How pissed should you be? Ask the owner of your Vette repair shop how pissed he would be if his mechanic didn't do his job correctly on his [ the owners } prized car. The repair shop would be responsible for any damage to the engine . Hopefully none was done. Normally the repair shop would send just the carbs out for rebuild to a place that specializes in carburetors like Tri-Power Restorations. They would rebuild the carbs to original specs or to the senders request. Then send them back to be reinstalled by the owner or the repair shop. As stated someone didn't do their job. Even a standard nut/bolt shouldn't have loosened and fell off in so short of time . By the way, where was the throttle return spring connected?

 

I really wouldn't worry about it. If you shut the engine down under WOT you sucked a lot of fuel into the engine after the ignition was turned off and that got pumped into the exhaust. When you started it back up that ignited that and you got a nice backfire. Guys with turbos pay good money for anti-lag kits to get that.

 

and a close-by neighbor is gonna end up a friend. never a bad thing. speaking of... Hi neighbor!

 

I'll make sure to take the Vette next time I go to Grabbe's to pick up some crabs! I just came across a show plaque from the 2010 Woodbury Car Show. I imagine you have been there a couple times....

 

If you think there is some type of internal damage to the engine I would pull the plugs and then turn it over by hand with a breaker bar to make sure parts aren't running into each other.

 

What's the verdict with your engine?
Also, how is your Corvette shop handling this situation? Hopefully everything is working out in your favor.

 

Which local Vette Shop are you using?

I know a couple nearby if needed.

 

I haven't mentioned the name, but it is well known in the area. I have been told I need a rebuild due to a bearing issue. What I find hard to swallow is I was cleared to pick it up, then we got on a "side topic" he thought the oil pressure was low. I had that very issue checked by the same shop and was assured it was checked out and should not be concerned my gauge read VERY low at idle. So, bearings are a long term wear issue. The car is there as a result of a traumatic event, and the engine sounded strong before that. The owner is using language declining to concede the carb linkage failure was the shop's fault, even in part, or that a rebuild may be their rightful responsibility. As far as he went was I have been a long time good customer (and have spent $$$$), and he would work with me on remove/reinstall labor.

I am extremely disappointed I am now in a position where the engine upon a second restart is making bad noises, so my choices are rebuild the engine (again) or replace. While I love the concept of restomodding, I am not going to plan out such an expensive and personal process under duress. So rebuild it will be I guess. Pulling the car also puts me in a bad spot, as this shop knows the history of everything else I have done over the years. Ugh.

And I will not get started on the fact that while the Vette has been in the shop my daily driver (SL65 AMG) and "my son's" Mustang went down. Not a good car place at the moment. $$ going the wrong way.

 

So you had low oil pressure before the over rev? Or is this because of it?

 

What is the oil pressure reading? Was it verified with a manual gauge on the block? NOT the gauge in the car. They can go bad

 

Long term I hope that it works out well for you.

Depending on the noise it could be anything from a pushrod to a rod bearing. I am not familiar with any Vette shops in your immediate area, But I am in Marlton in Burlington County only 20 miles away. Fell free to PM me if I can be of any assistance whatsoever. I'll be off for the summer starting next friday. I have built or helped with quite a few engines and have a pretty good ear.

More than likely you are better off dealing with the same shop that you have a long term relationship with, if they have treated you fairly before. If they are a true Corvette shop they farm out the machining work or maybe even the whole engine build. A life long good friend of mine is one of the premier BBC engine builders / machine shop owners in the Philadelphia area..I can put you in touch if needed.

 

Could you be more descriptive of these "bad noises", and as "jasonsamara" asked, were these noises present before the "incident"?

 

Well there is more than the linkage. First the carb should have a spring on the linkage itself and it should always spring close. Even the outside carbs should never just remain open. If the linkage fell off the carbs, the only thing is should do is idle so you need to have the carbs looked at.

 

It is the center carb that has the return spring from it to a bracket on the rear carb base plate. If the nut and bolt fell off the holds the end carbs linkage to the center carb, the possibility of the linkage dropping down onto the manifold could keep one or both end carbs throttle blades open, most likely the front carb.

 

The low oil pressure reading from the gauge caused me to raise the issue some years ago. Pressure was tested using a separate gauge, and I was told at the time the engine's oil pressure was fine, and the anomaly was with my gauge on the dash. There were zero unusual sounds before the WOT carb linkage incident. Just pure music. I do not blame a shop for wanting to mitigate its exposure by raising potentially mitigating factors. I value open conversation, regardless of who may "benefit". He is being a little too slick with his approach, which is what bothers me. We'll see how the next conversation goes when I request cost proposals for a rebuild.

 

Whirrs the car now? If you feel he's being slick with you, he probably charging you storage .

 

Rebuild of what? I hope you don't mean the engine. If you mean the carbs, I believe that Holley has a rebuild service available. You could easily remove them yourself, and send them back to their "original home", for a complete going over, by the people who know what to do with them.

 

Your right, he made the comment about the center carb being open. I would thing the engine vacuum would close the butterflies, but I would not be surprised if they did not.

 

I believe it is ported vacuum to the cannisters that open the end carbs. The linkage, assuming stock linkage, makes sure the end carbs close when the center carb closes.

 

OP is being way too vague for anyone to offer any solid advise.

strange noises. WHAT strange noises? take a video

again, what was the oil pressure reading verified with a manual gauge mounted on the block? someone saying its low is pretty vague. if a shop was even remotely mentioned engine rebuild to me, I would want some solid reasons why they felt that way.

not taking sides here, but I can understand the shop's point of not wanting to accept any responsibility. you're first post said they had the car last season, so thats many months ago. how do they know who touched what since it left their shop? if it was the next day or next week, thats one thing.

I also find it hard to believe that one over rev is causing any kind of bearing issues.