In racing, there is an old saying, "The question is not if it will blow, it is when and how bad". Last Sunday Mavman and I made our usual trip to the strip, it was the last day of points racing for the first half of 06. He had been in first for awhile, but a series of mistakes, etc, had dropped him to fifth with just a few points seperating each of the top five. Because of my recent health problems and crappy reaction times, the Fairmont and myself, were never in the chase. Lady luck did not show her good side to either of us this day. After an amazing .506 RT and 8.89 ET @ 113mph (1000ft-95F temp) the Mont drops a cylinder and my day was over. Mavman had his share too, won two rounds and then in the burnout box, fuse blows and car is dead in the water. Return to pit's and install new one and she fires up. Bought back in and wins another round only to have the same thing happen after the finish line. Find a wire rubbing on a metal sleeve under the dash. Fixed it, good to go now. Going to the quarter finals with a shot at moving up in the standings. Then all hell breaks loose in the burnout pad again. Over 500 passes on this windsor on alky running 7.80's @ 126mph in the 1000ft.
As a follow up on my post, the spare 408 is almost ready to install except for a couple valves that are intransit. Got tagged by the pistons on #4 and 8 when the crank broke. Scat crank with Eagle H beam rods, broke right thru the oil hole, usual place for them to go. Have to salvage some parts and start building another spare engine though. Fairmont will have to wait for awhile on her diagnosis and repair. Too hot for this old timer anyway, was close to 130 degrees in cockpit with fire suit on when the temp got to 99 Sunday. Still a blast to drive it though. JMO
sorry to hear that. like you say it's not if but when? i'm on the third season with my motor and haven't done anything to it. plan on taking it out after the et finals in bakersfield this october and going through it. good luck with the new motor.
Dang, Guys. Sorry to see that happen. Is the crank material 4340? 'Reason I ask is that I have the Scat 4340 (347) crank and H-Beam rods also. Good luck with the new 408.
that cant be good when the crank is looking like that. glad you guys just plan on when and were ready. Good luck with the new one
Ahhhhh......a little JB Weld and it will be good as new. Got a buddy who uses blown motors as as sign that he should build a bigger one.
My initial response is "Dude, that sucks!" But, then I think a second, and say, "WOW!!! 500 passes before all this happens? On alcohol!?!?" That is not too shabby. With that in mind, I would like to say "Congratulations on building and running a motor that hard for that long! You can build mine ANYDAY!!!"
how often did you check/replace the rod bearings? i replace my rod bearings every 125-150 runs and have a little over 450 runs on a 408 on alky, but they take more punishment on a transbrake, i think.
The engine was freshened with new rings and bearings in December, after 300 runs. Even though they looked like new, changed all anyway. The crank is what broke through the oil hole which is typically the weak spot. Trans brake was used a few times in TNT on Sat. nights, but is illegal in Sunday bracket racing. The torque curve on these engines is such that with 14in wide slicks and a sometimes tire shaking track, seems to put a bit more stress on the #5 /#8 throw. Usually the main webbing is what cracks and starts the demize of the internals, but this time they all were in tact except for some shrapnel damage. Further inspection shows vety little wear or distortion of any of the bearings, pistons and rods are also excellant shape. #5 rod cap was literally ripped off when the broken throw hit the main stud girdle. We use Mobil 1 oil in both the Windsor and my 331 on alky. Change it every 20 runs, not saying the Scat crank was at fault, but the break does look suspicious to me. New engine has an Eagle crank with a bit shorter rod length. Will see what it has to offer in comparison with the old setup. The funny part of the whole thing is that sometimes bigger is not better, ie. We also have a 84 Stang with a 303ci, stock crank and Eagle I beam rods, KB pistons and RPM heads. Is twisted to 7500 and higher when my son drove it. Has been running for two years of "hard" racing with no problems. Still shows 89psi oil pressure when started. Sometimes you get a good combo and am to the point of letting our driver just try getting through the rest of the year with it. Be interesting to see how it fairs with Valvoline 10w40 oil, which has been used in it religiously with no bearing change. One heck of an engine in my book. Runs 9.18/24 in the 1000ft at 113mph on gas. Mavman may have to drive it next race day if his engine is not in the Mav.
I hate to hear about the engine failure but as you know, that is the name of the horsepower game!! I am impressed with the life that you got out of it, one of my buddies has been running a similar combo on gas and a 300+ shot of N20 and it lasted 300+- 1/8th mile passes, at the last race the block let go. Good luck with the rebuild and keep kicking ass at the track!!!!
Damn it Dave... when it rain it poors huh. If you or Todd need any help working on those things give me a call. Pm me or email me for my new phone # and I'll be more than happy to help you out. I gotta get my car going soon enough (wiring up dizzy and lil stuff) and redoing brakes and such. Gonna have to find new drums and all... cant beat the drums off this one, froze up very badly Anyways, maybe the new motor will be even faster
Glad to see... ...you keeping us updated. Also glad to see that you are still going to the track. Take care and keep after those guys. Seth
