View across the crank

[Michael Oritt]

I had what I feel sure constitutes a catastrophic engine failure with the Courier last weekend at the SVRA NJMP event: #2 intake valve came loose and took out the piston, bore and connecting rod, making big holes in both sides of the block.

Amazingly the engine did not sieze up and once I got the connecting rod off it spun over quite nicely and with any luck I may be able to salvage the crank and a couple of pistons and connecting rods.

Here's a shot taken thru the engine with me in the background.

 

[John Turney]

Ouch!

 

[DART]

Double Ouch!!

 

[aeronca65t]

Wow! Reminds me of John Faulkner's MGA engine explosion at Watkins Glen last year.

I even saw a picture of "view across the crank" by him that looks like your shot.

John's engine (post Watkins Glen-2010)

 

[dougie]

Michael -

That must be a common disease the season. Here's a shot of "BoyRacer's" 6-cylinder Healey motor after it encounter similar symptom's at the Seattle Historics this year. Luckily it was a back-up motor, but it had just been "refreshed". Car and driving unhurt, but PRW's turn # 3A & 3B took an oil bath.

BTY, there's a matching hole on the other side of the block too.

 

[DrEntropy]

Cast iron is brittle. Blocks are getting harder to find.

We've a MOWOG chunk here to remind us.

 

[Monkeywrench]

Michael,

The only brief bit I caught of Group 1 on track, it looked like you were running 2nd oa. Too bad.

We had problems of our own after an on track incident and couldn't finish the weekend. That's racing.

 

[DrEntropy]

It really stinks when they 'grenade' in spectacular fashion.