C2Racer

Was driving around on the freeway Saturday, got off and downshifted then coasted to a stop sign when a loud gear grinding metal to metal sound started and the low oil pressure warning came on and started dinging! Killed it immediately so it ran maybe 6 seconds...felt like 20..... Towed it home in my race trailer.

So today, took the filter off and cut it open, nothing in it. Pulled both valve covers and the rockers, all's fine. The motor was running fine while all this was happening. No clunks or chugging, nothing.

Can an oil pump eat itself with no collateral damage? Trying to stop myself from pulling the front of the motor off without an idea of what's going on. I did not see what the oil pressure was before I killed it as the noise was bad and I was freaked out so have no idea what low is? The motor would have kept running if I hadn't killed it.

Any thoughts appreciated!

Thanks
Steve

C2Racer

Oops, 07 Z with 33K miles. HCI with a mild tune.

Steve

stefuel

Not really enough to go on to hit the nail on the head BUT, based on your description, there is for me enough that I would pull the pan and pump for inspection. I guess there is always the chance that something external self destructed and took out the oil pressure switch. Everything in the engine bay look normal???

AzDave47

Drain the oil and filter it with a coffee filter looking for debris, take off the oil filter and cut it up looking for debris. Pull spark plugs and look at them and use borescope if available to look into the cylinders.

This doesn't sound good, but best of luck.

C2Racer

Thanks Dave. Have the plugs out, look fine. Cut the oil filter, nothing in it. Ran a magnet through the oil tank and some small pieces came out but from where have no idea? Don't have a scope though.
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AzDave47

Maybe shine a small light into the cylinders thru the spark plug hole to look for nasties? Harbor F&&%^t has borescopes for not a lot of coin. Just working on easy things before you have to dig deeper.

I would not suggest turning it over until you can verify things are OK (that would be great).

MTPZ06

Metal on metal grinding and oil pressure tanked...I would start the tear-down process.

81turbota

Yep, find the source before your engine looks like mine. Metal shavings, especially magnetic ones are coming from somewhere internal.

C2Racer

Well I've come to the same conclusion. The motor is extremely hard to turn with a wrench on the crank bolt. My guess is lost a rod or crank bearing, shut it off soon enough for the big pieces to not get sucked up. Hope it just needs a crank and a rod? Be a few weeks for my mechanic to have time to pull it out as I do not have the room to do this big of a job at my house.

Bummer for sure. Bought the car in May and after the purchase found out the receipt for the work done to the car was forged by the used car stealer I bought it from. The shop owner said he worked on the car for a street racer who wanted no trail of work done to it. So this is the end result of illegal street drag racing combined with poor maintenance. I have told friends I rescued the car as the body and suspension are cleaner than a 33K mile car should be but the motor was screwed up from the day it arrived. After a lot of small rescue projects this finishes it off after driving the car maybe 300 miles. Will update later. Pic of the car attached from the good ole days..... Thanks

Steve

81turbota

Beautiful car and a huge shame about the engine and history. It's too early to say what needs replacing, you need to completely tear it down to make an accurate assessment.

Best of luck!

MTPZ06

No hole in the block, so at least it can be rebuilt. Sucks, but it could always be worse.

shane p

That sucks, looks like a nice car. Does the bearings look like this?

C2Racer

Don't know hasn't come apart yet. Might not be any bearing left with no oil pressure? Will see. Thanks everyone!

Steve

C2Racer

Update, the car is at Quality Motorsports in Lewisville and Patrick will have the motor out Tuesday. He feels it's a spun bearing too so will know more probably by Wednesday. The money journey begins........

Steve

Dane@LGmotorsports

Enjoyed meeting you last week, sorry to hear it ended up being something more serious. You'll have to bring it out around this time next year when the track is done, we finally got the official go ahead from the city tuesday!

Dane

1972bluelt1

Always sorry to hear these stories. Hope it can be rebuilt for a reasonable amount of $.

C2Racer

Nice meeting you too Dane. That's great news and I wish Lou the best of luck with the new track. We need another track badly with the TWS closing so I know everyone is looking forward to it. Definitely see you at the track!

Steve

meanjoe

Good luck, I hope it's not too bad.

Dirty Howie

Don't you have legal recourse against the dealer if you have proof of forged docs??


DH

TXGS507

Terrible to hear this kind of stuff... My gut just cringes when I read these kinds of threads.. Just cruising around on a Saturday and then BAM..... I too would seek legal advise regarding this shady dealer.... 300 miles??? I would be homicidal...