Missed a shift now it is dead.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown pennsylvania
Missed a shift now it is dead.
I was driving my car and went to pass a guy on the road and went from 3rd gear into 2nd. Before I could tell what happened the engine shut down. I pulled off on the off ramp that was sloped downward and the car would not restart but it would crank. I was a couple of minutes away from my destination and I decided to try to kick start the car and it started but it was having pretty bad vibration as it idled. I drove the car to a parking lot and parked it. Now it wont restart again. I am not sure what I broke. I keep reading post that say pushrods but everyone that has that problem the car starts and mine doesnt. If anyone has any ideas on what is wrong I would love to here them.
Thanks
Mark
Thanks
Mark
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown pennsylvania
I am going to get it towed home today and hopefully take a look at it if I have time. Lets say that a valve hit the piston am I going to have to replace the piston or just the valve? do you think I did any damage to the trans? rear? clutch? they all seemed ok when I was driving.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Been there done that at the Track.. Was doing about 95mph when I went to grab 4th and got 2nd.. 
I think I touched 8,000 rpms..Oddly enough, my car started again, I pulled the valve covers and the push rods all checked out perfect..
I was powershifting when it happend so it makes me think that the added RISING engine rpms helped soften the blow..
I have been racing my car for at least a year after that event and its still alive..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown pennsylvania
Been there done that at the Track.. Was doing about 95mph when I went to grab 4th and got 2nd.. I think I touched 8,000 rpms..Oddly enough, my car started again, I pulled the valve covers and the push rods all checked out perfect..
I was powershifting when it happend so it makes me think that the added RISING engine rpms helped soften the blow..
I have been racing my car for at least a year after that event and its still alive..
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
If it turns over freely then it's probably not TOO bad. How was the oil pressure when you got it started the one time? If it was okay, you're probably mostly fine. I'd definitely be pulling the pushrods and taking a look at them though. They could be bent badly enough to cause serious issues running/starting the car, or you could have a dinged the pistons and bent valves/"eyebrowed" the pistons or even broke a valve spring. None of these things are likely to be fatal (unless the pistons were damaged badly enough), but I wouldn't even try to start it right now. Get the valvetrain checked out first.
Dope
Dope
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 850
Likes: 15
From: Vero Beach Florida
If it turns over freely then it's probably not TOO bad. How was the oil pressure when you got it started the one time? If it was okay, you're probably mostly fine. I'd definitely be pulling the pushrods and taking a look at them though. They could be bent badly enough to cause serious issues running/starting the car, or you could have a dinged the pistons and bent valves/"eyebrowed" the pistons or even broke a valve spring. None of these things are likely to be fatal (unless the pistons were damaged badly enough), but I wouldn't even try to start it right now. Get the valvetrain checked out first.
Dope
Dope
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
One of the first things would be to pull all the spark plugs and inspect for damage. If you dropped a valve most of the time the plug will take some direct hits. This might tell you which side of the engine might have the bulk of the damage and where you might want to start looking in more detail.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
Your heads are toast you might as well look at replacments since it's usally cheaper then rebuilding your stock ones.
I did the same thing 3-2 instead of 4th. I put a new shifter in the same day. The pistons kicked hit every valve some worse then others. Same thing the car idled but barley. Towed it the shop and did heads/cam and called it a day.
Hopefully your pistons are OK. Don't try and start the car or anything. I am not sure bump starting it was a great idea but what done is done.
Good luck
I did the same thing 3-2 instead of 4th. I put a new shifter in the same day. The pistons kicked hit every valve some worse then others. Same thing the car idled but barley. Towed it the shop and did heads/cam and called it a day.
Hopefully your pistons are OK. Don't try and start the car or anything. I am not sure bump starting it was a great idea but what done is done.
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown pennsylvania
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Pottstown pennsylvania
Also I had to start the car to get it in my driveway the flatbed driver couldnt get it where I needed the car. The car started but still had the same vibration but what I did notice is that when the clutch is out when the car is in neutral I get a tapping noise that I do not get when the clutch is in. Any ideas on that noise?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Probably valve noise. You most likely have bent PRs. Until you pull them out and inspect everything, your just guessing. Start small. Push Rods.
That will tell you a lot.
BC
That will tell you a lot.
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Find which rods are bent first. Then thoroughly inspect the springs since they are relatively weak to begin with..Also check the plugs as already suggested.
Then worry about a compression check or borescope to see about other damage.
Regardless of what you do first, you gotta take things apart for a looksee.
Good luck.
Then worry about a compression check or borescope to see about other damage.
Regardless of what you do first, you gotta take things apart for a looksee.
Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Either way Mark, I wish you the best of luck to get this sucker back up and running.
Last edited by Dans-Z06; May 12, 2009 at 04:18 PM.
