[bgn8711]

cars fucked...popped right next to cylinder 2...the one that kept taking air when we changed valve springs. Dunno if that has anything to do with it but seems odd. Anyway, I'm obviously skipping tomorrow I don't really want to go spectate I'm just in shock and bummed. I really did not hammer on the car it saw maybe 12 lbs of boost getting on the freeway MAYBE and when it popped it was less than 5 lbs. I spent all morning putting that mother fucking k n n filter on it and something didnt feel right I even pulled over to check my motor everything checked out....hopped back in. drive it a little further feels chunky off the line give it a little gas starts to build boost POP! fucking kuwait out my tail pipe smoke in the cabin whole 9 yards... All the fluids stayed in place and the oil looked fine when we checked it... So I posted on tb.com e-mailed Neal met with Morgan and we are planning our attack on what to do and tackle this thing here in a week or 2. I'm so sorry you guys I wish I would have blown it up doing something cool I just think it was weak and old. I'll keep everyone posted on what happens next I cant begin to thank everyone again for all their help and I feel like I let everyone down now that it was for nothing! I'm going to go take a cold shower I'll catch everyone later...

[SeanPlunk]

Originally Posted by bgn8711

cars fucked...popped right next to cylinder 2...the one that kept taking air when we changed valve springs. Dunno if that has anything to do with it but seems odd. Anyway, I'm obviously skipping tomorrow I don't really want to go spectate I'm just in shock and bummed. I really did not hammer on the car it saw maybe 12 lbs of boost getting on the freeway MAYBE and when it popped it was less than 5 lbs. I spent all morning putting that mother fucking k n n filter on it and something didnt feel right I even pulled over to check my motor everything checked out....hopped back in. drive it a little further feels chunky off the line give it a little gas starts to build boost POP! fucking kuwait out my tail pipe smoke in the cabin whole 9 yards... All the fluids stayed in place and the oil looked fine when we checked it... So I posted on tb.com e-mailed Neal met with Morgan and we are planning our attack on what to do and tackle this thing here in a week or 2. I'm so sorry you guys I wish I would have blown it up doing something cool I just think it was weak and old. I'll keep everyone posted on what happens next I cant begin to thank everyone again for all their help and I feel like I let everyone down now that it was for nothing! I'm going to go take a cold shower I'll catch everyone later...

Unbelievable. After all that.... How much for a new head gasket?

[Vettezuki]

Originally Posted by bgn8711

. . .I'll keep everyone posted on what happens next I cant begin to thank everyone again for all their help and I feel like I let everyone down now that it was for nothing! I'm going to go take a cold shower I'll catch everyone later...

You didn't let anybody down. While I agree it would have been more spectacular to have it let loose at the strip (not to mention the years of humor we could have gotten out of it); it was its time to go. That cylinder was leaking right off the bat when Mike put air into it, we just incorrectly assumed it was a gap in the rings. It's disappointing that you can't go, but the work we got done was not in vain, it is still valid and there's no way we could have known that was going to happen so it just is what it is.

I do make one serious recommendation though. When buying gaskets and seals, buy the best OEM version available (GM Parts Direct is usually the cheapest.). For the Vette there is a cheaper replacement gasket, but also a much more durable MLS gasket. It's the kind of thing you shouldn't try to save money on.

Also, I doubt those were Torque To Yield bolts like GM uses now, but if they were, you MUST replace them. Even if they weren't, you might want to consider stepping up to ARP studs. They're not cheap, but you should take opportunities like this to harden things as much as possible if you're going regularly hammer on it.

[enkeivette]

Originally Posted by Vettezuki

I do make one serious recommendation though. When buying gaskets and seals, buy the best OEM version available (GM Parts Direct is usually the cheapest.). For the Vette there is a cheaper replacement gasket, but also a much more durable MLS gasket. It's the kind of thing you shouldn't try to save money on.

You want boost crazy Brian to use a GM head gasket? F that. Cometic! If you don't want to spend that much go with a Fel Pro MLS, but for what you're doing you should probably step up.

Without seeing it I'm almost positive that you'll have to move the AC just as far out of the way to pull the motor as you will to pull the head off.

And not to scare you, but has the car ever overheated? My friend paid me to do a head gasket on his car a few weeks ago and his head was warped, this was the cause of the head gasket failure. The head had to be taken down .016 to be flat! If this is the case you'll have to pull both heads, which you should do anyways since you'll be upgrading the head gasket! And while you're at it, why not use a super thick head gasket, you can probably lower your compression a full point to avoid using that alcohol injection.

You could also do a cam in the car, but for that much work, it might be less stressful just to pull the motor.