Piston went through the block - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Yay240 · 12-11-2016, 08:13 PM

Hey guys so right now I'm on the border of suicide right now. I started my LS3 (swapped into 240sx) for the second time and the piston decided it didn't want to stay in the block any longer (see pics of carnage). I have no idea how this even happened. The first time engine started no problem ran roughly for 45 secs (have a video) with no issues.

Engine History:

Out of a wrecked '13 SS with only 10K miles and I'm rounding up. I modified the windage tray for the Sikky oil pan to fit per their instructions. A speartech wiring harness was used along with the ECM they provided.

Mods:
CAI
Headers
Melling Oil Pump
224/228 .581/.588 112 Comp Cam
Supporting Valve train mods

Does anybody have any possible scenarios of what could have caused this?

The ETC gas pedal was NOT hooked up so overrevving couldn't be a possibility.

Gunmetal Speedster · 12-11-2016, 08:20 PM

Dang dude, sorry to hear about your luck. Hope everything works out for you

davidscamaro · 12-11-2016, 08:29 PM

I would think that detonation occurred and the fuel burnt in the combustion chamber before the piston was at top dead center and the force broke the piston and rod right under the wrist pin

davidscamaro · 12-11-2016, 08:35 PM

Also that is the cleanest window I've ever seen in a engine block , I'm not trying to belittle you in any way but I gotta ask ,was there oil and coolant put in the motor? Just looks so clean

Yay240 · 12-11-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidscamaro

Also that is the cleanest window I've ever seen in a engine block , I'm not trying to belittle you in any way but I gotta ask ,was there oil and coolant put in the motor? Just looks so clean

No worries there is oil and coolant in the engine. Literally, happened almost immediately after turning over. I was in the driver seat and my father was the one whole told me to kill the engine because he saw the explosion.

Jayjellyfish212 · 12-11-2016, 11:04 PM

You said the engine is from a prior wrecked car? Perhaps there was some damage you were not aware of, like a hairline stress crack etc.. the LS series motors are pretty solid motors, but in a wreck you never know!

Steve1018 · 12-11-2016, 11:53 PM

Did it drop a valve or something roll out of the intake into the engine? Pulling heads may tell you what happened.

Yay240 · 12-12-2016, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1018

Did it drop a valve or something roll out of the intake into the engine? Pulling heads may tell you what happened.

Planning to pull the engine and rip it apart soon; was planning to remove oil pan and inspect from underneath. I'll pull the valve covers off and inspect in their also. I'll report back with my findings....

2010reddevil · 12-12-2016, 02:36 AM

Wow........just.........wow...........

That

Freaking

Blows

Pun intended btw........ouch! Man I'm very curious as to how that happened, especially under such "normal" circumstances. Very strange indeed. I wonder what is salvageable from it?

frankwjr · 12-12-2016, 09:05 AM

hydro-lock...looks like fuel leaked into cylinder...also with the mods you list first startup should have been long enough to get motor to operating temp...springs, cam lifters needs a good heat set for long life...seriously blows tho...scoggin dicky has a thread with a LS3 short block...looks nice...Merry Christmas!....peace out...

InFiD3ViL · 12-12-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayjellyfish212

You said the engine is from a prior wrecked car? Perhaps there was some damage you were not aware of, like a hairline stress crack etc.. the LS series motors are pretty solid motors, but in a wreck you never know!

Exactly what I was thinking.

Seems the only thing that makes sense is prior damage that was invisible to the naked eye from the wreck.

BTW, so sorry to hear/see this, TC. Truly wish you the best.

RankSS · 12-12-2016, 02:44 PM

Cam Timing?

cc-rider · 12-12-2016, 02:51 PM

Check for little nuts and bolts that may have accidentally got into the engine. Did you have the intake off? Seen it happen before where a little but slipped into the intake tract during a mod or rebuild and kaboom. Sad and expensive and frustrating. But it happens.

GONIF · 12-12-2016, 05:23 PM

OUCH ,

12-11-2016, 08:13 PM	#1
Yay240 Drives: R32 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Bay Area Posts: 28	Piston went through the block Hey guys so right now I'm on the border of suicide right now. I started my LS3 (swapped into 240sx) for the second time and the piston decided it didn't want to stay in the block any longer (see pics of carnage). I have no idea how this even happened. The first time engine started no problem ran roughly for 45 secs (have a video) with no issues. Engine History: Out of a wrecked '13 SS with only 10K miles and I'm rounding up. I modified the windage tray for the Sikky oil pan to fit per their instructions. A speartech wiring harness was used along with the ECM they provided. Mods: CAI Headers Melling Oil Pump 224/228 .581/.588 112 Comp Cam Supporting Valve train mods Does anybody have any possible scenarios of what could have caused this? The ETC gas pedal was NOT hooked up so overrevving couldn't be a possibility.

