Well. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif) Motor is blown. It happened 3 weeks ago. Buttonwillow raceway on the first lap of the first competition session of the weekend. I was hoping to pull the engine out the last 3 weekends to find out exactly what went sour, but did not get around to it yet. So here is what I know so far:
The engine got a bit louder, sounded like the Y-pipe was falling off (so I thought at the time.) Than 15 seconds later, POPP, whole car filled with smoke. Engine stumbled for a second and than died. (Never turned over ever since.) I coasted thru the next 2 corners, (I was carrying speed and just hit a downhill,) staying way off line, and pulled off behind the flag stand on the infield. Once I got towed into the pits, I found out the damage. 2" hole on the side of the block. Apparently a rod, or part of the crank was trying to exit through there. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to see the damage since it is on the passenger side, right were the dip stick tube connects.
I will definitely need a short block. I am undecided on what direction to go. Back to stock, (run CMC2 in the future), rebuild current setup with the ridiculous cam I got (run TTB or PTB) or build a stroker (run AI). For CMC2, AI, I also got to swap transmissions. For PTB, AIX I can keep what I got. But AIX will need a serious engine and plenty of $$$, just to be in the same ballpark as Rocco. (one can always dream)
Anyway, due to lack of funds, I won't be running any time soon.
As for the Regional Championships, I losed 2nd place. Big Thank you to Artur who let me borrow his girlfriend's 3rd gen. I went for a "Sunday" drive for 3 laps to get last place points on Sunday. With that I locked in 3rd place for the season.
Also, thank you to John for the moral support his Coronas gave me Saturday. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

This post has been edited by roadracetransam: May 27 2008, 04:23 PM

Anytime Scott (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/drink.gif)

You can get motor/tran's and PCM off of ebay for $2500+, change out the rod bolts and oil pump and come race AI. You won't need much more motor, beside's your car is pretty lite already.

And going racing get's expensive fast before you hit the track (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

It's tough to do, but you may need to take a whole year off and build the car for AI like I did.

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

You live in Cali, how could you NOT convert and just race in THE DUECE^TM (CMC-2)? No cubic bucks there, just tight racing

Sorry to hear that Scott. I was hoping your luck would turn around after the nationals. That sucks.

Sorry to hear Scott! after all the troubles that you had at the Nationals with the fuel pump and now the engine. It sounds like you are having a rough year mechanically, but I'm Glad to hear you where able to get 3rd place in spite of it. Congrats!

Amen. Unless you like taking lots of time off, CMC or CMC 2 is full on fun, with out the bad aftertaste of expensive sheeit gone wrong on a regular basis! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

So sorry to hear that...... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

TRUST me when I say.....I feel your pain..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

why is your current trans not legal? what is it?

It's an AUTO! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

DOH! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/offtopic.gif) Morgan you going CMC-2 next year?
Sorry for the Hi-Jack

I like to make belive it is a Jerico, (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) or one of those Ferrari jobs.

I was planning on taking most of the year off, but I would like to run California Speedway.

This post has been edited by roadracetransam: Nov 1 2007, 04:19 AM

Yea I took a quick peek inside at nats and had to do a double take.


Sorry to hear about the motor. What kind of miles did it have on it? What kind of rpm did it see? I've got the factory L19 rod bolts in mine (all 2001+). If you end up putting another 98-00 stocker back in it definitely consider the GM L19's, ARP replacements, or Katechs.

It had 2000 miles on it. ARP bolts, stock rods, stock crank, Mahle? pistons. I still havent pulled her appart, so I still don't really know how it all happened.
Rev limiter was set at 7100. It hit 7000 a few times, I usually shifted at 6500. When she went, I just lifted off the throttle at around 6200. I did not miss any shifts that morning. (Yes, I can miss them with my tranny, it has a manual valve body, ect.)

I finally pulled the engine and dropped the pan. It looks like everything is gone from the heads down, the heads may be gone too since the timing chain was broken too. Here are some pictures:
(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_13_full.jpg)
(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_14_full.jpg)

(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_15_full.jpg)

(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_16_full.jpg)

I think I can weld that connecting rod back together. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

This post has been edited by roadracetransam: Nov 5 2007, 04:07 AM

more pict:

(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_17_full.jpg)
(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_18_full.jpg)
(IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_20_full.jpg) (IMG:http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2576000-2576999/2576890_21_full.jpg)

Yep I seen that once, no twice....... OK three times (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/dunno.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Ouch! That's some serious discoloration on those two rods....any idea what the root cause was? Looks like they got cooked pretty good before letting go...

Oooph. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

Something let go and all hell broke loose! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) I kill me. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)