oh god Kevin I hope I am wrong with my answer.


it is a spiral lock that holds your wrist pin in on your piston.

 

ooohhhh....I didn't think about that one !! That'd suck big time !!!

 

I agree, One of your dual springs is broken. Its way to big to be the spring on the inside of the oil pump.

 

I'll check this evening, but I don't think the stockers have any locks, just pressed into the piston. I know the one piston I looked over real good didn't, butit was damaged, so I'll check another when I get home.

 

That is what I first thought when I saw it. Factory doesn't use the spiral locks I don't think. The one's i've seen is the round wire spring clips, you know in the shape of a C. Or do you have aftermarket pistons and spiral locks? The pic is fuzzy so it is hard to tell if it is a round wire clip or if it was worn to be tapered?

 

Im Guessin Spiral Lock.......at Least Thats What It Looks Like. If So, Thats Gonna Suck!

 

It's not a lock .... My stock 5.3 has no locks. I just verified.

 

I'm gonna have to stick with the bearing race then......

 

could it be the part of the retainer on top of a valve spring? maybe kind of sheered off. maybe not after i stared at your pieces more

 

oh yeah. The LQ9's are the only truck engines with floating wrist pins. in that case, probably the needle bearing retainer on the rocker as already mentioned. I can't think of anything else it could be.