My Build Thread
11-23-2010, 01:54 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
My Build Thread
Well, it wasn't long till my built motor let go. Here is the original thread from a few months ago when I first bought the car:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...ing-blown.html
Cliffnotes version:
Bought car with 18k miles
2004 Z06 - let go when it had 19.8 k miles - the built motor had at most 10k miles on it
ECS built motor (stock crank, manley rods/pistons, steel top/napier second)
ECS Novi 2k with 3.0 pulley (20# of boost)
ECS cam
ECS meth
ECS tuned
AFR 205 heads
Boost/FP gauge (worthless bc its not boost referenced and showed a static 55#)
No AFR gauge
Tex OZ700 clutch
Fast forward to two weeks ago, I was on the highway, with Bret riding shotgun, and at the top of third gear, the far fell on its face. I pull over, pop the hood and we notice the dipstick is pushed out, as I limp it back to Bret's house, the check engine soon light is blinking, indicating that the car is missing. I park it as his place, we pull the plugs and check compression and find that cylinder #1 has ZERO compression and also find that it is puking coolant.
Fast forward to today. Bret finally had time to tear it down and found some very interesting things inside my motor. Keep in mind this is a forged motor
#7
#7
#1
#1
#1
#1
#1
He also had to cut a rocker out of the head as it was bolted down so tight that it broke one of his snap on sockets
I will also have to replace a valve and have the heads shaved a bit to ensure they are flat.
The tune was a MAF tune and Bret pulled the tune from the car, didn't not make any adjustments, and noticed that fueling was not boost referenced (ie: running 20#s, my effective fuel pressure was 35#). We logged the car when I first got it and it did not have any knock. I did have the seller take the car over to ECS before I purchased it to have the car and tune looked over and it was given a good bill of health; this is when it laid down the 853rwhp number.
The meth was full and operating correctly and 93 octane was in the tank.
Cause of destructions: Do we know what happened, not really. By the looks of things, it was obviously catestrophically lean. Bret and I conclude that it wasn't caused by a faulty injector in the #1 cylinder as the #7 cylinder was on its way out too. The fuel pressure, or lack there of, due to it not being boost referenced looks to be the main driver of this failure.
After knowing I blew my motor, I contacted ECS first to see if they could help out any way and to see what their thoughts were about what could have happened. They told me that they didn't ship motors out because they liked to build/install/tune the entire package. Chris told me to contact LME here in Texas and that they would try to extend their dealer cost to me; not what I was hoping for as LME wasn't involved but that is what I was told. After thinking things over, I decided against this route for a few reasons and decided that I would go with the shop that is local(ish) and whom everyone seems to have success with, HKE.
I called Erik over at HKE and we talked for about 45 min and he gave me a GREAT price on a 402 using the following parts:
-6L Iron Block
-Callies Dragonslayer crank
-Callies rods
-Weisco pistons
-Mogul main bearings
-ACL rod bearings
-LS7 Lifters
-LS9 head gaskets
-ARP hardware
-Reusing my cam/heads
Erik has been great over this entire process, we have talked many times on the phone and have exchanged numerous emails. He is confident that this motor will hold what I plan on using the car for. I HIGHLY recommend contacting HKE directly via email or phone for any motor build.
The rods and cam will be sent to Erik tomorrow and I hope to have everything back in a week or so. I will keep this thread updated as I know more info.
What this thread is:
-A place to document my build
-For others to learn what happened
-To present the FACTS as I find them by posting as many pictures as I can
-To thank the vendors/individuals that have helped
What it is not:
-A finger pointing thread
Thanks for following
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...ing-blown.html
Cliffnotes version:
Bought car with 18k miles
2004 Z06 - let go when it had 19.8 k miles - the built motor had at most 10k miles on it
ECS built motor (stock crank, manley rods/pistons, steel top/napier second)
ECS Novi 2k with 3.0 pulley (20# of boost)
ECS cam
ECS meth
ECS tuned
AFR 205 heads
Boost/FP gauge (worthless bc its not boost referenced and showed a static 55#)
No AFR gauge
Tex OZ700 clutch
Fast forward to two weeks ago, I was on the highway, with Bret riding shotgun, and at the top of third gear, the far fell on its face. I pull over, pop the hood and we notice the dipstick is pushed out, as I limp it back to Bret's house, the check engine soon light is blinking, indicating that the car is missing. I park it as his place, we pull the plugs and check compression and find that cylinder #1 has ZERO compression and also find that it is puking coolant.
Fast forward to today. Bret finally had time to tear it down and found some very interesting things inside my motor. Keep in mind this is a forged motor
#7
#7
#1
#1
#1
#1
#1
He also had to cut a rocker out of the head as it was bolted down so tight that it broke one of his snap on sockets
I will also have to replace a valve and have the heads shaved a bit to ensure they are flat.
The tune was a MAF tune and Bret pulled the tune from the car, didn't not make any adjustments, and noticed that fueling was not boost referenced (ie: running 20#s, my effective fuel pressure was 35#). We logged the car when I first got it and it did not have any knock. I did have the seller take the car over to ECS before I purchased it to have the car and tune looked over and it was given a good bill of health; this is when it laid down the 853rwhp number.
The meth was full and operating correctly and 93 octane was in the tank.
Cause of destructions: Do we know what happened, not really. By the looks of things, it was obviously catestrophically lean. Bret and I conclude that it wasn't caused by a faulty injector in the #1 cylinder as the #7 cylinder was on its way out too. The fuel pressure, or lack there of, due to it not being boost referenced looks to be the main driver of this failure.