12-11-2016, 08:20 PM	#2
Gunmetal Speedster Drives: Savitar; The 500rwhp N/A Monster! Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 2,914 View My Garage	Dang dude, sorry to hear about your luck. Hope everything works out for you __________________ **SOLD504HP/433**TQ \| Night Fury cammed • Cold Air Inductions intake • Bo White ported TB • Speed Engineering 1 7/8 longtubes • NPP catback • QTP low profile cutouts • Powerbond 25% UDP • 3.73 gears • JRE scoop • ZL1 grille • R1 Concepts drilled/slotted rotors • built/tuned by Weapon X Motorsports Instagram \| YouTube \| Build Thread

12-11-2016, 08:29 PM	#3
davidscamaro Drives: 2010 SS/RS M6 BIG cam Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: McDonald's DT Posts: 857	I would think that detonation occurred and the fuel burnt in the combustion chamber before the piston was at top dead center and the force broke the piston and rod right under the wrist pin __________________ BIG cam ...... 305 45 18 Mickys ...... BMR suspensions

12-11-2016, 08:35 PM	#4
davidscamaro Drives: 2010 SS/RS M6 BIG cam Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: McDonald's DT Posts: 857	Also that is the cleanest window I've ever seen in a engine block , I'm not trying to belittle you in any way but I gotta ask ,was there oil and coolant put in the motor? Just looks so clean __________________ BIG cam ...... 305 45 18 Mickys ...... BMR suspensions

12-11-2016, 11:04 PM	#6
Jayjellyfish212 Drives: 2014 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,050 View My Garage	You said the engine is from a prior wrecked car? Perhaps there was some damage you were not aware of, like a hairline stress crack etc.. the LS series motors are pretty solid motors, but in a wreck you never know! __________________ Car mods: never enough!

12-11-2016, 11:53 PM	#7
Steve1018 Drives: 2012 Camaro SS2 Ls3 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Apex, NC Posts: 33	Did it drop a valve or something roll out of the intake into the engine? Pulling heads may tell you what happened.

12-12-2016, 02:36 AM	#9
2010reddevil Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Victory Red 6M Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Gulf Coast, TX Posts: 1,424	Wow........just.........wow........... That Freaking Blows Pun intended btw........ouch! Man I'm very curious as to how that happened, especially under such "normal" circumstances. Very strange indeed. I wonder what is salvageable from it? __________________ 2011 2SS 6A Red Jewel Metallic, Vararam Tune CAI, Magnaflow 3" Competition c/b, Speed Engineering 1-7/8 LT's, Circle D 5C, M/T 275/40R20 S/S, HPTuners tune by Ryan@GPI 12.3 @ 112 ACM as of 12/22/19 Gone on 12/28/19 R I P 2010 2SS 6M Victory Red/Black (old ride) CAI intake, Speed Engineering 1 7/8" LT's, X4 base tune, Flowmaster Outlaw axle-back. 12.6 @ 115 SAR as of 9/19/15 Gone but never forgotten.

12-12-2016, 09:05 AM	#10
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	hydro-lock...looks like fuel leaked into cylinder...also with the mods you list first startup should have been long enough to get motor to operating temp...springs, cam lifters needs a good heat set for long life...seriously blows tho...scoggin dicky has a thread with a LS3 short block...looks nice...Merry Christmas!....peace out... __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

12-12-2016, 02:44 PM	#12
RankSS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Saskatoon SK Can. Eh Posts: 365	Cam Timing? __________________ 2010 Camaro SS RS, Maggie with 3.4" pulley, 60# injectors, ADM dual fuel pumps, ADM Stage 2 Cam with Brian Tooley springs and pushrods, black CAI intake, Stainless Works long tube headers w/gutted cats, ZL1 Diff w/offset bushings, Pfadt lowering springs, Pfadt sway bars, Pfadt solid sub frame mounts, BMR trailing arms and toe rods, Hurst short throw shifter, Painted on Hugger Orange stripes, Forgestar F14 Piano Black wheels, Nitto NT05 rubber.

12-12-2016, 02:51 PM	#13
cc-rider Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MN Posts: 1,172	Check for little nuts and bolts that may have accidentally got into the engine. Did you have the intake off? Seen it happen before where a little but slipped into the intake tract during a mod or rebuild and kaboom. Sad and expensive and frustrating. But it happens.

12-12-2016, 05:23 PM	#14
GONIF Drives: 73 VETTE ,, 05 2500hd diesel,14 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The Left lane PHOENIX AZ Posts: 2,626	OUCH , __________________ OLD GUY FLYING FAST AND LOW