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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

The 408w had a blowup :(

  • Thread starter Thread starter moosetang408w
  • Start date Start date Oct 16, 2010

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Alberta, Canada
Oct 16, 2010
#1
  • Oct 16, 2010
  • #1
So at the drag strip I noticed smoke out the back. Ran fine so I thought head gasket but when I pulled the plug to do a compression test the plug was hit. My spiral lock had let go. So my wrist pin was rubbing on my cylinder wall. Not huge damage but the block is no good. I will be stripping the car down this winter and decide whether to make it faster or back to where she was. Sigh. That is racing I guess.
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,301
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Acworth, GA
Oct 16, 2010
#2
  • Oct 16, 2010
  • #2
That sucks dude. Even if the block is cheap, the machine work sure isn't.

Kurt
 

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
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Alberta, Canada
Oct 16, 2010
#3
  • Oct 16, 2010
  • #3
revhead347 said:
That sucks dude. Even if the block is cheap, the machine work sure isn't.

Kurt
Click to expand...

It sucks. But....I like to take a bad situation and make it great. I had a second phase for my build which I was planning for 2013 but I will bump it up now to be done in 2012. Next phase:

custom sheetmetal intake with an air to water intercooler, 4L whipple charger, Dart block, and dish pistons to drop my compression a couple points. I think it is the responsible thing to do. When you get lemons you make 4 digit horsepower out of it.
 

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
4,548
41
98
MAINE
Oct 16, 2010
#4
  • Oct 16, 2010
  • #4
damn that sucks sorry to hear that. Looks like it will be even better in the long run though.
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
Oct 16, 2010
#5
  • Oct 16, 2010
  • #5
moosetang408w said:
It sucks. But....I like to take a bad situation and make it great. I had a second phase for my build which I was planning for 2013 but I will bump it up now to be done in 2012. Next phase:

custom sheetmetal intake with an air to water intercooler, 4L whipple charger, Dart block, and dish pistons to drop my compression a couple points. I think it is the responsible thing to do. When you get lemons you make 4 digit horsepower out of it.
Click to expand...

that made me laugh a little.

This is my biggest fear with the car and still with the truck. Ya put all that $$ into it and it breaks again. I don't know what I'd do.

Sounds like your future setup will be sweet.
 

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
90
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0
Alberta, Canada
Oct 17, 2010
#6
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #6
I still have to find the root cause to this. My friend, who owns an engine shop, said the thing that can make those spiral locks pop out is detonation. I want to make sure something like a spiral lock doesn't crater my second build.
 

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself
15 Year Member
Feb 22, 2007
5,126
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Oct 17, 2010
#7
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #7
That sucks to hear man, you just got her going not too long ago! Nice attitude though, I would have cried a little.
 

RIO5.0

15 Year Member
Feb 16, 2001
6,892
8
128
N.H.
Oct 17, 2010
#8
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #8
Ouch.... your correct though, wanna play, you pay.
Least you have plans so its not like your really pissed and wanna dump it.
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,301
1,643
214
Acworth, GA
Oct 17, 2010
#9
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #9
I hate to say it, but usually a spiral lock pops because it's installed incorrectly. I assume you had floating rods on this engine.

Kurt
 

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
90
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Alberta, Canada
Oct 17, 2010
#10
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #10
revhead347 said:
I hate to say it, but usually a spiral lock pops because it's installed incorrectly. I assume you had floating rods on this engine.

Kurt
Click to expand...

I know....I just don't want to admit it. When I was building the engine I didn't think I would have valve clearance issues but when I the heads on and turned it over by hand I found I didn't have enought clearance. So I had to pull it apart to have the pistons machined. I think I should have got a new set of spiral locks because getting those things in and out are a pain. Might have weakened it.
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,301
1,643
214
Acworth, GA
Oct 17, 2010
#11
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #11
Yeah, those have to be replaced every single time you take them apart. Not to say I haven't done something like that out of cheapness.

Kurt
 

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
90
0
0
Alberta, Canada
Oct 17, 2010
#12
  • Oct 17, 2010
  • #12
revhead347 said:
Yeah, those have to be replaced every single time you take them apart. Not to say I haven't done something like that out of cheapness.

Kurt
Click to expand...

I don't think cheapness was the thing that never made me replace it. Just inexperience. That was my first engine build by myself. I am just happy that my crank, heads, and rods are in good shape.
 

ProKiller

Founding Member
Apr 26, 2002
3,064
15
78
PA
Oct 18, 2010
#13
  • Oct 18, 2010
  • #13
good thing its only the block like you said. yeah it sucks but if it detonated your whole setup that would have been a lot worse.
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,301
1,643
214
Acworth, GA
Oct 18, 2010
#14
  • Oct 18, 2010
  • #14
I pray I didn't make any mistakes on the engine I just put together. Can't afford to blow another one.

Kurt
 

moosetang408w

New Member
Jul 13, 2005
90
0
0
Alberta, Canada
Oct 18, 2010
#15
  • Oct 18, 2010
  • #15
revhead347 said:
I pray I didn't make any mistakes on the engine I just put together. Can't afford to blow another one.

Kurt
Click to expand...

May the force by with you.
 
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