11-10-2014, 10:11 AM
Ka-Boom!
On really cold mornings I was starting to hear what I thought was a small bit of piston slap. It is a small-block Chevy so I didn't investigate further. I was at Summit Point Main this past saturday and took the car on track. This was now its 2nd track event. I know I know, I wasn't supposed to track this one. Well coming around 6 all the sudden I heard through my helmet bad knocking sounds so I pulled offline and hand out the window to go in. Didn't quite make it around 9 when I heard a loud POP and there goes the motor. 2 things:
1. The LS series are known for oil starvation issues, but I did have an improved racing oil pan baffle, so I am thinking it is not that...at least initially.
2. The LS1 is known for weak rod bolts, I think the 2 track events had their toll on it. I was going to replace them, but said "I won't track this thing", so I didn't replace them. :/
Sucks, but that's the way it goes. I have some clean up on the race car this week, and then hopefully get it out of the garage. Plop the LS1/M3 on the lift, pull the motor/trans and plop in a new motor before the new race car arrives. We shall see, work has been busy lately, but with race season over, I am starting to find free weekends here and there.
On really cold mornings I was starting to hear what I thought was a small bit of piston slap. It is a small-block Chevy so I didn't investigate further. I was at Summit Point Main this past saturday and took the car on track. This was now its 2nd track event. I know I know, I wasn't supposed to track this one. Well coming around 6 all the sudden I heard through my helmet bad knocking sounds so I pulled offline and hand out the window to go in. Didn't quite make it around 9 when I heard a loud POP and there goes the motor. 2 things:
1. The LS series are known for oil starvation issues, but I did have an improved racing oil pan baffle, so I am thinking it is not that...at least initially.
2. The LS1 is known for weak rod bolts, I think the 2 track events had their toll on it. I was going to replace them, but said "I won't track this thing", so I didn't replace them. :/
Sucks, but that's the way it goes. I have some clean up on the race car this week, and then hopefully get it out of the garage. Plop the LS1/M3 on the lift, pull the motor/trans and plop in a new motor before the new race car arrives. We shall see, work has been busy lately, but with race season over, I am starting to find free weekends here and there.
2020 Ford Raptor
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S