Personally I'll pull the whole motor apart, clean and compare specs to the wear limits. I have no idea how you're strip out cast iron threads like that (Edit: I get it now, you stripped the bolt heads, not the threads). You already have it most of the way out anyway.

When I have to drill into something on the oily side, I coat the bit in grease to catch metal (and I periodically clean the metal off while drilling) and have a shop vac sucking around where I'm drilling.

Friend of mine did something like what you just did and ended up Fing up his motor.

 

You should take everything apart. It's not what you want to do but finding the source of wear and cleaning everything out will get you back to 100%

Plan on replacing rings and bearings in the block.

 

You should take everything apart. It's not what you want to do but finding the source of wear and cleaning everything out will get you back to 100%

The metal came from him drilling the heads off the head bolts. I was confused initially too. I don't think he's driven it since he spread metal shavings all over the engine.

I agree with the take it apart part, I just don't think he's done any damage yet.

 

^Gotcha. That's makes more sense. I couldn't wrap my head around the shavings.

Next time put some grease on the bit to catch those flakes when drilling on a sensitive component. I like to build a "rag house" too.

Shop vac as much as you can and wipe out as much as you can. Don't start it until you're totally comfortable.

 

Yea i got most of the shavings while i was drilling. i pulled the oil pan off and turned the motor upside down on the stand to clean all the gasket maker crap off and a saw a few pieces in there. Ive picked every piece out with tweezers thats visible but didnt know if there was something easier than pulling the crank and all just to be sure there is nothing else in there, but it sounds like i better start tearing it apart.

 

All the big crank breather holes provide a direct pathway from the head down to the crank. They for sure should have been plugged up like blkdout says. At the very least, the oil pan needs to come off for a more thorough cleaning.

 

Oil pan is off, its just the block with crank, rods, and pistons left and its on an engine stand. Could i just turn the block sideways on the stand and spray out around the crank and rods with brake cleaner and an air hose?

 

It's really something that you probably have the best feel for. If you saw/think the shavings went absolutely everywhere, including oil passage that could lead to a bearing, then take more things apart and have it cleaned in a parts washer at a machine shop

But... I've had shavings or crud from few different issues on other motors that really was just on the walls or through a breather... Took pan off, vacuumed, sprayed in cleaner, air/ etc.. reassembled and ran those motors fine without a complete removal of everything.

 

Having it on a stand is wonderful. You should be able to pull it off.

I was going to suggest flushing with oil and a magnet but if the majority of flakes are aluminum, a magnet won't do any good. Pay particular attention to the bearings and thrust.

I like using oil because flakes are more visible in it (under the right light) and it's viscous enough to hold them in the fluid.

If you go that route, while inspecting the oil to check your progress, please try an incandescent light. I know LED flashlights are really popular these days but I've found they're terrible for inspecting this kind of thing. They reflect too much light and even the hue can be misleading for finding contaminants.

Just some random thoughts....