Guys, horrible news.

[fiznat]

Today while boosting at 20 psi on the highway, my engine pretty much exploded.

I heard a huge bang, and crunching noises while a big blue cloud of smoke came out the back along with chunks of who knows what. Looking under the hood afterwards, there is oil everywhere and I can see 2 rods poking out (#1 and #3 I think), along with all kinds of other nastyness.

I just got home after the tow, I will have pictures later.

[AZhitman]

Oh crap.

'Nuff said.

Foster, lemme know if I can do anything to help.

[DrJuice164]

I am crying right now
Modified by DrJuice164 at 12:59 PM 8/2/2005

[DammitBobby]

Oh Crap! I wonder if it was because of the stock rods?

[jEzTeR]

Sucks big monkey balls!

[hannibal]

Noooo! I feel your pain, Fiz...

[fiznat]

Okay, pictures.

I have to say that the engine did go out with style. I didnt just pop, it blew up with a fantastic crunching sound-- punching multiple holes through the block with rods and various debris.

Looking under the car, its obvious that something is wrong. Looks like my starter somehow got chewed up and spit out:



Rod #1 through the block:



Did some damage on its way out I guess:



Looks like Rod #3 also came out (you can see the endcap of it there bottom left)-- along with something else ripped a small hole just to the right. Hope my clutch isnt shot, too:



Thats all I have for now... Ill get more pics as I start taking things apart.

I dont know what I'm going to do about this. I dont have the money at all to rebuild this block, nor do I want to part out this car that I've put SO much time and effort (and money!) into. I MAY be accepting offers on the car as-is in a little bit, I need to think about it. From here, looks like only the block is damaged. I imagine a complete replacement (as it was) would require about $1500 max, with rods if you wanted to do them maybe $2k. Anyone wanting to place offers on the car as-is please email me [email protected]. Although I'm still not sure what it is I'm gonna do.

Thanks for the kind words guys...

[Sil40_Mayhem]

Wow. You, sir, have my deepest and most sincere condolences.

[crzycav86]

Wow. That is very very sad to see.

Hang in there buddy.

[Mustangs_Suck]

DAMN IT.

That is terrible.

I'm starting to wonder if I should give up my KA-T project....no one seems to be able to reliably have these motors boosted for any decent amount of time.

This winter I was pretty much going to build my car so it was exactly like yours...and now this happened...**** **** ****.

I'm sorry Fiznat.....I share your frustration, so know you're not alone.

Take care of yourself and do whatever will be best for you.

Sorry again man.

[virus77]

damn fiz your car went out just like mine, dont know if you remember my post or not but I was at 17 psi. Same thing happened puched a hole through the block. I ran it for 3k miles before it happened, I guess the stock rods arent really what they are said to be. Sucks alot though, I definatly know how you feel.

Edit: heres my damn pic, brings back bad memories: Went out in style aswell, sprayed oil on the PCH for a half mile stretch in front of the malibu shopping center.

[MarkEmark]

Today while boosting at 20 psi on the highway, my engine pretty much exploded.

I heard a huge bang, and crunching noises while a big blue cloud of smoke came out the back along with chunks of who knows what. Looking under the hood afterwards, there is oil everywhere and I can see 2 rods poking out (#1 and #3 I think), along with all kinds of other nastyness.

I just got home after the tow, I will have pictures later.

That sucks so bad, Foster, but I'm sure you didn't need to be told that...and to think, I thought all of my KA-T "problems" were serious....this puts it back into perspective. I'm really really sad to hear of that...I always bragged about you to all my friends for being a 240 owner in CT putting down 430 whp, and I used your set-up as the "industry" standard.

I never got a chance to take a ride in the beast either

Here's the major question: Do you have ANY idea what caused this? What about you, Virus 77? It's not just because you're using the stock rods, is it? Did you over-rev? Lean out all of a sudden? Boost spike? 20 psi isn't that much, especially considering how well-tuned your engine was. My dad always tells me how my engine under extreme boost simply won't last, and I've used people like you as an example of their durability. You only had what, 2000 miles on the re-build? A damn shame.

And not to sound like an opportunistic leech, but you said you're only taking offers for as is? As in, you wouldn't want to part out part of the turbo kit (eg, turbo/mani/dp/wg).

Again, very very sorry to hear of this, hang in there.

[maxhopper]

Damn, that's just horrible. Best wishes on getting things repaired/replaced, and running soon.

