Sharks

I spend numerous hours working on my car over the past few days (new 928 Specialists Front & Rear Sway Bars, new brake lines, new brake pads, new steering rack bushings, and a special AO alignment) to get ready for this month’s track day. The morning was awesome, the car never felt better. My instructor said he wished his Corvette handled like my car. I had a huge smile on my face. After lunch my instructor said he could sign me off to drive alone, but would like to go for one more ride because it was handling so well. About half way through the session I was entering the back straight on a long sweeping right turn and heard a loud bang and pieces flying. The car did two 360’s before I could get control back and there was smoke everywhere.

We thought we just blew a tire (wishful thinking), but when I popped the hood I saw oil everywhere (we were very lucky the oil didn’t catch fire). EMS, fire truck, and other drivers came running to help.

The first photo is a shot from under the car looking up at (and inside) the #7 piston on the driver’s side. The second shot is a hand full of pieces that one of the corner workers gave me for my trophy case (found on the track).

Initial thoughts:

Three years ago before I installed my supercharger I did a compression test. Seven of the eight cylinders were very close, but the #7 cylinder was a fair amount lower than the rest (can’t remember the actual numbers), but I always had this feeling …

I was very lucky that a driver side cylinder blew instead of a passenger side one. When the engine oil hit the drivers rear wheel the car started rotating clockwise and away from the tire wall and into the grass.

Nobody was hurt, even the guy driving behind me that drove into my smoke trail was able to keep his car under control with the oil on the track, and all of the oil that hit my hot exhaust headers never caught fire.

Looks like I have a new project to work on now. I always knew I would be pulling that engine sometime in the future. I guess I should start my While You’re At It list.

ptuomov

Sorry to hear your engine died, but at least it went out in an honorable way.

jeff spahn

Yeah man, what a story you'll have to tell now! I mean if you were going to pull the engine someday, that someday has come. Keep the pieces, put them on a wooden plaque and hang it in your office.

danglerb

With an 85/86, better the short block than the top end, other than wrench time it shouldn't be too bad to fix, and end up with a stronger etc. motor.

Sorry to hear about it.

Ketchmi

It looks like #7 cylinder was cracked top to bottom well before it came apart. It served well, may it rest in peace ('s).

Jadz928

Mark,
I'm glad you are alright and you 928 is in one piece, mostly.

Yea, I'd usually say "throw a SC on it WYAIT'... but you already got that.

Hmmmm, how about some forged 951 pistons?

Sorry 'bout the motor. Reads like you had a real good session too.

beentherebaby

Wow what a bummer! Sorry for your loss but happy no one was injured.

You are lucky you didn't hit the wall... I had a Z06 passing me on a straight and when he was along side me and slightly ahead, his engine let go big time with the entire bottom end comming out as shrapnel whiched bounced off the ground and into my car. His car was engulfed in flames @ 100 mph for about 5 seconds. It was like someone turned a flame thrower on ME when he was along side and on fire. 200 yrds. later he was stopped without hitting anything and the fire was out. It was still under warranty...

It's better to be lucky than good some days!

Maleficio

Crazy!

Now you're like a racing badass.

Sharks

I can put them next to the bent valves from my old Fiat X-19 (another car with a timing belt and a OH cam).

Bill Ball

JB Weld?

No, I guess not. Sorry to see this.

Big Dave

IcemanG17

BTDT...far too many times.........I'm on engine #4 between my two track 928's....

Heres my theory on how to make a 928 engine survive on track on a reasonable budget....

1: install an OB baffle-pickup kit
2: Install a 3/8th pan spacer (this increases oil capacity to over 11 qts)
3: Run quality oil (I like amsoil)
4: (this is my theory) keep RPM's under 6000

Done....thats it....however I might install some type of scraper system next time I have the pan down...probably Doc Browns design....

On the 928 Estate I never see oil pressures under 50psi and actually gain oil pressure as I accelerate out of the corner...with peak oil pressure well above 75psi, typically 100psi+ This motor has over 33 hours on track including two 8 hour+ days with 2 hour stints..... that typically burned around 1 qt in 2 hours......

I'm no engineer or engine builder...I'm just a guy trying to race a 928 as cost effectively as I can and this works for me!!!

mickster

Glad you're okay. Who was selling an S3 block? Ryan Perella? (sorry if I misspelled it!)

GregBBRD

These cars should come with a warning attached to the window...much like one of the airbag warnings on the sunvisors of the new cars.

Seems like so many of these things have blown up "on the track" people should know, by now.

Caution:

This vehicle intended for highway use only! This vehicle will need multiple pieces and substancial work before it can be used for any "off road" application. Failure to heed this warning will result in connecting rods venting your crankcase, which may lead to injury or death.

hacker-pschorr