Not A Good Way To End The Season

Bad news from the Casella Racing Camp. Our last two races for the seaon were supposed to have been this past Saturday and Sunday. We did manage to get in two passes on Saturday, but the second pass ended it for us for the season when a piece of dirt plugged up the fuel jet for number 8 cylinder on the second stage. It went too lean and ended up burning a hole thru the piston, then melted the top of the rod. The result was that the rod broke and went thru the block on the right side, before it left, it took out number 7 rod and sent that one out the left side of the block. While this was going on, it also traveled upwards and took out the camshaft and a good portion of the lifter area of the block. The block is repaiable, so everything should be good to go for next season after a trip to the welder.

Did I mention that this all happened while going thru the lights at 169mph, and the oil ignited and caught the entire underneath of the car on fire? It burned for about an 1/8th mile down track, and thankfully the wind blew the flames out and I was able to bring the car to a safe stop. Minor fire damage, nothing that can't be repaired. Here's the clips from that day, the second clip was the last.

Click HERE

Click HERE

Good thing it's an aluminum block huh? Not what you had planned for the winter I'm sure, but at least you got it stopped under control. It will be interesting to see what is involved in making the repair.

sorry to hear that, it looks like you got sideways when it went, great job of driving. positive note, at least you kept it off the wall. that would be awful to wrinke up a beautiful car like that.

Thanks guys. Actually the car went amazingly straight. I moved over as soon as I felt the car start shaking knowing that I had broken something. The engine has a diaper on it, and I can honestly say that if were not for it catching all the oil and crap coming out of the block, I would not be posting this report today.

Glad you came out okay............sounds like a big blow!

Ouch! Tough breaks, glad you're okay. Big end is not where you want things to go wrong... at least you have something to keep you busy in the off-season....

You Subject title says it all. Pretty good pass condsidering it was eating itself up. Really sorry to hear about the tough break, glad you are OK. Now you have the winter to lick your wounds, good luck next year with it.

Pat

I would have much rather of finished off the season at least with a new best ET and MPH, but it just wasn't going to happen I guess.

Say its got to be better to work on that Chevy than be wearing it. Now you have somthing to shot for next year. If your walet lasts.

isn't that engine like a 30k$ engine? good thing it didn't compleatly destroy it. didn't the car give up on you at the end of last year also?

To replace this the exact way it is now with a brand new one would run around 60K.

The time you are thinking about was 3 years ago, and that was the 406 small block that was in there.

That is so sad to see when something like that happens.:CRY: And that is alota coin also.:HMMM: Hope everthing goes good for you next year.;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pro60chevy

To replace this the exact way it is now with a brand new one would run around 60K.

The time you are thinking about was 3 years ago, and that was the 406 small block that was in there.

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yeah, I remember, I had just gotten my '51 Chevy that year. I remembered that you had a " normal " engine it at that time, just did not know what size. didn't your trans let go?

With the "normal" engine, I broke just about everything, with this new set-up I only managed to eat up one transmission, but that was it.

hey pro60 where abouts in middleboro are ya I think I'm right around the corner at the end of fed furnace rd
do you use reids for your machine work ? and do you know anyonearound that does whole car media blasting
sorry if I'm asking a lot not many guys in the area that I know of so its kinda cool to find someone near by thanks Jim

Hi Jim, I live off of Wareham St. right near the water tower. The last few times I have needed any machine work done, I have gone to Custom over in Weymouth. I have used Reids in the past, he does great work. There is a place down on Rt.18 that does the whole car blasting, but I'm not sure if they use media or not. The place is called M & R.

sorry to her that good luck getting it back on the track. what is the motor?

thanks for the info yeah reids just did all the work on my 454 thats going in my 53 pickup but was looking to see if there was anyone a little cheaper although when it comes to machine ya really dont want to skimp and jim and those guys are real good if a little pricey and thanks for the lead on the blasting do you happen to know Jeff Burgo or Rick Schauerte their a couple of good freinds of mine

sorry to here that .but the block should weld up good

Hay long time. Sorry to hear about your troubles.Didnt mean to blow you off all season but Thompson didnt end till Oct. Then work took over.It will give you somthing to this winter.Just what you needed.See ya around MARCO

The engine is a 707, based on a big block Chevy, just a little different.

I don't know Jeff or Rick, but it's one of those things where a face would probably make me say "Oh ya, I know those guys."

This block will be going to Virginia to a guy that repairs nothing but these big inch aluminum engines. He said as long as it's not broken in half, he can fix it.

I really had other plans over the winter, but "stuff happens" and now I have new plans. :CRY: