Looks like I killed a Hemi tonight....UPDATED W/ Pics!

[Steve P.]

Damn Doug, from the distruction shown in the pics. I would have to say it was your birthday if the block comes through ok.   Maybe you should lay down a few bucks on the horses.. 

I hope the block is good and your able to  put together a bullet proof motor quickly. Here's to strokin the ponies.. 

[ds440]

Wow.   That sucks.

At least she went out in a blaze of glory.   Doug, do you have any idea as to what caused this?  Or do you still think that the connecting rod just gave up the ghost?

Hopefully the block checks out okay   Good luck on the rebuild!

[Hemidoug]

Here's a close up of the piston side...

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Looks real violent Doug.....any clues as to what did her in?

[Steve P.]

did the piston hit the head or just the valve??  Any coolant in that cylinder. Last time I saw one like that it was hydro locked. How does your head gasket look??  Have you throughly checked the heads??

[Hemidoug]

From what I understand at this point is rod fatigue. It came apart just after I unloaded the engine for the shift to second. I didn't even get my foot out of the clutch it happend so fast. As I understand the problem, the rod failed on the upswing when the piston is unloaded. It can't stop the momentum of the piston on the upswing and just snaps. RPM was not an issue, it could have failed at any time. In fact, I am fortunate it failed when it did for several reasons. It's not the first time I've gone deep into the 5K range........

Steve...the heads didn't look any worse for wear. They will get checked with the block. I did bend a valve, but not in that cylinder.

[Steve P.]

I've windowed a few motors in the past. In fact I think there is still a small block chevy rod stuck in the New York State Expressway.. Haha..  Also left many small and large pieces of a 440 at Suffolk Raceway due to seizing an oil pump..  I gotta say I think you were damn lucky if you didn't hurt the block and heads...  I think you had an on your shoulder when that rod left the building...   

[Rolling_Thunder]

Damn Doug...     that blows...      not to be all competitive but I think I beat you though....     I recently blew the engine in my boss's engine...     I too found 2 lobes of cam in his oil pan...    along with about 5X the metal....      I'll post pictures...       But three pistons were destroyed as were two rods...     two others were tweeked....      and of corse this was a #matching    440+6   4-speed  superbird....     


Life goes on...    sorry to hear about your luck...     lets see some pics of the rebuild...           

[moparjohn]

Doug, I know your pain.  The worst feeling in the world when you know how serious it is.  Glad to hear the block seems OK.  Having it done by Carlisle will be a tall order- machine shops take most of the time as you know- GOOD LUCK!!

[autodynamics]

damn

[Lostsheep]

Wow, that must have been intense!!