Oops think i finally done it

[dbv8]

Would i be able to drive 100 miles at normal speeds with a holed piston?

I had a rather impressive nitrous explosion yesterday and after pushing a few hoses etc back in place drove the car home. It ran ok ish but was down on power and felt like lumpy to say the least.
I have just removed the plenum and found a lump of aluminium the size of a kidney bean and engine oil around the trumpets.
Im going to pull the plugs out next to see if 1 tells me a story.

[Chimjunkie]

I know you were expecting this at some time. Would be very interesting to see the general condition of the engine when you strip it down. Hopefully it's just a piston upgrade and the engines ready for more abuse!

[pwd95]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. Been enjoying following your Drag Racing/Rolling Road exploits.

Time for a nice purpose built 5.2?

[dbv8]

I will post pics when i find the damage.
Then it will be decision time.
Either rebuild with forged pistons and try again, or as you say go for a full bore purpose built RV8. Or bite the bullet and decide between a 400ci SBC with a good old fashioned carb on top or an LS.

Ideally i would like a reliabe 400 bhp that i could add 300 hp of nitrous and with the right gearbox, diff and driveshafts etc have a car running easy 10's over the 1/4. But with my daughters wedding next year i will probably take the most cost effective route.

[dbv8]

Why is it always the last one you look at?
I worked my way round removing the plugs and all looked fine until i removed number 2 pot.
All squashed and battered with no gap!
I think i know which head to remove 1st. Im dreading seeing the damage to the head itself never mind the piston. I just hope the combustion chamber can be cleaned up and the valves and seats are ok.

First pieces of evidence....

Edited by dbv8 on Monday 21st September 19:31

[Chimjunkie]

At least a 400 head is cheap to get hold of. 500's are a fair bit harder and more expensive! May even be easier to just replace the head instead of trying to repair any valve damage?

[dbv8]

Chimjunkie said:

At least a 400 head is cheap to get hold of. 500's are a fair bit harder and more expensive! May even be easier to just replace the head instead of trying to repair any valve damage?

Is a 450 head the same as a 400?
Ive ported RV8 heads before and fitted guides and reshaped valves and stuff before in my SD1 days.
I actually have a pair of ported SD1 heads that havent been used since i ported them in the garage although i suspect the TVR heads will have larger valves at least on the inlet side. I hope to have the head of by Friday so we will see.

[Chimjunkie]

dbv8 said:

Chimjunkie said:

At least a 400 head is cheap to get hold of. 500's are a fair bit harder and more expensive! May even be easier to just replace the head instead of trying to repair any valve damage?

Is a 450 head the same as a 400?
Ive ported RV8 heads before and fitted guides and reshaped valves and stuff before in my SD1 days.
I actually have a pair of ported SD1 heads that havent been used since i ported them in the garage although i suspect the TVR heads will have larger valves at least on the inlet side. I hope to have the head of by Friday so we will see.

No, different. Thought you were running a 400 with the gas. Fingers crossed there is liner damage.

[spitfire4v8]

Surely if you're on nitrous you want a head with small inlets so you can get the biggest exhaust valves in there that will fit .. ?

[macdeb]

A fair few 450 heads have the same valves as 500's [mine has] Good luck mate.

[dbv8]

spitfire4v8 said:

Surely if you're on nitrous you want a head with small inlets so you can get the biggest exhaust valves in there that will fit .. ?

I was just saying what i expect to see on the 450 heads.
Yes bigger exhausts is the way to go for nitrous.

[macdeb]

Chimjunkie said:

I know you were expecting this at some time. Would be very interesting to see the general condition of the engine when you strip it down. Hopefully it's just a piston upgrade and the engines ready for more abuse!

Wot he said.

[2Munkys]

Sorry to hear of your woes Derek. At least your hand is now forced into optimising your motor for a stab at those sub 11's; you'd have taken that route at some point I'm sure.

You dropped the sump pan yet?

[dbv8]

2Munkys said:

Sorry to hear of your woes Derek. At least your hand is now forced into optimising your motor for a stab at those sub 11's; you'd have taken that route at some point I'm sure.

You dropped the sump pan yet?

To run in the 10's by my calcs i need at least 550 bhp so i need to build the motor to take a 250-300 bhp hit of gas. Its perfectly possible with the right parts but then i need to upgrade the gearbox etc to take it.

Im dismantling the engine all week but i think i will be removing the inlet and heads first. The block will be coming out at the weekend hopefully.

I need advice on where to get forged pistons etc and weigh up the costs for the various options i may have. All advice gratefully received.

[Chimjunkie]

Speak with Rob at V8Developments regarding what the engine can take and the best course of action regarding pistons etc.

jon

[dbv8]

Cheers Jon.

Some good news!
At great expense my 3-way Nitrons are ready to be delivered. Typical!
I guess i will display them in the living room until im ready with the car.
I think im going to go the whole hog and lift the body, replace the outriggers etc etc etc.
Aim to get the whole car back together and running/racing by March.

Edited by dbv8 on Tuesday 22 September 14:50

[swanny71]

dbv8 said:

Cheers Jon.

Some good news!
At great expense my 3-way Nitrons are ready to be delivered. Typical!
I guess i will display them in the living room until im ready with the car.
I think im going to go the whole hog and lift the body, replace the outriggers etc etc etc.
Aim to get the whole car back together and running/racing by March.

Edited by dbv8 on Tuesday 22 September 14:50

If you do the body lift and need a hand Derek I'd be happy to help (and be very interested to see it done)

[dbv8]

swanny71 said:

If you do the body lift and need a hand Derek I'd be happy to help (and be very interested to see it done)

Cheers Swanny
i definately at least need to raise the body if not completely removing it as the outriggers need repairing and i will be doing most of the work myself as i need to save money for the engine rebuild.
Welcome to come round and see the progress.

[grahamw48]

Sorry to hear about the engine Derek.
I guess it's had a good run...considering.

If it's repairable, have a look at what shpub has done with his (Wedge) motor.
It's supposedly putting out over 500bhp...I think WITHOUT nitrous, but water-injected.

Also 'rev-erend' is building a Wildcat headed 5 + litre for his SEAC.

[lewis_sharman]

Big shame Derek

If all goes well maybe see you at Santa Pod in the new year!