I opened my oil pump and sure enough found the pickup screen broken and a ball bearing in the gear teeth. Is there anything other than the old style vacuum pump that would dump bearings into the oil pan? I'm bummed -I've read that there are as many as 12 bearings in that old style pump, and I have only found 1 of them so far as well as 1 inner race. Hopefully, having changed the oil I don't know how many times since I've had it, most of them dropped out with the old oil. I sure should have opened the oil pan extension and felt around in there after I bought the car.

I'm wondering how far I need to trace in the system for these bearings -does anyone here know of a schematic of the lubrication system for this engine posted anywhere?

What is between the oil pump and the filter?

Thanks Barry -I know starting fresh with a lower mileage engine is tempting, but as I don't have the time or space to transfer engines, etc., I am more likely to start fresh with a different car if it comes to that.