My Camaro went home to Oshawa to die......

[IROCanSS]

Originally Posted by Tantalizer43

Hugger, the first time I met you was at the banquet. After your engine failure. And you STILL had a smile on your face, and were a blast to share dinner with. I couldn't imagine. You my friend, are a class act.

I agree, he remained very cool through dinner and Friday evening. I couldn't have done that. There isn't enough jack and coke in the world that would have calmed me down.

I did notice as the weekend went on, and reality set in, he got more edgy. Rightfully so. He made it a lot longer than me.

Reading all the posts, knowing mike, knowing the cars history... I don't think we will ever know exactly what caused it.

It was run hard, sure but it wasnt overly powerful and had a small cam. The engine should have been able to take it.

I was thinking the tranny incident could have something to do with it a few days ago. It's just too odd the car ran great for over a year, then BOOM!

[IROCanSS]

... then again, isn't that how engine failures go? One minute they are fine then they just let go.

[Huggerorange73]

Originally Posted by Tantalizer43

Hugger, the first time I met you was at the banquet. After your engine failure. And you STILL had a smile on your face, and were a blast to share dinner with. I couldn't imagine. You my friend, are a class act.

Thanks much.....I did my best to not let it ruin the entire weekend.

Originally Posted by GearheadSS

That sucks but this is the risk you take when you mod the engine.

Yup...agree.

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

I agree, he remained very cool through dinner and Friday evening. I couldn't have done that. There isn't enough jack and coke in the world that would have calmed me down.

I did notice as the weekend went on, and reality set in, he got more edgy. Rightfully so. He made it a lot longer than me.

Reading all the posts, knowing mike, knowing the cars history... I don't think we will ever know exactly what caused it.

It was run hard, sure but it wasnt overly powerful and had a small cam. The engine should have been able to take it.

I was thinking the tranny incident could have something to do with it a few days ago. It's just too odd the car ran great for over a year, then BOOM!

I think between the reality and the killer hangover on Saturday that pretty much killed it for me.

[Jason7]

Many racers, myself included have reported optimum performance spikes just prior to engine failures....
Never could figure it out...?


Jason

[The Flash]

Originally Posted by Huggerorange73

Okay....these pics are not for the faint of heart....this engine is a mess. I have a feeling the oil pump failed and this is the result. Had to stop for now as I have some errands to run, but I'm going to try and get the front cover off today.

Thanks for having the fortitude to show these pics openly in the forum, where not everyone is a kind soul and some idiots don't know any better than to tug on an open wound.

Now this is terrible damage.

I was planning on a major mod alongside (pretty much copying) the work done by CARCRAFT magazine (OCt. 2010) which was solely a head & cam swap (the engine remained a normally aspirated one). Projected to do this as my car reached the 7000 to 10,000 mile gap and started saving a "project pot" for it.

This project used a cam and lifter by COMP CAMS and a host of GMPP parts.

Due to the bignames of the parts suppliers involved I assumed everything to be engine safe.

In the past I most oftenly used CRANE CAMS parts which were completly reliable, but since they unfortunately folded up that business I'm looking at other suppliers which work gets technnical media exposure and acreditation.

I guess I'll have to be more skeptical and look into the tried and true results of other owners before venturing into this project myself. Just keep saving the dough until I'm certain which mods are safest.

Hope you resolve everything!


The Flash

[GMGP5X]

Originally Posted by Jason7

Many racers, myself included have reported optimum performance spikes just prior to engine failures....
Never could figure it out...?


Jason

A very old racer told me they always run the best before they blow.

[Nvincent4708]

Originally Posted by GMGP5X

A very old racer told me they always run the best before they blow.

especially 2 stroke engines.. haha

had a jetski that ran 50mph consistently..right before it nuked itself..60mph no problem.

[Huggerorange73]

Okay....everything is torn down...cept I need a bigger puller to get the SLP pulley off the car.

Here's what I know for sure right now:
# 1 piston is gone.
# 1 rod shattered and went through the oil pan and block.
# 7 piston is gone but the connecting rod is intact.
Multiple bent pushrods, and a broken one for the intake valve for # 2.
Exhaust valve for # 2 sheared off and laying on top of piston.
Exhaust lifter for # 2 has a chunk missing out of it's backside, but the roller is intact. This is the same lifter that went through the block.

Here's the recent round of pics:

[toesuf94]

oh, this is just painful to look at.

[PQ]

When I look at those pics I get the sense the the engine made an honorable and strong attempt to stay together. Like Scotty from Star Trek was in there doing his best.

The more I think about it, the less I want to blame the tensioner and I'm thinking that when you broke that half shaft that the subsequent immediate torque sheared the cam pin. Then it was just a matter of time until the cam turned with only the one bolt.

If I ever do break my half shaft or a joint or similar, I'll now make it a point to take the front off and inspect it.

I still hate this happened to you but it could end up saving a few engines.

[IROCanSS]

Randy... Not to split hairs but he didn't break a half shaft. It was the output shaft of the manual transmission.

You are safe there.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

Randy... Not to split hairs but he didn't break a half shaft. It was the output shaft of the transmission.

You are safe there.

Ah. Lol

Guess I should read the thread better.

Same point though. I'm dying to see that front cover come off.

I have some dampering between mine. I'd still check mine should I ever break the drive line or something lose.

[Huggerorange73]

Originally Posted by PQ

When I look at those pics I get the sense the the engine made an honorable and strong attempt to stay together. Like Scotty from Star Trek was in there doing his best.

The more I think about it, the less I want to blame the tensioner and I'm thinking that when you broke that half shaft that the subsequent immediate torque sheared the cam pin. Then it was just a matter of time until the cam turned with only the one bolt.

If I ever do break my half shaft or a joint or similar, I'll now make it a point to take the front off and inspect it.

I still hate this happened to you but it could end up saving a few engines.

If this thread saves even one engine...it'll be a huge success!

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

Randy... Not to split hairs but he didn't break a half shaft. It was the output shaft of the transmission.

You are safe there.

Jason's right...but in a sense so is Randy.

When that output shaft snapped there had to have been a vibration that went through the engine...plus it revved without anything holding it back while being under a load, even if only briefly.

We'll know more soon!

[S-eatin-grin]

Man...still hard to believe that this happened when your biggest mod was just a cam. Will be watching to see what the eventual cause of this is. Seems is had to be weak stock part.

One guys post said something about him sending you a check to help with the rebuild. Wouldn't that be an epic event if forum members all pitched in and helped you rebuild...GM won't take of you so your fellow C5 enthusists did. If you had $1 for every view of this thread youd already have the long-block bought and half the labor!

If it turns out to be a GM stock part weakness and they won't help, PM me your address, I'm in for $50 toward the C5 Catastrophic failure relief fund!