GTS SS

Well..........
Disaster struck me on my second run tonight.
At the 330' mark one of my connecting rods let go and my motor went KABOOM! It was sudden and violent! It scared the crap out of me! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
The damage is severe to say the least, it punched a hole in my block and one of the rods is sticking out of it, and the oil pan has a couple of holes in it too. FYI, I was running Lunati Pro Mod Rods 6.125".
So in the imortal words of Mikey, "it's all over" for this motor.
Here's how it went down...
I launched at 6200 rpm cut a killer 1.49 60', shifted into second, then at the top of second gear right before I was going for 3rd, KABOOM and the motor ceased to exist at that point.
At first I thought the clutch exploded, then after I realized I still had my legs I looked in the rear view mirror and saw nothing but a big cloud of white smoke so I got over to the wall as close as I could and just coasted on down the track, I tried to look for the first turn off but I was going to fast to make that one so I kept on coasting, the only thing going thru my mind at that point was don't hit the wall and get off the track. So I coasted all the way down to the end and made the turn off and came to a stop. In hind site I know I should of just stopped as soon as I could of to keep from oiling down the entire track but everything was happening to fast.
I got scolded for oiling down the track by one of the track workers, but he was nice about it at least, and later I apoligized to the track owner for not stopping as soon as I could of, but he was cool about it to me.

Here's the time slip:

R/T .521
60' 1.499
330' 4.450 (motor dead at this point)
1/8 6.975
mph 95.82
1000' 9.469
1/4 11.973
mph 84.69

Unfortunately this run had the makings to be a definite new best for me, but alas...it wasn't meant to be. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> DA was 345'
I guess it really is true what they say, the motor was running it's best just before it blew up.

So for now it looks like I'm out of the Thunder event and will be spectating instead of racing.
So Coach, you can breath easy now, you don't have to worry about me anymore. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

My first run was a 10.85 @ 126 mph on a 1.544 60' I was one of the first cars to run and there wasn't much traction at that time. DA on this run was 1001'

Well, it's back to the drawing board.
But I will be back, count on it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Oh, and as of 12:00 am Oct 17th it's my 42nd birthday, but this ain't what I wanted for a birthday present. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> But I'm ok about the whole thing, it's just all part of hot rodding.

Gordon

<small>[ October 17, 2002, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: GTS SS ]</small>

CAT3

iTrader: (9)

If ain't bad enough being Lone Star blood living in LA you get a 400+HP pre-birthday Kaboom. Sorry man, that really suck. Nice times for coasting though. Again, sorry and good luck. <img border="0" alt="[kaboom]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" />

mikey

iTrader: (6)

Sorry to hear that Gordon. Remember, that is part of racing. If I had to guess, I would say you lifted a main cap, spun a main bearing, cut off the oil to the adjacent connecting rod and whammmo, end of story. Been there...

Good luck bro...

Mikey

Toxic Texan

Damn on the bright side you are still faster than me and you blew up the engine during that run. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Moose

iTrader: (5)

That sucks... The 1/8 mile with a blown motor is faster then me... GEEEEZZZZ

StevieZ

iTrader: (3)

Sorry to hear about it. This irks me because I was thinking about buying those rods for my buildup and now I hear this.

AINT SKEERED

iTrader: (2)

Hey Gordo, I guess those light weight Shoes you bought at Clausens were helping up untill the point of the engine failure <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> Sorry to hear about the engine <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> . I heard it was a bad night at No problem last night with a man haveing a heart attack going down the track to be pronounced dead at the hospital, a dragster hitting the wall and rolling over and you blowing the engine. I think you were the lucky one.I am sure the next one will be even stronger <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Chad

unit213

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Moose:
<strong>That sucks... The 1/8 mile with a blown motor is faster then me... GEEEEZZZZ</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was thinking the exact same thing. You would've beat my ET by a full sec with a blown motor. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> Sorry to hear about that Gordon. It sounds like you were going to have a monster run too. Like you said though...that's drag racing.

RAGEman

iTrader: (4)

This is terrible news. Just terrible. Gordon, I'm really sorry, man. When is the funeral?

