Horrible, horrible news. $3700 Built engine exploded 15 minutes ago.

[MarkEmark]

Yup, another blown up KA-T.

Running 16 psi from a T3 super 60 (equates to about 12-13 psi from a T3/T4 50 trim hybrid) at 3500 rpm in 5th gear. #3 rod right through the block. Parts of the rod and block all over the road, oil everywhere. I was a mile from home and pulled over to a friend whose house was right where the explosion occurred. The engine had been professionally rebuilt less than 1000 miles ago. I was running a JWT ECU, Ford Cobra MAFS, MSD 50 lb/hr fuel injectors, PK top-feed fuel rail, alcohol injection, a large FMIC, and 9:1 forged wisecos. No detonation. Sounded just like Foster described, except "luckily" for me, the rod didn't destroy anything on the way out.

You guys can forget all my petty boost problems...it's destroyed. Three years of sweat, blood, toil, and over $12,000, and it's gone. I cried for the first time in over a decade. I didn't even cry at my Grandmother's funeral this past April, even though I was very close with her.

I was very close to buying forged Pauter or Crower connecting rods for the building of my engine this late spring, but on the advice of everyone on the forums, I kept the stock rods to keep costs down because I thought they were good for 400+ whp. At least now we know that couldn't be further from the truth. I HIGHLY doubt that I was making more than 300 whp when the rod self-destructed (the car was running pig-rich under JWT).

So for those of you who have NOT been paying attention to the "rod discussion," let me state this very clearly. STOCK KA RODS CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE POWER. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST.

Once more: STOCK KA RODS CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST.

These were stock KA rods, forged and shotpeened from the factory like all KA rods. 97,000 miles on them. Never, EVER over-revved. 1000 miles on the freshly rebuilt engine.

I don't even know what to say. I'm still in shock. This summer has been the worst summer of my 19 year old life. I've gotten arrested, speeding tickets, got caught drinking and smoking by my parents, haven't gotten along with my family, have been in $2000 debt for the engine + $1000 for lawyers fees, have been unemployed, and haven't gotten with a girl since late April in college. Besides that, I have spent weeks and weeks underneath the car trying to diagnose problems, taking the engine out, putting it back in, etc. I wish I'd just get hit by a car to make the summer even better, and in fact, I almost did, as I was collecting rod and block pieces off of the road.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I was just about to buy a new T3/T4 turbo. I'm leaving for North Carolina (to go to school at UNC-Chapel Hill) August 26th. I may just throw a stock KA in there and sell the thing. It's just not worth it to me anymore. I'm done with that damn car. Three years of dedication, and it was literally the ONLY thing that brought a smile to my face. It was my one and only unconditional friend. Nothing else makes me happy anymore. I've never been more depressed in my life.

I think it's time for a new project, a project that has good aftermarket support and cheap parts.

Another KA-T owner signing off, probably for good,

Marc


Modified by MarkEmark at 1:24 AM 8/15/2005

[Florida240sx]

WTF!Sorry to hear man...Did you assemble or did you have a shop do it?

[Nismo_Freak]

When it rains it pours.

[MarkEmark]

WTF!Sorry to hear man...Did you assemble or did you have a shop do it?

Professionally assembled by a highly reputable shop. They build a LOT of race car engines for SCCA (they even built one for a road and track car that ran in some baja endurance race).

It was not assembly error.

[Craving4Boost]

son of a bish.....that fudging sucks! yeah i think people are to overconfident on the rods because i swear the HP rating at our KA rods can handle keeps going up and up in this forum. but i cant believe you even had them shotpeened and they still couldnt handle it...how odd...

i swear, sometimes you either have good luck, or bad luck going with KA-T route..

i understand how you feel i feel like my project is my only friend too lol..i guess its time for a rb25 swap...shotpeen rods are like putting a bullet proof vest over it, just wont work after a while. why not just start with something already bullet proof

sorry about your car...keep us updated on what your future plans are

[GEO]

hmm.... this 10psi on the stock block I am running now..... is looking better.. GOD Damn... maybe i should cut back till i get a built motor.

[C-Kwik]

Sorry to hear that man. I know you put a lot of hard work into this. Try not to get down about it. We've all had problems with our cars before. I'll be looking forward to seeing you get your car running again.

[GEO]

Pauter rods are a great investment.

[Nismo_Freak]

Take some time, and you will find a renewed interest.

Same thing happened to me with my S14.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

Yup, another blown up KA-T.

I was very close to buying forged Pauter or Crower connecting rods for the building of my engine this late spring, but on the advice of everyone on the forums, I kept the stock rods to keep costs down because I thought they were good for 400+ whp. At least now we know that couldn't be further from the truth. I HIGHLY doubt that I was making more than 300 whp when the rod self-destructed (the car was running pig-rich under JWT).

So for those of you who have NOT been paying attention to the "rod discussion," let me state this very clearly. STOCK KA RODS CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE POWER. THEY CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST.

Once more: STOCK KA RODS CAN NOT HANDLE BOOST.

Sorry for your loss but just because your rods didn't hold up doesn't mean everyones rods are bad... you take a chance when using stock rods... it just happens...

[chandler]

man that makse baby jesus cry, Im sorry to hear your loss, I wish you luck in your future tunings, what ever they may be

[D Money]

sorry to hear that man, damn these ka's. Im selling mine and honestly if I was you id just do the same. Not enough money for another risk. They feel so good boosted but so much $

[SSS]

IMHO, don't bother shot peening rods that have already been shot peened from the factory.

