legacycentral bbs

Had a not so great drive home that ended in tick tick tick tick boom

Oh noooooo, that sucks man.

How many miles on the engine?

207k

I'm at 191k. Now I'm worried.

Any mods that could have possible contributed to that? Seems like a very odd way for an old engine to go.

I do have a robtune and run 18psi boost which could have contributed. I by no means baby the car either and I am not the most confident that regular service was the highest priority on the previous owners mind.

Well, I'm glad I'm only gonna run 15 psi on my rob tune

I don't think the robtune had as much to do with it as the condition of the engine. My first SS came with a hole in the block just like that, and it was 4eat and bone stock.

I don't think the robtune had anything to do with it either. It probably made it last a little longer with the tune vs me just running higher boost on the stock computer. I think lack of oil changes over the year was the biggest thing but I don't have service records and it was just the overall feeling I got from the gentleman I bought the car from.

I don't seriously think the robtune had much to do with it. But I don't see how poor oil service could cause it to blow a hole in the block, either...

The only way you blow a whole in the block like that is driving it way too long with a rod knock, I know because I had a motor that this happened to (not mine, thank god).. Youtube the shit out of various sounds because that would have sounded quite a bit different than something like lifter tick

and it seems much more likely that anything tune related would have demolished the pistons rather than a spun bearing driven way too long, like this.

seems like an oil pressure gauge might give you a good warning that something like this will happen soon

I've often wondered why cars don't have oil pressure gauges from the factory. The warning light usually means youre already causing catastrophic damage. A little warning between then and normal would be nice without turning to the aftermarket.

My thought was if the previous owner didnt keep up on the oil changes it may have gotten too low a few times and possible cause some excess bearing wear which over 200k could make a difference.

I have had rod knock in other cars and it wasn't as loud/pronounced as I have heard in the past. If that makes any sense. It wasn't lifter noise. It was louder than that. It was only making noise for 30 seconds before it blew. The motor has been great up untill this point.

I don't think they put oil pressure gauges in cars because they vary too much. Can you imagine all the not so car educated people coming out on a cold/hot day and seeing their oil pressure not where it normally is. All the calls that would come into service centers over it. I think most people prolly dont even watch their temp gauge at all so whats the point of putting something in you have to be more mindfull of.