I know that upon the several emails and posts I get asking me about my car, that its safe to say that there is a ton of interest on what happened. For those of you just checking in, here is a recap:

On December 1st, I was racing at HRP and the engine let go. Original Link Here. I was sort of bummed and burned out on the car for the month of December and just took a break from it for the holiday season.

Well, the holiday season is over <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

I took last Friday off and went to MTI and started disassembly my engine, to get it ready to remove. Basically, I just removed all of the front accessories, the exhaust system, and the radiator and condenser, as well as the intake and driveshaft, etc... The only thing left is the longblock attached to the tranny.

Once I removed the starter, we could see into the hole in the side of the block much easier. Looking inside, none of the rods or pistons is seperated. We can still turn the crank by hand no problem. One of the rods is pretty bent however, most likely the cause of the hole in the side of the engine (impact). Until we remove the engine, I don't have a concrete cause for this rod to bend. This could happen from a few different things, such as dropping a valve into the combustion chamber, or perhaps fracturing the block and a chunk falling in, or maybe even a cracked sleeve that instantaneously filled the cylinder with coolant and hydro'd it. All I know is that it still continued to run after the damage, enough to pull it onto the trailer. The engine itself let go early in the run, so no damage from rpm (rev limiter is 7K) is really possible.

I'll continue updating this thread as I find more info on the engine autopsy. The MTI CSI is on the case. You see, warranties on racing engines are a good thing, and I'm glad MTI has this.

"Holy" 434ci owner <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

-Tony

 

Good to hear progress is being made Tony! Can't wait to see the pics of some Van Damage! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

I think that a bent billet rod will make a nice paperweight on my desk here at work. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

Best of luck Tony. What's the plan if the failure is sleave-related?

 

NINEBALL:

Thanks for the update on your Cannibal 434 engine. Best of luck on getting back on the road and track as soon as possible, with a bigger and badder set up.

Praise the Lord for MTI's Awesome 2 year/24K mile warrany on their naturally aspirated STROKER LS1s. MTI will no doubt take care of you on this 100% and you will be back ripping it up again in no time!

Godspeed to you Brother!


MTI 427 C5 Roadster

<small>[ February 03, 2003, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: MTI 427 C5 Roadster ]</small>

 

Best of luck Tony <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Is it going back together the same way? Same Heads/Cam/Block Config/Bore/Stroke?

 

best of luck tony! good thing you went to a shop that will warranty their products. i hope this doesnt cost you too much out of pocket.

 

Don't worry Tony I'm sure you will rebuild it bigger and badder than ever. <img border="0" alt="[evil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />

 

New setup should be interesting.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Congrats on the PZero times!!

Were those the Reds or the Yellows?
Tire Pressure?

<small>[ February 04, 2003, 11:19 PM: Message edited by: MelloYellow ]</small>