Thread: deciphering the carnage in my small block

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I soked lifters overnight in motor oil before installation.
there are two piston tops that made contact with the valve. Camshaft is sheared in at least 2 spots, the main section is now stuck in the block. It will spin but the bearing is shredded next to a shear point and holding it in for the moment. All told 4 bent,twisted or broken rods. 4 fragged pistons. 4 lifters in pieces( two of them were away from the cam fractures) 1 bent pushrod. crank rod journals are mauled. Long story short, we be buildin us another motor!

I was able to study what was left of the good pistons. There was the typical carbonization within the chamber. The skirts showed very little wear with no signs of dry start, overheating or igniton issues.
The lifter bodies showed also very little wear. my question about the lifter fatigue.......if it were a bad assembly, wouldn't the pushrods bend? Why didn't they go before the lifters fractured?

I really appreciate the MadMax's thoughts on the fatigue chain reaction. This is something I will really make sure to pay close attention to on the next build. I would love to be able to say it is 100% manufacturer defect, but I know in reality it may have baan something very little. pics soon for those interested.
Chris

By all means keep the press fit wrist pins as Pat says. To put slip fits in you will need to install bushings and drill a lube hole or holes in the small end. It will probably be more cost effective to just purchase new rods with slip fits if you are determined to have them. The only reason I could see for using them would be if you are going to be replacing pistons or rods later on.

We always used slip fits on the racers but they had aluminum rods. You use all the zippers you can when you toast a couple every pass.

[...pics soon for those interested]

Oh goody, us Carnasaurs love carnage.

man that is one major implosion, was there even 1 salvageable part?