Just get the rods cryo treated if you must re-use stock rods.

Sorry to hear, it's just unfortunate that we all learn something from your's and Fiz's very bad luck.

I know my spare KA's rods will never be seeing inside of an engine ever again unless i have no choice.

[SSS]

Just looking at the pic you posted, it seems obvious that the failure was caused by the rod bending from the BMEP being produced as a result of the forced induction.

They simply just lack the bending stiffness required to cope with the increased BMEP.

[klattr1]

sorry to hear it man. i know what it feels like.

how many miles on this motor when rods went?

did you get a wideband on it before u started boostin it?

[95_240sx]

Welcome to the world of boost. Stop crying and build a better motor already. And I'm sorry, but a rod doesnt do that from just boost pressure, something happened to that motor. You can break a rod and not have a reason.

I dont know why everyone is under the assumption that a boosted motor will last forever and ever and ever. IT WILL BLOWUP, IT IS A FACT OF LIFE. If I felt bad for myself after I blew 8 HG's, 2 motors, 4 trannys, an incredibly PITA wiring problem or how many times I have replaced parts for bigger/better ones, maxed those out, then replace again and had to start over with stuff not wanting to work right, I would be where I am at now, 5hp from the KA HP record and one tenth off the ET record. Hard work, dedication and patience WILL pay off.

Rick

[neoamd]

What turbo manifold are you usuing?

[chad_KAT]

my kat ideas are relly fading away... sr20 or rb here i come.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

Welcome to the world of boost. Stop crying and build a better motor already. And I'm sorry, but a rod doesnt do that from just boost pressure, something happened to that motor. You can break a rod and not have a reason.

I dont know why everyone is under the assumption that a boosted motor will last forever and ever and ever. IT WILL BLOWUP, IT IS A FACT OF LIFE. If I felt bad for myself after I blew 8 HG's, 2 motors, 4 trannys, an incredibly PITA wiring problem or how many times I have replaced parts for bigger/better ones, maxed those out, then replace again and had to start over with stuff not wanting to work right, I would be where I am at now, 5hp from the KA HP record and one tenth off the ET record. Hard work, dedication and patience WILL pay off.

Rick

I'm sorry but i have to add to this.. if you spent 3700 bucks on a "built motor" why keep stock rods? The motor is only as strong as its weakest link...

[veilside180sx]

It sucks to hear Mark. you do need to bounce back though. Did it mess up your pistons?

[Florida240sx]

Even though it was buitl by a professional shop doesn't mean it was done perfect. Yes it should be but everyone is human and maybe they f^.Just doesn't make sense on it blowing on only 16....Guess we'll know more after looking at the other rods...

[swwifty]

sorry to hear this. You'll get it back up running again. This only confrims the need to replace the stock rods when boosting.

[veilside180sx]

What turbo manifold are you usuing?

T3 super 60 (from first post in thread)

[D Money]

T3 super 60 (from first post in thread)

He was asking turbo MANIFOLD not turbo.

[PalmerWMD]

Pauter rods are a great investment.

I am so sorry to hear!!..

If the engine was torn into anyway, why not do rods?Arent Eagles like 600 bux? (they are in Z33 applications), pauters of course mouch more.

Fred..

[HolyShiznit]

sorry to hear this. You'll get it back up running again. This only confrims the need to replace the stock rods when boosting.

3 years on stock rods, multiple engine combos, and boost combos. Not a single malfunction EVER except for the 87 octane detonation. This confirms NOTHING other than the fact that we live in a world with NO guaruntee's. I have seen aftermarket rods blow apart too people....

Sorry to hear Mark.

[Jookmasta]

damn. and i was interested in the blitz thingy that you have for sale. u know i really really feel bad for you as you only push five more psi than me on a similar turbo and i dont have a built motor. i really am at a lost for words since u are number two in the span of like a month. nismo freak said it best "when it rains, it pours." i guess post pics when you feel up to it and my condolences on your lost.

[fiznat]

Arugh Mark-- thats horrible to hear! I know - both from my own experinces and from yours that you've told me - how much work went into these engines, and how much is lost in an instant. Arugh man... I'm sorry...

My only advice for you is dont make any decisions on it just yet. I'm sure you're thinking about selling the car or parting it out... I know I thought (and do still think sometimes) about it. Still though, there are other ways to look at it it that might turn out to better for ya (and for me!). Rebuilding our engines this 2nd time around will create something SO much better than what we started with. Its not just a matter of getting back to what you've lost, but learning from the experience (and I KNOW you've learned so much already) and actually having the oppertunity to apply that experience, now, into the very same project.

I know myself I'm actually kindof excited to have the oppertunity to redo this setup. There were a lot of things I wished I had done better, neater, stronger (*cough* rods! haha), or just generally cooler. We now have that oppertunity and, money aside, I see no reason why we shouldnt take it.

Mark, if you need anything at all as far as help/parts/labor/advice/anything, you know where to find me. That is, of course, if its okay with "Thee 240sx Owner" haha

EDIT: Also Marc, got any pics of the pistons and bearing surfaces?

[95_240sx]

At least you motor doesnt look like this:





Rick

[sunnys14]

im still gonna take the risk and use the stock rods... i guess things just happen, and like they say, things can break and not have a reason