If there is an electronics shop near you, they most likely sell a wide assortment of tweezers. I have a pair that are small and long enough to get down there.

Some of the old heads probably have some ideas. Can't wait to hear them. I suspect that the material is not harmful, but the reduced oil passage size could be.

Whenever I do the top end inspection (ever 30k) I replace those phenalic pieces on the tube ends and ones in between. The original ones were very brittle and did break. The later ones didn't.

Good luck.

__________________
S, J.R. Brown
2000 G500 LWB Obsedian Black
2005 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab Off Road Sport
1993 Volvo 240 Sedan Anthracite
1980 450SEL Champange (owned it for 15 years. Great car)
1986 280GE LWB Anthracite (Sold it and kinda wish I hadn't)