Ski

as the Ohio Players sang...#2 rod bearing went on the track car today, with me in it at around 5800 rpm, after a hard left hander, tracking out, hit the hill, then downhill and BAM! There was quite a huge orange fire ball out the back, I shut the car off and hit the wet grass. The front splitter didn't even get damaged but I did leave two pc of shrapnel from the oil pan on the track.

It was a helluva 3.5 years of flawless performance for the track car, especially running 8 sessions a day when Jim and I were both at the track at the same time with the car - one of use running in white and the other in blue or yellow; that way the car got a cool down period between run groups.

So, hopefully by August, the new engine will be done, we just have to work out the details but the spare block will be headed to the shop in a couple of weeks to get prepped for 101mm pistons, we just have to decide how the new engine is going to breath and whether it will be dry sumped or not.

NO photos of the carnage yet, they will come in a week or so after Jim gets the car out of the trailer and on the lift. I felt really bad, it was his year for the car and he had to take a broken race car home. But with his big shop, lift, hoist, etc, after the block gets done and we get all the parts, I'll fly down for the weekend, we'll build it and get it installed.

xsboost90

ouch- what doesnt kill it will make it stronger...

333pg333

Know the feeling. Sorry to hear it. What precautions did you take to avert this over those years?

Geneqco

Yeah, sorry to hear it too. i was wondering the same thing. Cross drilled crank? oil pan baffle and/or windage tray? oil accumulator?

Also wondering if you got to check your oil pressure or if you know typically if it drops during the hard left hander.

I've also heard that the reason #2 generally gives problems is because this is where oil is primarily diverted from for the turbo. Do you know if this is true and/or have any comments?

Thanks

333pg333

Long hard left handers are our Achilles heels unfortunately.

Geneqco

Because of oil pressure drop?

Ski

We had the LR kit, pick up ring and pan modification on the car. Twin coolers, oil temp, I never saw it over 250 and most of the time it was in the 225-240 range; pressure was and always has been great and never noticed and drop in the left hander. The water was around 180-190. They repaved turn 1 and there was a ton of grip, so yes, we were both taking the left hander faster but it's not a long one, just a nice standard apex, about the only one at Hallett.

New crank ( we're trying to decide 2.5 or 3.0) will either be cross drilled or perp drilled, we will probably put on an Accusump, just don't know if we can afford to dry sump it; have to see what the budget will allow.

333pg333

Well is dry sump the expense you pay for now to insure against the expense and time you pay for later?

Geneqco

[quote]New crank ( we're trying to decide 2.5 or 3.0) will either be cross drilled or perp drilled, we will probably put on an Accusump, just don't know if we can afford to dry sump it; have to see what the budget will allow.[end quote]


Any thoughts on these windage trays? I ordered one a while ago (incorporating the teflon crank scrapers), it will arrive in the mail Monday or Tuesday.

http://www.crank-scrapers.com/prod01_B.html

Kevin says the issue is more one of aeration of the oil and the air becoming entrained in the oil.

I have also fitted the extra oil cooler and accusump with teh 35 - 40 psi electronic valve.

dougoh

sorry to hear it bret...i went through the same thing with my car last year sweeping left hander...i just bought a car with an oil line routed to the #2 bearing and baffled pan...hopefully i wont have to go through this again.

billindenver

Just finished the rebuild on mine after a #2 at the track. It was so reliable as a 2.5 liter, I couldn't bring myself to build anything else. I did go lightened, balanced and cross drilled on the crank however. Good luck on your build.

Geneqco

Quite a few #2 failures recently... any ideas on precisely what caused yours and how best to prevent it?

Cory9584

Is this only a problem that results from hard cornering at the track?

Mighty Shilling

nope. my 924S tossed the #2 bearing on a straight, flat road. (I-70)

billindenver

I would love to blame my #2 failure on something outside of my control. The fact is, however, that I forgot to check my oil levels between sessions. I have no idea what I was thinking. I know, under full throttle, that my car goes through at least a quarter quart per 30 minute session sometimes as much as a half quart. On that particular weekend I also developed a fairly significant cam cover leak (had no idea). Due to parking in grass I never saw it and with a neighbor burning more oil than the valdez, I never thought it was me I smelled.

In any event, I spun the bearing on the last lap of the last session of the day. So...Was very likely mine was caused by cornering forces starving the engine because the level was low. My Bad...My Money.