Happend on the dyno last night.
Made three half pulls from 4400-6100 RPM. The first two didn't go so well, as there were timing and jet issues. Not out of the ordinary by any means. Third pull I made 630 HP at 6100 RPM. VE's were all above 105%, with a max of 109%. Very nice numbers for any pull. We start the motor up again and no oil pressure...........
We figure something happended to the oil pump. We take the motor off the stand and bring it back to the shop. I spent the day today performing what turned out to be an autopsy.
What happend?
A piece of the timing cover broke off, fell into the timing chain (as near as I can figure it) and then proceded to get sucked ou into the pump and through the bearings, wiping out the #5 rod bearing and scuffing two pistons and cylinders. There were some minor damage to the other bearings, but the crank looks fine on all except #5.
A piece of the timing cover?
If you flip over a timing cover, so that you are looking at it the way a timing chain would, you will see two small indentations that are threaded hols for the bottom two water pump bolts. One of these indentations broke off, so you could see the bolt threaded in the hole. Freak occurence, no one to blame, it just happened. No way to catch something like that. Who would look before now!
Next move?
I'm done for this year. I don't even want to look at my car right now. Worst part is I have to drop it off at the paint booth tomorrow. Anyway, I'm not real sure what I'm going to do. The crank can be reused (but need .030" on the rods) and so can the rods (they are fine, with brand new ARP bolts), the cam and heads are also fine. The block will probably need to be sleeved to be useable, as it is already .060". The heads are perfect as well.
Most of thses parts will be for sale shortly I think. I can deliver them to Norwalk, as I think I will vacation there this year. I'm going to have them checked out and the crank turned, then I will post in the for sale section. The heads will probably go straight to E-bay, as will anything that doesn't sell by Norwalk.
I hope that some of you get luckier than I was this year. Its sucked from beginning to end.
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