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[whiner]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[whiner]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[whiner]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" />

<small>[ October 17, 2002, 07:24 AM: Message edited by: RAGEman ]</small>

GeorgeC

Sorry to hear about your car, Gordon. That's almost eactly what happened to my car back in January, with the exception that my car caught on fire from all the oil on the headers...

Hope you get it back together soon!

VINCE

iTrader: (1)

That bites.. Sorry to hear about it. I will come up early for the Thunder Shootout and you can throw your rear in my car and still lay the smack down..

Mike Hoffpauir

Arg that sucks Gordon! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

Glad to hear that you and the car (chassis)are ok though.
Sorry I couldnt make it last night because school is simply beating my ***!

jomo.eng

Sorry about the motor Gordon. Must say that was a killer launch though. Good luck on the new motor. Oh and ya'll forgot about the corvette hitting the wall after Gordon ran. Not a good night at NPR.

Later,
JoMo

Coach 02 A3 Z/28

iTrader: (10)

Gordon,
Iam very sorry to hear this. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

I was looking forward to racing you at the Thunder Shootout. Iam very glad that you are OK! <img border="0" alt="[angel]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" />

What a bad Birthday present but look on the bright side you can go bigger now. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />

Please keep us informed on your plans for a new motor. Good Luck to ya and see ya at the Thunder Shootout. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

Nine Ball

iTrader: (38)

Hey Gordon, if my car isn't ready we can both just drink (alot) and spectate at TRS. Or, you could just slap a stock internal engine in there and go whip *** in that manual class. Just an idea!

-Tony

VipZ28

iTrader: (4)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GTS SS:
<strong>
The damage is severe to say the least, it punched a hole in my block and one of the rods is sticking out of it, and the oil pan has a couple of holes in it too. FYI, I was running Lunati Pro Mod Rods 6.125".
So in the imortal words of Mikey, "it's all over" for this motor.
So for now it looks like I'm out of the Thunder event and will be spectating instead of racing.
So Coach, you can breath easy now, you don't have to worry about me anymore. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Gordon</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Come on dude... "It's just a litte broken, it's still good it's still good!" You can REBUILD!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Grab a stock shortblock, throw in some AARP rod bolts, maybe some new bearings, an oil pump, and (assuming there's no damage to your heads) We'll see you in LA... Sorry to hear of your loss <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Good luck! <img border="0" alt="[hail]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" />

Fenris Ulf

Dont worry Gordo, a few bandaids and she will be as good as new! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> Err, at least Allan will build you a kickass motor to replace it. What rpms were you shifting at again? I think that might have had a lot to do with the failure, but then again the rods were new right and hadn't been through too many fatigue cycles?

mykdiver

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[whiner]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" />

Sorry about the motor! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

Off topic, but what do you manual car guys that are running 11s or 10s, do for the SFI approved tranny sheild?

GTS SS

Well thanks for the condolences everyone, it is much appreciated.
I'm just gunna have to think about what I want to do for a new motor, weather it be another 346 solid roller or go big cubes , or even do a tranny swap and do that trans brake TH-400 route or whatever, But rest assured whatever I decide on it's gunna be one bad MO FO, I guarantee you that! <img border="0" alt="[devil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />

BTW,
The Lunati Pro Mod rods I had in the motor were not new by any means, I have had them in the motor since September of 2000, so they had many many miles and runs at the track on them. It was my call to just keep them in the motor for both my solid roller setups and even when I still had the 226 hyd cam setup that I ran at the NFRA event in Bowling Green last year . So the rods had gone thru alot of fatigue cycles. So once again I found the weakest link on my car. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
I was spinning the motor to 7500-7600 rpm Fenris Ulf.

Oh, and whenever we start to pull the motor and tear everything apart I will take pictures of the carnage and post them up to share with everyone.

Gordon

<small>[ October 17, 2002, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: GTS SS ]</small>

Skelton

Sorry to hear about the unwanted christmas present <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Now you can step her up and go faster. I would always recommend pro billet rods at 7500rpm. Good luck.