The winner of the first prize for the correct guess, a banana sandwich, will have to wait until the pan is off 
Thrown Rod on 383 Stroker
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 1
From: WA
I'm currently dealing with a flat cam / stuck valve issue. All my pushrods were intact however many of them were loose with 2 extremely loose. One day my engine is running stronger than it has ever done so before and the very next I'm just cruising the freeway at65 and it starts popping up a storm.
The only thing that could possibly make sense to me about this is the camshaft literally disintegrated. You need to do a full tear down I would say. And I would definitely have some choice words for that builder.
Good Luck!
The only thing that could possibly make sense to me about this is the camshaft literally disintegrated. You need to do a full tear down I would say. And I would definitely have some choice words for that builder.
Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I lost a cam in a BB once. Broke between the 3 and 4 bearings- Piece dropped on the crank at about 1500 RPM. Saved the rocker covers and the intake. It even broke the water pump.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 1
From: Reno nevada
Do I win a prize or is that the problem not for sure yet?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 7
From: Batavia IL
not so fast LT1er I said it in post 47, thats my banana sandwich dang it! LOL
As a dedicated drag racer, you get to see all kinds of wonderful engine carnage at the drag strips.
As a dedicated drag racer, you get to see all kinds of wonderful engine carnage at the drag strips.
Last edited by Tumarr; May 12, 2010 at 03:51 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 7
From: Batavia IL
If it was a cam shaft failure that caused this disaster, I would not be so quick to jump on the engine builder for the blame. I would send the blame towards the cam manufacturer. There are alot of inferior metal castings floating around these days due to lower quality controls and imported metals. My buddy who owns a machine shop here was telling me a story how he was in the middle of balancing a high quality forged crank. he was drilling out one of the counter weights when the drill's metal shavings suddenly started looking funny. he studied it for a second and figured out he drilled into a peice of charred wood. some must of gotten into the molten metal or it wasnt fully purified at the forged but sure enough there was wood in side a $2000 dollar crank shaft.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Not looking good..... I am guessing at this point but thinking that the cam shaft has broken and the centre section that drives cylinders 3, 4, 5 and 6 has broken away and thats what allowed the push rods to drop?
Did you have the engine built for you? The question that is crossing my mind is who clearanced the block for the 383 and who chose the rods, bolts and cam, also who set it up? I looked very closely at building a 383 prior to my previous build. I am almost sure that there is potential rod/rod bolt to cam clearance issues if the correct components arent used. Is it possible that a rod bolt hit the cam and broke the cam causing the failure we see here?
Your next step all depends on your knowledge/budget and previous build situation. Do you have any come back on the engine build or is it a case of your on your own and on a limited budget?
Feel real sorry for you, I had a bottom end failure on my SB at the start of last year, real heart sinking. It can be sorted though, be prepaired to be on a fairly steep learning curve.
Lester
Did you have the engine built for you? The question that is crossing my mind is who clearanced the block for the 383 and who chose the rods, bolts and cam, also who set it up? I looked very closely at building a 383 prior to my previous build. I am almost sure that there is potential rod/rod bolt to cam clearance issues if the correct components arent used. Is it possible that a rod bolt hit the cam and broke the cam causing the failure we see here?
Your next step all depends on your knowledge/budget and previous build situation. Do you have any come back on the engine build or is it a case of your on your own and on a limited budget?
Feel real sorry for you, I had a bottom end failure on my SB at the start of last year, real heart sinking. It can be sorted though, be prepaired to be on a fairly steep learning curve.
Lester
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If it was a cam shaft failure that caused this disaster, I would not be so quick to jump on the engine builder for the blame. I would send the blame towards the cam manufacturer. There are alot of inferior metal castings floating around these days due to lower quality controls and imported metals. My buddy who owns a machine shop here was telling me a story how he was in the middle of balancing a high quality forged crank. he was drilling out one of the counter weights when the drill's metal shavings suddenly started looking funny. he studied it for a second and figured out he drilled into a peice of charred wood. some must of gotten into the molten metal or it wasnt fully purified at the forged but sure enough there was wood in side a $2000 dollar crank shaft.
Someone told me the C5s have balsa wood floors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Ok, i assume that the cam is gone. But i'm still quite impressed that the rod is practically undamaged after all it went through.
Let us see the underside of the motor and what is in de oilpan.
Let us see the underside of the motor and what is in de oilpan.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 1
From: Reno nevada
I personnally have never seen a broken cam in the shaft part. I have seen broken off dist. gear teeth and the bolts to the cam sproket sheared off
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 591
Likes: 7
From: Batavia IL
At my buddies shop, hes has a shelf of all sorts of interesting broken peices. one thing is a piston with part of a camshaft perfectly imbedded into the crown of a piston. this happened a small block ford heavy nitrous motor. two rods broke and all sorts of hell broke loose inside the motor.
