Yes it started making a racket, which sounded like a rod bearing.

Lifter spider is okay as are the lifters. As far as the size of the pieces in the first picture, they are sitting on a blue shop towel which is about 12" x 12".

I don't see what it could be other than a bearing since everything else seems to be surprisingly okay (I'm sure the finish isn't of course). Just not what I thought it would look like.

And there's a new short block in the future. Question is, do I trust the lifters and rocker arms. I'm going to clean them and see if the bearings still operate smoothly, but will I ever trust them again? Should I replace the valve seals too?

If I didn't have money in the heads already I might just consider an LS1 swap.

 

yup, I'd say you spun a bearing.............

 

Were you the first person to own this engine? Did it have any machine work done to it previously before you built the motor? I was gonna guess a cylinder liner. If it slipped, (or was dragged out by a piston), the crank and rods would've beat it to the mess of smithereens like what you have before you.

 

It's been mine since day one.

I just need to get the bearings out and I'll know, but it's so much fun guessing.

It may be a little challenging though since I can't spin the crank at the moment.

 

It's definatly bearings. I've seen that before on my own Z. It sucks. Good luck with the rebuild.

 

could be crank scraper pieces? maybe not sure pics not real up-close