After knowing I blew my motor, I contacted ECS first to see if they could help out any way and to see what their thoughts were about what could have happened. They told me that they didn't ship motors out because they liked to build/install/tune the entire package. Chris told me to contact LME here in Texas and that they would try to extend their dealer cost to me; not what I was hoping for as LME wasn't involved but that is what I was told. After thinking things over, I decided against this route for a few reasons and decided that I would go with the shop that is local(ish) and whom everyone seems to have success with, HKE.
I called Erik over at HKE and we talked for about 45 min and he gave me a GREAT price on a 402 using the following parts:
-6L Iron Block
-Callies Dragonslayer crank
-Callies rods
-Weisco pistons
-Mogul main bearings
-ACL rod bearings
-LS7 Lifters
-LS9 head gaskets
-ARP hardware
-Reusing my cam/heads
Erik has been great over this entire process, we have talked many times on the phone and have exchanged numerous emails. He is confident that this motor will hold what I plan on using the car for. I HIGHLY recommend contacting HKE directly via email or phone for any motor build.
The rods and cam will be sent to Erik tomorrow and I hope to have everything back in a week or so. I will keep this thread updated as I know more info.
What this thread is:
-A place to document my build
-For others to learn what happened
-To present the FACTS as I find them by posting as many pictures as I can
-To thank the vendors/individuals that have helped
What it is not:
-A finger pointing thread
Thanks for following
Last edited by golfinz; 12-07-2010 at 11:40 PM.
11-23-2010, 01:55 AM
#2
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Parts being added to the car:
83# injectors
McLeod RXT clutch and steel FW
Remove clutch bleeder
SD tune by Bret
2001 Honda Accord
83# injectors
McLeod RXT clutch and steel FW
Remove clutch bleeder
SD tune by Bret
2001 Honda Accord
Last edited by golfinz; 12-07-2010 at 11:39 PM.
11-23-2010, 10:06 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
11-23-2010, 11:30 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
11-23-2010, 12:36 PM
#14
Premium Supporting Vendor
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
Posts: 23,315
Received 1,085 Likes
on
656 Posts
The key thing to focus on IMHO, is why this happened after 4? years of use, and some hard runs prior yourself. The original owner was fairly tame on it I think, but the second owner did not have drag radials on it for nothing.
Instant carnage like this has to come down to something failing, bad fuel, etc. That is the key thing here, because one time stinks, two times is crushing..
Let us know if you have any questions.
Instant carnage like this has to come down to something failing, bad fuel, etc. That is the key thing here, because one time stinks, two times is crushing..
Let us know if you have any questions.
11-23-2010, 12:44 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
The key thing to focus on IMHO, is why this happened after 4? years of use, and some hard runs prior yourself. The original owner was fairly tame on it I think, but the second owner did not have drag radials on it for nothing.
Instant carnage like this has to come down to something failing, bad fuel, etc. That is the key thing here, because one time stinks, two times is crushing..
Let us know if you have any questions.
Instant carnage like this has to come down to something failing, bad fuel, etc. That is the key thing here, because one time stinks, two times is crushing..
Let us know if you have any questions.
The car did have 93 in it and the meth was spraying. We will never know if the gas is bad or not.
Thanks Doug, Ill give yall a call if I need anything during the rebuild!
Last edited by golfinz; 11-23-2010 at 12:46 PM.
11-23-2010, 02:21 PM
#17
that sucks Brian! I know how long and hard you looked for that car too.
IMO, I would ditch the meth on the next go around. you can make more than enough power on 93, if you want increased octane throw some race gas in there and call it a day.
IMO, I would ditch the meth on the next go around. you can make more than enough power on 93, if you want increased octane throw some race gas in there and call it a day.
11-23-2010, 02:49 PM
#18
Tech Contributor
Motor disassembled, parts being reused are cleaned and have been sent to machine shop.
Heads dropped off locally for surfacing and inspection.
The assembly of the motor was good. The one fact that really bothers me is the fact that this car was making 857rwhp and running 60lb injectors. Those injectors had no business in this motor. Period. They won't be going back in, I promise!
Looking back won't help except for learning from mistakes. The motor's hurt and needs fixing. It's going to take some work and cost some dough and it'll be back on the road in a few weeks.
Just a reminder. It's a hobby. Not an investment.
Heads dropped off locally for surfacing and inspection.
The assembly of the motor was good. The one fact that really bothers me is the fact that this car was making 857rwhp and running 60lb injectors. Those injectors had no business in this motor. Period. They won't be going back in, I promise!
Looking back won't help except for learning from mistakes. The motor's hurt and needs fixing. It's going to take some work and cost some dough and it'll be back on the road in a few weeks.
Just a reminder. It's a hobby. Not an investment.
Last edited by BLOWNBLUEZ06; 11-23-2010 at 03:08 PM.
11-23-2010, 03:32 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Live and learn and I hope others learn from this too.
Motor disassembled, parts being reused are cleaned and have been sent to machine shop.
Heads dropped off locally for surfacing and inspection.
The assembly of the motor was good. The one fact that really bothers me is the fact that this car was making 857rwhp and running 60lb injectors. Those injectors had no business in this motor. Period. They won't be going back in, I promise!
Looking back won't help except for learning from mistakes. The motor's hurt and needs fixing. It's going to take some work and cost some dough and it'll be back on the road in a few weeks.
Just a reminder. It's a hobby. Not an investment.
Heads dropped off locally for surfacing and inspection.
The assembly of the motor was good. The one fact that really bothers me is the fact that this car was making 857rwhp and running 60lb injectors. Those injectors had no business in this motor. Period. They won't be going back in, I promise!
Looking back won't help except for learning from mistakes. The motor's hurt and needs fixing. It's going to take some work and cost some dough and it'll be back on the road in a few weeks.
Just a reminder. It's a hobby. Not an investment.
Bret is a huge asset to the community