broken phosphor bronze bits in oil pan

I'm undergoing a rebuild of my ex-army BATUS late 12J NA Mk 2/3 engine. The engine had been 'reconditioned' by the army years before surplus, and was found to have a failed piston, worn rocker, worn oil pump, and bad cylinder head during this rebuild. I'm the second owner post-army, the last owner was quite useless. The main, thrust and rod bearings are all to be replaced on this repair.

The engine was running before rebuild, and sounded normal.

I've found these small phosphor bronze bits in the oil pan, i'm trying to work out what they could be. Photo is attached, they each have one flat surface, one concave rounded ridge, and one ' cleanly ' broken side

I'd like to have all the bits needed for the rebuild.


Any ideas?

Could they be from a broken tappet slide?

Sorry, that's all I can think of at the moment which would be PB. Although I have never come across one of these breaking and dropping into the sump, that doesn't meant that it can't happen!

Hope this might be of some help.

I would go for tappet slider as well. I had a valve stick momentarily once and it knocked part of the slider seat off. Good luck with the rebuild.