[virus77]

I think there has been too much talk about stock rods holding up 350whp that people got this misconception that they are bulletproof from the factory, why would nissan even put a rod that can hold 400 horses in a car that makes 150 stock. People said Ivan had proven them up to 500 horses, but they had about 100 miles probably on the motor before the rods went crooked, that doesnt seem like they hold 500 at all, unless you planning on making a few 1/4 runs before the motor blows. Mine and probably fiz's slowely went crooked until they snapped. I personally think people overrated the damn things and they will not hold 400whp for a long time. I was pushing upper 300's to the wheels and it took about 3000 miles to break them. My rings and pistons looked like they hadnt been used yet they were so clean. In short, replace your rods and pistons and youre golden, up to 300 horses your fine on stock rods. I never over-reved, 6400 fuel cuttoff, my car was always running race gas at high boost and I monitored knock and A/F at all times. Anyways that just what Ive picked up on during my time here.

[Nismo_Freak]

That really sucks Foster

Rebuild it, you've gone too far to quit. Plus you'd just lose your butt on it anyways.

Check the flywheel for fragmentation, the crank suddenly losing mass like that could have rocked the flywheel into the starter. Hopefully not cause that means you've got some driveline damage as well

If I had to guess, I'd guess rod fatigue as the culprit, but I've never seen a starter get blasted off like that either. Perhaps something got jammed up in the workings.

[Craving4Boost]

how hard were you pushing it? rods coming out the block is usually from over revving...sorry to see this though...your one of the cars i look up too..

[HolyShiznit]

Ok let's not get all jumpy on the stock rods. More information is needed before we can blame them. Ivan also bent the rod when he spiked, and it also doesn't matter how many miles you have it but how HARD those miles have been. IE revving a car to only 3k for 10,000 miles is MUCH easier on it than doing full boost dyno runs for 100 miles.

I await further word. I have rebuilt stock rods with ARP studs, and I used stock rods on a stock block for my 14psi set up and never had any problems.

[szh]

ouch, ouch, ouch!!!

Z

[fiznat]

I await further word.

I'm gonna stay up tonight and pull it apart. Already got the beer for it, so we're all set and ready to go. Stand by for pics + hopefully an explination.

[uncle_louie83]

i believe that the motor is reliable for prolly low 300 hp range in factory condition..yes its stout but pushing 20 psi on stock rods is way crazy...most i would go with a properly decent size turbo is 1 bar (14.7psi). id never trust the stockers in the upper 300 range..especially when they already have prolly over 100k miles on them as is.

If i were u fiz...i would get another stock motor...slap it in your car...run 12psi and drive...and then i would get another bottom end of a motor when u can and build that one right. IF YOU put the right parts in it, it wont blow like that one did. Put premium rods and premium pistons (dont u have some already?)...use good bearings...not auto parts store bearings, they suck and use a cometic head gasket and reuse your upper end or just more extreme on the upper end if you choose. to me 20 psi meen its time for a built motor. when i built my motor i built it to handle whatever i want. It has forged rods and pistons....stage 1 cams and a port n polish...and a cometic head gasket...everything was balanced and blueprinted and i even use OEM bearings. They were better quality than auto parts store bearings. If you like your car alot and dont want to start over again then take my advice.

we all know starting over on a new car sux....gotta do suspension...wheels/tires....interior what needs to be fixed...fix things wrong with the motor and fix various other things...It would be easier on your wallet also to just get a replacement motor....anywho..its up to you man...

lewis

[HolyShiznit]

Like I said I will await confirmation but Fizzy's rods were rebuilt and remachined to be even STRONGER plus he had ARP studs in them. I am not going to bash the rods because to be honest I have seen BUILT rods snap on freak accidents. Plus I kinda stand by Ivan's dynoing, but oh well. Here's a beer to you my friend!

[DammitBobby]

I think we need to pull together as a NICO group and Help Fizzy out. Maybe someone could donate a used motor and we as a group could send Fizzy some Paypal money. He has to much money invested and time to sell it now!!

[chandler]

ill donate my spare block, its sitting her eif you want it fiz

[AZhitman]

Much agreed. I can help out, and we already have a PayPal account set up for matters like this.

I'm a little concerned about the "numbers" race... I'll go into it further in another thread, but this pursuit of 400+ hp from a KA (while it CAN be done), seems to be a bit counterproductive.

I've driven a lot of high-hp cars, and a 240 with more than 250-300 whp seems to me to be pretty unmanageable, esp for street duty.

[GEO]

Fiznat... God damn, looks like a gorilla went lose in the chamber. A fallen KA soldier. I am liking my 7psi setup right now...

[-ExCesS-]

Damn, sorry to hear that. . .If you got my IM, I guess this is the answer to my question.

I guess that was you looking under your hood on route 9 around 2:30-ish. . .good luck with everything man

[NX95240]

hate to hear that man. would like to see more pic of it..

[base9se]

sad to see that man

[IvanAtSPRacing]

Fiz, that totally sucks. Let me know if I can help in any way.

[EazyBreazy]

i boo the motion that your engine set in front of this tribunal....to it i say.....nay....come on fiznat rebuild her....there's only one thing worse than never reaching a goal and that is touching it only to have it taken.....go forth and build your ka-t because if you build it others will be forced to follow (only cuz they cant catch you)