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So that's what it feels like when an engine "blows up"

T

trmiv

Lifer
I drive race cars, and last night I found out for the first time what happens when an engine has a catastrophic failure. I was going down into the first turn (oval track), on the outside of someone, when I hear this loud "bam!" and the sound of metal grinding, and then feel the real tires lock up. I slid to a stop, and knew something bad had happened. They pushed me back to the pit area, I got out of the car to see a trail of liquid behind me. I look under the car to see milky water coming out of the exhaust and thought "hmm, that can't be good." Then I looked at the oil pan, and saw I nice quarter sized hole in the side of it.

So today we took the engine (this is a 355ci small block chevy BTW. about 630 horsepower) apart to see what exactly happened. Turned out one of the pistons literally exploded. I mean, in one cylinder, there was NO PISTON. It had completely been destroyed. Plus, the rod for that cylinder was bent in two, and the cylinder itself was destroyed. Massive marks and chunks taken out of the cylinder wall, water passages completely open (hence the water out of th exhaust). The entire engine was filled with metal, every cylinder, in the timing cover, the intake manifold, exhaust, the crank filled with metal chunks, the heads (aluminum) pitted with metal, valves bent with front metal impacts. This sucker exploded! It even broke the transmission and one motor mount because the engine locked up so hard.

Oh well, just thought I'd share. When a high performance engine breaks, they break hard!
 
Yea it sucks. We have 406 ci engine we were planning on putting together to go in the car, I guess this speeds along that process. 😀
 
Thankfully I ahve never had a motor blow like that. I spun a bearing in a 2.8L just like everyone else who had a 2.8. You pressed the gas, but the power was not there. Stopped running after 1/2 mile. It would still run for 45 second intervals.

Sorry for your $ loss 🙁
 
I'm not sure how much that engine that blew cost, because it was in the race car when we bought it. But our 406 cost us $5000, but the guy made us a huge deal, because he needed the money. I'd say our 406 probably cost $12,000-15,000 when it was first put together. This 355 wasn't quite as nice, so maybe $6,000-8,000 for the one that blew up.
 
Never had anything like that happen. However, I was in the car when my friends timing belt broke in his interfaced Audi A4. Lots of cool noises and engine no workee.
 
What class/track do you race at? Is it dirt or asphalt? It take a lot from your pocketbook? I've been considering building a racecar, but I need that little push over 🙂 If you want to send me a PM, thats cool too.
 
well, ya see.. Engines work on smoke. Let the smoke out, they no worky any more.
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
I'm not sure how much that engine that blew cost, because it was in the race car when we bought it. But our 406 cost us $5000, but the guy made us a huge deal, because he needed the money. I'd say our 406 probably cost $12,000-15,000 when it was first put together. This 355 wasn't quite as nice, so maybe $6,000-8,000 for the one that blew up.
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🙁
 
My 95 Old's 88 had it's engine go like that. Driving along at 75 on the NYS Thruway, and then suddenly the engine started rattling. 10 seconds later, the rattling stopped, along with the car. Not a lot of smoke, but a little was pouring out from the hood. Mechanics took a look at it, and told me one of the pistons had shattered. Only 70k miles too.
 
I was working a race at Road Atlanta last year at turn 1, drivers left when a SCCA World Challenge GT Camaro spun 3/4 down the front stretch, managed to avoid hitting concrete by about 6 inches. I get the driver out, we talk about what happenned... turned out his motor totally locked up just prior to the breaking zone. He wasn't too happy considering it was the 3rd lap and the motor cost 12,000. He was happy 'cause he had very little steering/brakes and was lucky enough not to hit the wall.... as he put it "it sucks the motor is gone but hey, she's still purty." 12K for a 3 lap motor.... I wouldn't want to be the engine builder on that one.
 
Yea, luckly I didn't hit anything either. The rear wheels were locked up, so it skidded to a stop about 5 feet from the concrete wall. Only damage was from another driver hitting me from behind since the car slowed so suddenly when the motor went. All that did was bend the rear bumper a bit, no biggy.
 
i saw an engine blow on the highway not too long ago... dude was just going along and then suddenly a huge plume of white smoke... was pretty sweet
 
Originally posted by: trmiv
Yea, luckly I didn't hit anything either. The rear wheels were locked up, so it skidded to a stop about 5 feet from the concrete wall. Only damage was from another driver hitting me from behind since the car slowed so suddenly when the motor went. All that did was bend the rear bumper a bit, no biggy.
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"Yeah, well the sonofabitch just slammed into me!"

"No, no, he didn't slam into you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you...he RUBBED you. And rubbin, son, is racin'."

Sorry, I just watched Days of Thunder the other day. 😛
 
From what I was told, there wasn't a ton of smoke when mine went. I'm guessing it was because the piston took out the water passages, and filled the oil pan with water, so the oil didn't burn. There was a little smoke, but not like there usually is. Needless to say, the engine block is TOAST.
 
Oooooo......that's gotta HURT!!! Had a bid end bearing go on my landcruiser once, chewed it self to bits, still not as bad as that!:beer:😀
 
I've had 3 engines blow on me.

2 in my old Trans Am (400 cid)
1st, it just cut off. The crankshaft had broken, and the main bearing webbing was cracked. I was just putting along at 35mph.
2nd: Blew while turning about 5k rpms at the dragstrip. Heard a "BAM" and the car shuddered....flipped it in neutral and it rolled smoothly....engine was locked up. Rod broke.

My race truck: The old 454 gave out while doing a burnout. I released the line lock, came out of the water, and when I let off the gas, the engine had cut off. Then saw a bunch of steam. #5 piston had poked through the side of the block. 🙁

Sorry to hear about your engine.
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
i saw an engine blow on the highway not too long ago... dude was just going along and then suddenly a huge plume of white smoke... was pretty sweet
Click to expand...
Not if you were him. 😉

 
I had a 600hp Big Block Chevy blow up on me....I was doing about 140 in a drag race....really unpleasant. I was ripping along and then there was a blast of smoke and oil literally sprayed the windshield. I could barely see to slow that baby down. It is never as good sign when you take out the oil plug, and antifreeze comes running out. Threw a rod, blew out two cylinder walls, metal scraps were everywhere. Needless to say, that motor was done.....it was a good excuse to get that 502CI I wanted though. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
i saw an engine blow on the highway not too long ago... dude was just going along and then suddenly a huge plume of white smoke... was pretty sweet
Click to expand...

That happend to me when I blew a rod in my beloved Javelin.

Biggest piece of the piston I could find was about 1/4 inch tall and held togather by the rings. I found chunks of piston under the Carb, when I tore it down. I could stick my fist through the cylinder wall. 🙁
 
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