Done racing for a while, maybe a long while :(

[KYGTP]

Well, I ent up to tristate tonight to make a couple of runs and logs to check out a couple of things, and the car seemed to be doing pretty good for the most part.

On my last pass, I get to the end of the track and go to turn up the return Rd, and the car is missing Badly, I mean, VERY bad. I as able to get it back to the truck and loaded up, but I know it was not good.

Well, once I got it home and it had cooled down, I started pulling plugs to see what was up. The very first one I pull out, is the number 1, since it is in the front and easy to get to, pull it out, and the plug is SMASHED. All that I had to say, was, well, I'm done for a while. I would have to say that a peice of the piston broke off where the ring sits, ringland area and the peice flew up and smacked the spark plug, mashing it. Who knows what the head looks like cause I am sure it bounced around in there for a bit.

I am going to try and borrow a scope on monday maybe and take a look inside before I start to tear it all down. I just need to get it off the trailer and the street tires on it to make it easier to push around.

This motor does not even have that many runs on it, so I think I am gong to call my engine builder and see what he has to say about and get him input.

It is all part of racing, thing are going to break sooner or later.:(

[2007ShelbyCobra]

sucks :(

[Mista Bone]

It does suck, but IMHO you hurt it while racing it. I melted #3 piston and limped home year ago. I know there was no bugs on US 27 between Ross and Kemper road for a while.

Slapped in used OEM pistons and it was fine.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/bonespec/Honda/D16Z6/almost%20dead/P8200023.jpg

[draggin50]

Damn what a shame! I guess shit like that happens but its never at a good time. Like the end of the season... Hope you get it back together soon.

[KYGTP]

It does suck, but IMHO you hurt it while racing it. I melted #3 piston and limped home year ago. I know there was no bugs on US 27 between Ross and Kemper road for a while.

Slapped in used OEM pistons and it was fine.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/bonespec/Honda/D16Z6/almost%20dead/P8200023.jpg


Holy cow, you made it home with a piston like that, wow. I know that if I put a plug in it, it will run, a friend of mine did the same thing not too long and made it home just fine. His had a half moon out of the piston.

[Mista Bone]

that pic was after the rings were removed for the picture.

Before I had 175-180 psi across the board. After that I dropped in used Honda pistons from a MIA SBZ member after removing the lip of molten alum at the top of the cylinder. Didn't clock the rings, infact my 13 yo son dropped them in as I was catching from the bottom. I didn't replace the HG as no way this should work.

Motor fired right up like nothing every happen. drove it 50 miles and changed the oil. Did a compression test, #3 was at 160, the other three were 175-180. Screw it, lets go to Edgewater!!!!!! My best NA in the Honda was 14.85, after the melted piston I ran a 14.86.

WTF??? Screw it, change the HG and lets go back to nitrous. Cracker, fill me up!

"Thought you blew your shit up?"

My best was a 13.09, the run it melted the piston (funny how that works!) and I ran a 13.10 after changing the headgasket on same ZEX tuneup.

People that knew the car as well as I were at a loss for words. I never even took the motor out....HAHA.......

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/bonespec/Honda/D16Z6/almost%20dead/P8020005.jpg

Who needs crosshatching?????

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/bonespec/Honda/D16Z6/almost%20dead/usedY8_1.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/bonespec/Honda/D16Z6/almost%20dead/usedY8_3.jpg

I is a redneck. Pull that front head off and see how bad it is.

Just a 30+ year old Buick design mounted crooked.

[cobrajoe]

Man, hate to hear that! here's wishing a quick return!

[Mr.Moontang]

That really blows... I'm hiding the keys to the STI and the Mustang now!!!

[BigBadStang]

Sorry to hear of your woes man.
I don't know your builder, but I'm guessing he will blame it on the tune.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[kennebellcobra]

That sucks Sean...hopefully no cylinder wall damage!

[Squale iii]

This is why we have credit cards. You'll be back running in no time!

