I picked up a new to me flattie for my 48
when I went to change the intake and carb I had a look in the valley there was a bunch of tiny ***** in there they look like lead shot from a shot gun they are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch in size they are all the same size.
I tried to pick them up with a magnet but the are not steel maybe lead they will flatten out with a hammer.
any ideas what they might be?

 

babbitt from the bearings???

What year flathead? Pre-37 used only babbitt, after mid-36 insert bearings still have smaller amounts of babbitt. It is soft and is usually a lead alloy.

 

I think it is a 49 engine code is C8BA looks too big to be bearing material the are the size of small ball barings they are perfictly round