Inline 6 - Found this Under the Valve Cover - What Is It?

[katwalk]

In my continued efforts to figure out why the 170 inline 6 runs so poorly, I pulled the valve cover to have a look around and found this spring and this other thing - any idea what this is?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Could be a broken PCV valve.

 

[katwalk]

Could be a broken PCV valve.

That was my assumption for the spring, but not sure what to make of the other piece.

 

[Viperwolf1]

That looks like it could be the plunger.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Another vote for a failed PCV valve.

 

[katwalk]

Thanks guys.