And that’s my 2019 season

**Martin0660** · 09-15-2019, 02:09 PM

No shame in it, but I found the end of my 2019 season.

its been one hell of a season, little 4 banger ran better than I ever thought it could. New bests, competed well, lots of passes.

ive been chasing it pushing a little water lately. Went through it after Norwalk and decked the head, inspected it and couldn’t find anything else. Put it back together and tried to test Friday night. It ran like he
l and still pushed water, but even more. Did some diagnosis yesterday that didn’t look good. Pulled it apart today and found it.

Split #4 cylinder open like a fat kid opening the Oreos ....

**TooFast98Cobra** · 09-15-2019, 09:18 PM

Wow!

**yeahloh95** · 09-16-2019, 09:06 AM

well that just stinks

**Dan B.** · 09-16-2019, 09:12 AM

MMmmmmm.....oreos!!!

**THE BIG KOALA** · 09-16-2019, 05:45 PM

That sucks

**Ares** · 09-16-2019, 06:14 PM

I second the mmmmm......Oreos.

I thought you filled that block or am I wrong?

**somethingclever** · 09-16-2019, 08:47 PM

Split a filled block....

Bob for pres!!!!

**Martin0660** · 09-16-2019, 08:56 PM

Block is filled. I guess there is a limit to even hard block.

im not the first, one of my buddies that fills his to the deck told me it would be the front of #4 before I even tore it down. Sure as heck that’s where it was.

i just picked up its replacement. Not sure this is the final state, but might as well get another block prepped and move my rotator over to this.

Still working on a plan for a better foundation.

**Ares** · 09-16-2019, 09:36 PM

Is sleeving the bores an option? More, is it worth doing?

**Martin0660** · 09-16-2019, 09:55 PM

An option yes. Worth doing is very very subjective. Picture the 2.3 casting, the bottom of the block is the main galleries, actually stout in there... the deck is much thinner than we like, but it’s a plate on the top.... now you have 4 tubes as cylinders in between those enclosed by the walls.

so if you bore it enough for the sleeve, you aren’t leaving much material. Shit moves on these blocks at this power leve so a liner is debatable. Broadly no one has been any more successful with the liner, so we mostly don’t run them.

What we need is a Siamese cylinder but it is what it is. Still trying to find an old Motorsport block.

**excell** · 09-17-2019, 01:24 PM

Yea, but the piston sure looks nice all things considered.

Is that just a stock 2.3 block?

**JeffreyCole** · 09-17-2019, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Martin0660

Block is filled. I guess there is a limit to even hard block.

im not the first, one of my buddies that fills his to the deck told me it would be the front of #4 before I even tore it down. Sure as heck that’s where it was.

i just picked up its replacement. Not sure this is the final state, but might as well get another block prepped and move my rotator over to this.

Still working on a plan for a better foundation.

I'm surprised that those non-girdled bearing caps aren't an issue at your level.

**Martin0660** · 09-17-2019, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by excell

Yea, but the piston sure looks nice all things considered.

Is that just a stock 2.3 block?

i hope I can use the rotator in the new block. The block itself is just a 88 Turbo coupe passenger car block. Crank is also a stock piece but a lot of detail work. Rods and pistons are good parts.

Originally Posted by JeffreyCole

I'm surprised that those non-girdled bearing caps aren't an issue at your level.

the bottom end of these are pretty solid if RPM’s are kept down. We joke about me turning mine but mini stock guys go 9,000 rpm on them. At that point harmonics come into play.

BTW - the one pictured is just a stock block and crank core for me to build on.

**excell** · 09-17-2019, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Martin0660

i hope I can use the rotator in the new block. The block itself is just a 88 Turbo coupe passenger car block. Crank is also a stock piece but a lot of detail work. Rods and pistons are good parts.

Fascinating. Never knew the 2.3 was THAT strong, but obviously I know it's pretty strong. :) My SVO is on 24lbs with an upgraded turbo and cams. I gotta get out next year and see you race. :)

**Martin0660** · 09-17-2019, 08:42 PM

Lol, that strong is obviously subjective right now ....

no shane for this one although didn’t make it as long as I hoped ... mid 50’s passes last year, split open on its 65th pass this season. Most of last season in the 10.50 range racing, but a lot of 10.30 type stuff ... this season a lot of high 9, low 10 second passes.

We will rebuild, lol. New block ready to go to the machine shop for hot tank and cleaning so I can fill it.

**jclose11** · 09-17-2019, 09:29 PM

How much boost did it take before this..

**Martin0660** · 09-17-2019, 09:50 PM

It’s not so much about the boost at the moment, it’s more about the boost over time. Most of this year is was running 36 or 38# depending on what I was racing.