- Joined
- Aug 17, 2007
- Messages
- 433
To all the members of EK9.org here is my first (¿seriously?) and possibly last post on my project car, Project: Josephine.
Today on the west boundCalifornia 10 freeway heading into downtown LA, while I was following a white S2000 my engine just decided to let go. I was going about 70 - 80 (90?) mph in 4th gear, when I heard a loud bang! I looked in my rear view to see white smoke and oil spewing from my exhaust. I pulled over, popped the lid to confirm my suspicions, OIL EVERYWHERE! Then my AAA tow truck driver showed me with his flashlight where the rod blew through the block. Leaving a hole big enough to fit all of your fingers horizontaly. There was no knocking sound before hand to warn me. Other than an odd idle, there was nothing to indicate that she was in trouble. There was nothing I could do, she was DOA.
She was a JDM B18C from a 2000 Intergra Type R that blew its head from its previous owner. She was always given the proper amount of care, oil, transmisson fluid, antifreeze, and love. She lived her life at 10,000 RPM, and loved every moment of it. She was a blast in the canyons, and a dependable daily driver.
As I lowered her from the tow truck for the last time, the tow truck driver handed me a piece of the block that was left on the truck bed.
As for what's next for Project: Josephine... I just don't know! Should I try and find another block? Should I just get a new engine? LS-VTEC, etc... I want to stay Type R, but right now... I don't have any Type R money. I feel as if I just got dumped by a girl I was in love with. NO... worse than that, I fell like my best friend just died!
As I type this, sipping on a Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale to try and dull the pain, I just don't know what I'm going, or can, do.
Well, this is Bucc-i (pronounced Buck-Eye) signing off possibly for the last time EK9.org. Put your glasses up high lads and let's give 3 cheers to Project Joesphine, my she rest in peace.
(
UPDATE
The block was trashed! In all of my 20 years of automotive history, I have never seen a block blown like this! My Mechanic said that it doesn't look like a missed shift, if so it was from 4th to 1st! (which it wasn't) He said it just may be catostrophic failure brought on by years of abuse! Here are the pics:
Here is the front side of the block ^^^
Rear of the engine ^^^
The alternator brace was probably the only reason shards of the rod didn't blast through the firewall and impale my legs!
If you look closely, you can see where the part of the rod is still connected to the crankshaft!
The head was salvageable, the only thing that was wrong with it was piston #1 was cracked!
I was lucky my mechanic already had a spare JDM B18C block that he was in the middle of rebuilding. He had already sold it, but talked his customer into buying another engine instead. The head was rebuilt with all new internals.
As of tomorrow I will have done 1,000 miles of engine testing. And after a good oil change, will finally see how VTEC kicks in YO! The engine does have a couple of issues, but its nothing a trip to the dyno and an engine tune wont fix. I am still currently paying for the new engine plus repairs.
I have learned my lesson, from now on, I am taking it easy man. No more racing S2000's on the freeway... er... i mean spirited driving... at least for a while anyway
Today on the west boundCalifornia 10 freeway heading into downtown LA, while I was following a white S2000 my engine just decided to let go. I was going about 70 - 80 (90?) mph in 4th gear, when I heard a loud bang! I looked in my rear view to see white smoke and oil spewing from my exhaust. I pulled over, popped the lid to confirm my suspicions, OIL EVERYWHERE! Then my AAA tow truck driver showed me with his flashlight where the rod blew through the block. Leaving a hole big enough to fit all of your fingers horizontaly. There was no knocking sound before hand to warn me. Other than an odd idle, there was nothing to indicate that she was in trouble. There was nothing I could do, she was DOA.
She was a JDM B18C from a 2000 Intergra Type R that blew its head from its previous owner. She was always given the proper amount of care, oil, transmisson fluid, antifreeze, and love. She lived her life at 10,000 RPM, and loved every moment of it. She was a blast in the canyons, and a dependable daily driver.
As I lowered her from the tow truck for the last time, the tow truck driver handed me a piece of the block that was left on the truck bed.
As for what's next for Project: Josephine... I just don't know! Should I try and find another block? Should I just get a new engine? LS-VTEC, etc... I want to stay Type R, but right now... I don't have any Type R money. I feel as if I just got dumped by a girl I was in love with. NO... worse than that, I fell like my best friend just died!
As I type this, sipping on a Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale to try and dull the pain, I just don't know what I'm going, or can, do.
Well, this is Bucc-i (pronounced Buck-Eye) signing off possibly for the last time EK9.org. Put your glasses up high lads and let's give 3 cheers to Project Joesphine, my she rest in peace.
(UPDATE
The block was trashed! In all of my 20 years of automotive history, I have never seen a block blown like this! My Mechanic said that it doesn't look like a missed shift, if so it was from 4th to 1st! (which it wasn't) He said it just may be catostrophic failure brought on by years of abuse! Here are the pics:
Here is the front side of the block ^^^
Rear of the engine ^^^
The alternator brace was probably the only reason shards of the rod didn't blast through the firewall and impale my legs!
If you look closely, you can see where the part of the rod is still connected to the crankshaft!
The head was salvageable, the only thing that was wrong with it was piston #1 was cracked!
I was lucky my mechanic already had a spare JDM B18C block that he was in the middle of rebuilding. He had already sold it, but talked his customer into buying another engine instead. The head was rebuilt with all new internals.
As of tomorrow I will have done 1,000 miles of engine testing. And after a good oil change, will finally see how VTEC kicks in YO! The engine does have a couple of issues, but its nothing a trip to the dyno and an engine tune wont fix. I am still currently paying for the new engine plus repairs.
I have learned my lesson, from now on, I am taking it easy man. No more racing S2000's on the freeway... er... i mean spirited driving... at least for a while anyway
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