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listen to your engine builder!!!
#1001914
05/29/11 04:36 AM
05/29/11 04:36 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,559
Oh
His and Her 69's
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,559
Oh
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I should have listened to my engine builder better when he said it time to tear the engine down to check it out.
It has been in the car since 2003 and has had normal maintance, brad penn 20 50 oil, valves adjusted, etc. It has been a Good 10.90 - 11.20 car all these years with no issues, street driven some also.
Well at the Mo Power event I was racing the woman, her RR against my RR in time trials because she wanted to kick my butt so we lined them up and raced. She had a .001 red and I had a .008 red, she Won but at the big end I looked in my mirror and she was pulling over to the side of the track.
Long story short her RR dropped 2 valves in #5 cyl, bent 1 pushrod, and holed #5 piston. The block looks good yet, crank is good, and alum rods look fine, even the cyl is mark free, thats suprises me.
The Indy Sr heads had the Indy valves in them yet and just wasn't up to the power level anymore. The head looks like it needs some minor welding and milled flat with ALL NEW BETTER VALVES installed.
Now my engine builder will get more of my money because I didn't listen to him when he suggested to freshen it up this spring. I didn't have the extra cash at the time and I couldn't get the car out of storage in enought time to get it done before the Mo Power event.
Photos to come soon when I downsize them.
David
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!!
[Re: His and Her 69's]
#1001918
05/29/11 02:30 PM
05/29/11 02:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
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Quote:
I should have listened to my engine builder better when he said it time to tear the engine down to check it out.
It has been in the car since 2003
How many runs and miles were on it?
When a car isn't used much it is hard to accept it should be taken apart, inspected, and freshened. But depending on the power, parts used, etc. it could be a good idea.
It is easier to accept that a 700 hp engine that makes 150 passes per year needs to come apart every 2-3 years. Sometimes every year is cheap insurance like on a new combo/build to make sure everything is wearing properly. Valve springs on big roller cams, roller lifters, even aluminum rod, etc. may not last very long and replacing them often is cheaper than letting them break.
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!! /PHOTOS ADDED
[Re: 440Jim]
#1001919
05/31/11 05:27 AM
05/31/11 05:27 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,559
Oh
His and Her 69's
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,559
Oh
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I would say less then 500 street miles, and for passes A LOT. She would make as many passes as the track would allow her, we did open TNT's, many CC races, Mopar Nats races, and Norwalk wed night races.
I would not be surprised that there isn't 500 or more passes on it. I think that's a LOW number honestly. The motor made 615 hp on the dyno when it was built and is in her RR that weighs 3700 lbs race weight.
I took it apart further and the alum rods have NO marks on them anywhere, the Callies crank is Nice and mark free, the #5 cyl that had the valve issue doesn't have hardly any marks in it, and the other head just has a couple spots where a valve piece made a mark in the chamber. The cam and lifters also have no marks on them but MAY change them to something different if we can afford too. Even the bearings all LOOK GOOD but will get changed out.
I will have my engine builder, Graham Performance Engines take a look at the parts so I will know what is needed. The rods will get checked, block checked, head welded and reground flat, new valves, 1 pushrod, and a new set of pistons which I have as long as the block can stay .030 over, If not I will do another block up.
It could have been worse and I am Thankful she was alert enough to shut it down when she heard the noise. It probably saved us a bunch of Money and parts. She has been REALLY NICE TO ME LATELY wonder why. Ha Ha She wants to race again I can tell.
David
Last edited by His and Her 69's; 05/31/11 05:28 AM.
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!!
[Re: His and Her 69's]
#1001923
05/31/11 04:23 PM
05/31/11 04:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,177
ill
dennismopar73
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,177
ill
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Quote:
I should have listened to my engine builder better when he said it time to tear the engine down to check it out.
It has been in the car since 2003 and has had normal maintance, brad penn 20 50 oil, valves adjusted, etc. It has been a Good 10.90 - 11.20 car all these years with no issues, street driven some also.
Well at the Mo Power event I was racing the woman, her RR against my RR in time trials because she wanted to kick my butt so we lined them up and raced. She had a .001 red and I had a .008 red, she Won but at the big end I looked in my mirror and she was pulling over to the side of the track.
sorry to hearthis,,, been together since 03, might been good to go thru it, but it may not have found that issue,, , appears to have lost a valve,,retainer/lock,or broken spring
i raced a guys car 2 years ago, had a new stoker 543, , made 2 laps , wouldnt run falling off a cliff, i wanted to load it up go home take it apart see what was wrong, the owner insisted i take it out 1 last time, , i should have loaded up, it let go at 1/8 mile, at 6200
only saved the heads, owner lost 5000 $ motor
Long story short her RR dropped 2 valves in #5 cyl, bent 1 pushrod, and holed #5 piston. The block looks good yet, crank is good, and alum rods look fine, even the cyl is mark free, thats suprises me.
The Indy Sr heads had the Indy valves in them yet and just wasn't up to the power level anymore. The head looks like it needs some minor welding and milled flat with ALL NEW BETTER VALVES installed.
Now my engine builder will get more of my money because I didn't listen to him when he suggested to freshen it up this spring. I didn't have the extra cash at the time and I couldn't get the car out of storage in enought time to get it done before the Mo Power event.
Photos to come soon when I downsize them.
David
Last edited by dennismopar73; 05/31/11 04:24 PM.
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!! /PHOTOS ADDED
[Re: His and Her 69's]
#1001925
05/31/11 09:03 PM
05/31/11 09:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
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Quote:
It has been in the car since 2003 ...
I would say less then 500 street miles, and for passes A LOT. ...
I would not be surprised that there isn't 500 or more passes on it. I think that's a LOW number honestly. The motor made 615 hp on the dyno when it was built and is in her RR that weighs 3700 lbs race weight.
Thanks for sharing that. Hind sight is 20/20, so don't take this wrong; but I agree with the engine builder. And if the valve springs were not checked after that many years, they are suspect and could be checked now for future reference. I found a cracked valve lock during my winter inspection/freshen... caught it just in time!
I still hate to hear of the damage. Sometimes they last longer, sometimes one thing causes another.
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!! /PHOTOS ADDED
[Re: His and Her 69's]
#1001931
06/05/11 09:04 AM
06/05/11 09:04 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Todd is right about the springs--It has been 1969 since a head came off a valve because of valve quality--valve float for whatever reason is the culprit 99% of the time--they float because of weak springs, too heavy on the retainers, DRIVING style, too much RPM, uncontrolled burnout, etc the valve then gets smacked by the piston and that makes the head come off. I am NO fan of Indy but..they used to ( not sure about now)buy valves from BBB in Argentina and they are one of the worlds biggest makers and build the valves to the buyers specs- Indy always ordered chrome on the stems for wear protection and induction hardened tips- all plenty good enough for any race engine--hate to see your trouble but worth mentioning that Titanium retainers are the best protection and EVERY race engine should have them. 
Last edited by crabman173; 06/05/11 09:22 AM.
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Re: listen to your engine builder!!! /PHOTOS ADDED
[Re: Performance Only]
#1001933
06/05/11 10:49 AM
06/05/11 10:49 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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340 or more would be more like it for sure! 240 spelled doom --like I said valves get blamed for lots of other valvetrain issues and are almost never the problem
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all in all dont sound too bad,good luck.
Or do you want to give her another expereince in what to do when the motor breaks 
