to the drain plug. Any steel will follow the magnet thru the pan to the drain plug hole. Hope you can get all the pieces w/o a tear down.

 

No need for a major engine disassembly. I think there is a TSB on this very issue.

Tom

 

Here is the TSB.

Needle Bearings Found In Oil Pan (Replace Rocker Arms) #02-06-01-029 - (Aug 28, 2002)
Needle Bearings Found in Oil Pan (Replace Rocker Arms)
1998-2002 Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette

1998-2002 Pontiac Firebird

2002 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade EXT

1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado

2000-2002 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

1999-2002 GMC Sierra

2000-2002 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL

2003 HUMMER H2

with 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L or 6.0L V8 Engine (VINs V, T, G, S, U -- RPOs LR4, LM7, LS1, LS6, LQ4, LQ9)

Condition
Some customers may comment or technicians may notice needle bearings being found during an engine oil change. The bearings may be found in either the drain pan used or on the magnetic oil pan drain plug.

Cause
One or more rocker arms may have experienced a bearing failure.

Correction
Inspect all of the rocker arms for bearing retainer cap failure. If one or more defective rocker arms are found, replace all 16 rocker arms. Refer to the Engine Mechanical sub-section in the appropriate Service Manual.
If no condition with the rocker arms is found, refer to the service history for previous rocker arm repair. If previous rocker arm repair was made, then the engine may not have been thoroughly cleaned of loose roller bearings. If no previous rocker arm repair was made, then look for another condition.
Remove the oil pan and clean out any additional bearings found within the oil pan. Refer to the Engine Mechanical sub-section in the appropriate Service Manual.
Install the oil pan. Refer to the Engine Mechanical sub-section in the appropriate Service Manual.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty

10214664
Rocker Arm
16

12560696
Gasket - Rocker Arm Cover
2

12558760
Gasket - Oil Pan
1


Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

J0357
Rocker Arm - Replace - Both Banks
Use published labor operation time

J1000
Pan and/or Gasket - Replace




GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

 

Teardown seems extreme... at least a new engine is fun....
How do I know the damage has not already been done? It came apart and the pieces went somewhere? I did not shut the car down and tow it home. I drove it about 10 miles and started it a couple times to get some feedback on the noise. Lets say I get them all out but a couple by using the suggestions of the Forum Members. Were are they likely to end up and what is the potential damage? Won't my magnetic drain plug and oil filter, catch them??

 

I believe there are 33 per side. Do the magnet thing. Remember there is a windage tray above the oil pan, and a screen on the oil pickup. A lot of guys on another forum have had this problem and have used the magnet trick to get them. Your oil filter shouldn't get them, because if it does, it means they went through the oil pump...bad. There is a screen on the oil pickup so they can't get in from there, and yes your magnetic drain plug should get a bunch.

 

There is no need to tear the engine down. The needle bearings are too big to get past the oil pick up screen. The best thing to do is put the car on a lift, drain the oil and remove the lower oil pan cover. You will find your needle bearings there. Clean the lower cover and replace it and add new oil and filter and you are good to go.
Shirl Dickey