[Timido]

Do a compression test and leak down test before you tear it down to pinpoint the cylinder that is a problem. You might have dropped a seat you might have ate the ring land. If you do a leak down you will know what to look for.

[MrsAPE]

That really blows... I'm hiding the keys to the STI and the Mustang now!!!

Toooo late for that!! :lol:

[KYGTP]

Sorry to hear of your woes man.
I don't know your builder, but I'm guessing he will blame it on the tune.
Good luck and keep us posted.

I hope that he will not, considering that I have a full scan of the run and the AFR was fine, a little on the rich side as a matter of fact, and 0 KR on the whole run, so it was not like I went supper lean and popped it, so I hope that he will work with me on it.


That sucks Sean...hopefully no cylinder wall damage!

Yeah, me too. But I may end up taking another route for my 3 build with this car;)


Do a compression test and leak down test before you tear it down to pinpoint the cylinder that is a problem. You might have dropped a seat you might have ate the ring land. If you do a leak down you will know what to look for.

I am going to try and post up some pics the plug here in a minute, once I get them off my phone. There are some pretty good nicks at the end of the plug. I am going to get a scope and take a look at everything tomorrow or tuesday, but I know what happened though, there is a small half moon of piston missing, but I will find out in a day or so.


Toooo late for that!! :lol:

Yeap it sure is, but someone else gave me keys:tongue2: And what a FUN ride that little STI is, BIG fun, as my son would say..........

[Mr.Moontang]

I am glad we could help you enjoy your day Sean!!!

[KYGTP]

Sorry about the crappy pics, they are from my phone, but here you go.....

Well this is the top of number 1 plug, as you can see the silver spots are nicks in the plug, not dirt or antiseize, it is nicks in the plug that you can feel with you finger nail : (

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/seanspic/IMG00176-20100515-1859.jpg


And the best, the side veiw. it got hit by something, that is for sure.


http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/seanspic/IMG00175-20100515-1858.jpg

But the strange thing is that number 6 is bent too:

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/seanspic/IMG00177-20100515-1901.jpg

So, I have some work to do, I will keep you guys posted on what I decide, if anyone really cares, I mean it is just a little oh V6:rolleyes:

[Squale iii]

LS1 swap?

[KYGTP]

I am glad we could help you enjoy your day Sean!!!

Yeah, that made my day for sure, it was great, thanks a bunch:bigthumb


LS1 swap?

Now that would be killer, too bad it would take HUGE amounts of work to do though.

[aperacer]

Now that would be killer, too bad it would take HUGE amounts of work to do though.

no they make them that way... with a bigger transmission too...:D

[aperacer]

oh and i have your tire pressure gauge

[Mista Bone]

Have you done anything with the bottom end?????

Looks like piston kissing the plugs, rod stretch?

[KYGTP]

oh and i have your tire pressure gauge

I will get it from you sometime, not that I will need it for a while, you will have to stop over and drop it off some night.


Have you done anything with the bottom end?????

Looks like piston kissing the plugs, rod stretch?

I have had the crank polished and the whole thing balanced. ARP studs on everything on the bottom end and on the heads. The rods are stock rods, but the 3.8s don't usually have issues with rods stretching, at least of what I have read over the years.

Once I get it scoped, I will report back. then in the next couple of weeks, try and get the motor out and go though it.

[beefcake]

hopefully you'll be back on the road soon!

[KYGTP]

Well, a friend of mine came over tonight with a bore scope and it showed what I had thought, a nice peice of the piston missing :eek:

Here are some pics, but they are pretty crappy since they were taken with a cell phone off of the screen of the scope............

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/seanspic/piston2.jpg



http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh134/seanspic/piston-1.jpg


In the second pic, you can see the dish of the piston, to kinda give you an idea at to what you are looking at. The good news is that the walls don't look like that they got scared up too much, so I guess it did not spend too much time in there. I guess in a week or two I will pull the motor out and see it all first hand.

[Mr.Moontang]

Wow, I went from a "basement dweller" to a friend...LOL