As most of you know...I've been flogging my 'lil Vette un mercifully for the last couple of years. It's SLOWLY been coming around in the ET dept...but keeps getting faster and faster. HP hasn't been a problem!
I had fuel pump die on me at a recent race. It was "coming and going" as I went down the track so fuel pressure/volume was fluctuating a lot and the EFI safeguards apparently weren't able to kick in and calm down the timing etc. But I didn't know that. All I knew was it popped a couple of times hard and I decided to load it up and bring it home once I determined the pump sounded like it was eating itself. I pulled some plugs- though not all of them (first mistake maybe) and they looked fine. Didn't seem like there was any damage from going lean.
I sent both pumps to Aeromotive to be rebuilt (great service- in fact it looks like they gave me new pumps) and I spent a gazzilion $$$ buying additional fuel filters and fittings to install before the pump. Never had them before. I re-did some wiring and switched toggle switch to allow me to shut off pumps completely rather than have the EFI control the main one like I had been doing.
At the last minute I decided to take it to a "Streetcar Takeover" event at Ennis TX. They were allowing some test-n-tune and the weather was fantastic. I had a bunch of last minute issues getting there...battery died and needed replaced etc etc. But I made it. I did notice it had a different sound when cranking and was a little rougher when cold...but I've got all the cold start enrichment turned off and it was cooler than it had been. Probably second mistake.
Anyway, finally pull to the line....burnout goes well...I launch and it hooks better than it has in a long time (they had glued the track well!) I commence to pulling gears and notice it seems a little weak and then I notice it sounds different. I lifted and coasted through with a 9.53@149 MPH. Folks kept coming by talking about the cool 2nd gear wheelie though!
Back at the pits I pulled valve covers...all is good. Pulled a few plugs...look OK but something isn't right so I bring it home.
Compression test confirmed #1 and #3 are dead so I pulled the head(s). Turns out I torched a piston and cut a 3/8" slot in the head between the cylinders. OUCH!!
I took the heads to Brodix in Arkansas on Monday to let them repair it and freshen valvejob on both. Took a couple of extra days with the wife in a cabin in the woods/mountains. No WIFI or cell phone service. It was great.
I pulled the shortblock out today and tore it down.
Good news is the block is fine between the cylinders. WHEW!
Got one melted piston. The others look OK and no stuck rings or anything
Have some small scratches in the one cylinder- but they will hone out OK
All the rod and main bearings look great. Heck I could re-use them (but I won't).
I've got a piston and rings ordered. I'll get it put back together as soon as parts get here. I "could" use my old Brodix heads...they make just as much power and are sitting on the shelf. We'll see.
Trying to decide if I should throw a little more cam at it. Hmnnnnnn........
It's been in "turbo mode" for about 5-6 years now. The first few were mainly street use....the last two have been severe flogging. I'm crossing the line just a hair under 8000 RPM on every pass and even though it's painful to have to fix one occasionally, it's nice to get in there and see all the bearings, crank, rods etc are generally happy.
JIM


I had fuel pump die on me at a recent race. It was "coming and going" as I went down the track so fuel pressure/volume was fluctuating a lot and the EFI safeguards apparently weren't able to kick in and calm down the timing etc. But I didn't know that. All I knew was it popped a couple of times hard and I decided to load it up and bring it home once I determined the pump sounded like it was eating itself. I pulled some plugs- though not all of them (first mistake maybe) and they looked fine. Didn't seem like there was any damage from going lean.
I sent both pumps to Aeromotive to be rebuilt (great service- in fact it looks like they gave me new pumps) and I spent a gazzilion $$$ buying additional fuel filters and fittings to install before the pump. Never had them before. I re-did some wiring and switched toggle switch to allow me to shut off pumps completely rather than have the EFI control the main one like I had been doing.
At the last minute I decided to take it to a "Streetcar Takeover" event at Ennis TX. They were allowing some test-n-tune and the weather was fantastic. I had a bunch of last minute issues getting there...battery died and needed replaced etc etc. But I made it. I did notice it had a different sound when cranking and was a little rougher when cold...but I've got all the cold start enrichment turned off and it was cooler than it had been. Probably second mistake.
Anyway, finally pull to the line....burnout goes well...I launch and it hooks better than it has in a long time (they had glued the track well!) I commence to pulling gears and notice it seems a little weak and then I notice it sounds different. I lifted and coasted through with a 9.53@149 MPH. Folks kept coming by talking about the cool 2nd gear wheelie though!
Back at the pits I pulled valve covers...all is good. Pulled a few plugs...look OK but something isn't right so I bring it home.
Compression test confirmed #1 and #3 are dead so I pulled the head(s). Turns out I torched a piston and cut a 3/8" slot in the head between the cylinders. OUCH!!
I took the heads to Brodix in Arkansas on Monday to let them repair it and freshen valvejob on both. Took a couple of extra days with the wife in a cabin in the woods/mountains. No WIFI or cell phone service. It was great.
I pulled the shortblock out today and tore it down.
Good news is the block is fine between the cylinders. WHEW!
Got one melted piston. The others look OK and no stuck rings or anything
Have some small scratches in the one cylinder- but they will hone out OK
All the rod and main bearings look great. Heck I could re-use them (but I won't).
I've got a piston and rings ordered. I'll get it put back together as soon as parts get here. I "could" use my old Brodix heads...they make just as much power and are sitting on the shelf. We'll see.
Trying to decide if I should throw a little more cam at it. Hmnnnnnn........
It's been in "turbo mode" for about 5-6 years now. The first few were mainly street use....the last two have been severe flogging. I'm crossing the line just a hair under 8000 RPM on every pass and even though it's painful to have to fix one occasionally, it's nice to get in there and see all the bearings, crank, rods etc are generally happy.
JIM



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