CySevans

On these cars, they are studs with nuts, not bolts, connecting the manifolds to the exhaust.

Mike TexaSS

iTrader: (2)

Well actually its one of the bolts that holds the aftermarket cold air intake down.

CySevans

Okay, now wait a minute. I know for a fact that both of those bolts were there and in place because I showed them to Brad when he asked how to pull it off. Was it silver at one point?

Brad mentioned he had the air intake off at one point to clean the K&N filter, if I remember correctly.

CySevans

I just talked to Mike. Speed Demon is definitely out of the loop on this. The bolt was one of two that held the cover for the K&N filter down. Brad had asked me how the filter came out, and I remember moving back the foam and showing him the bolts holding the cover on.

Let this be warning to everyone who has a de-screened MAF. If the screen was there, it would not have gotten sucked into the intake.

For visual reference, there is a picture at the bottom of this page showing the intake:

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/Vinnie/myta3.html

CRZY747

I know it sucks that the motor blew up, and it comes down to a stinkin bolt. But first things first I find it hard to believe that a bolt like that could make it 3K miles before it rared its ugly little head.

I really hate seeing people pointing fingers either, VINCE is a stand up guy and the car was driven many miles since bought, so it really isn't any of vinces concern, he is nice enough to help try and find out what really happened, which is not his job, he took very good care of the car from what I have personally seen . I highly doubt we will know the hole truth as to what happened. I was told in the beginning that it was not over reved then it was, to many stories floating around.

Brad, just asking a question. Is it possible that you had the intake off and thought you put the bolt back on and then it somehow got sucked in the intake ??? , since that is were the bolt came from, and when approximately did you do this, if you did this at all ????

No offense to anyone, just asking questions

JET

CySevans

Woah, back down there, my friend. No one pointed the finger at me. I was just helping with the investigation.

CRZY747

Well it looked to me that people were saying to ask vince what happened. How are you suppose to know what happened it isnt your car.

I have a feeling the intake got taken off and someone forgot to tighten the bolt down, and this is what happened, I have no idea who, but I would think that it happened shortly after the intake was messed with, I just don't see a bolt like that bouncing around for long.

JET

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

That sucks. Gave me chills just looking at it..

CAM 00SS

I'll back Jet on this one.

Maybe not finger pointing but strong "inuendo" if you will.

I also agree with Jets take on the bolt, there's no way in hell that thing bounced around in there for a few thousand miles.

I'd go talk to the punks that changed the oil the day the motor exploded.

CySevans

You guys are taking this totally out of context. When Mike said "ask Vince" it was in response to Tracey's question about the work that Speed Demon had supposedly done, nothing more. Relax!

Tracey said:

And Mike responded:

No worries.

CySevans

There is one other possiblility, which could open up a whole new can of worms here. There is a nut/bolt combo under the filter that holds the intake housing to the radiator cross-member. If that nut was not tightened enough, it is entirely possible that engine vibration could have loosened it enough where the bolt was sucked in. Mike says the bolt was silver, but looking at it, it's hard to tell. I would have to see it in person to know exactly which bolt that is because it's smaller than the other two that hold the filter cover down. To tighten it, I always had to hold my hand on the nut, or else it would spin freely and not tighten.

If it is, indeed, one of the bolts that holds the housing down, then the only way to get one of those under the filter would be to remove and reinstall the filter with the bolt inadvertantly underneath. They are under the foam, and the foam had pressure on it from the hood. In 5 years and almost 40K miles, those bolts never came loose on their own.

I suspect it's the bolt that holds the housing to the cross-member. This could explain why it went several thousand miles before suddenly giving out. If that's the case, then this is an unfortunate series of events that no one could have predicted or prevented.

A preventative measure to keep this from happening in the future would be to use thread lock or a nylon locknut on that bolt (or re-install a stock MAF with screen). The nut that was on it was friction lock only.

djfuzzy

Whatever happened, it sure made some nasty damage. Not a little Krazy Glue won't fix though. Good luck with it all.

CRZY747

Yep I got it. I need to go back to reading class. O well

JET

Angus

iTrader: (2)

Well it is done and I just want him to get the car back. Things do happen. It just sucks when they do.

B-RAD2

ya i never have pulled the intake off cause i didn't know how. after u showed me i had to drive to san antonio like a day later

B-RAD2

ya vince i know this is not your fault and i'm not blaiming u at all.

mike lets just get it fixed

CRAGER

Sorry to hear about that man.

G-Force will do you right. What are you getting to replace the motor, stroker, all-bore, stock ls1?


Peace,
Craig.

_Zac

iTrader: (1)

Answer your phone craig!!!

purple96T/A

iTrader: (1)

thats gotta suck

95zpro

I would think that a bolt that size would have immediately done some damage upon startup!