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YOUR RESEARCHEngine Failure at Track
Leading reported evidence
Use (from ebay or rennlist)
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
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1
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Leading evidence: 'Use (from ebay or rennlist)' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'oil starvation issue resulting in rod bearing failure' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Test project will be a go' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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oil starvation issue resulting in rod bearing failure
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Identified cause
1
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Latest update is that there was a lot of metal in the oil and likely a oil starvation issue resulting in rod bearing failure.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Once it passes that test the project will be a go.
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33 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
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Generation: 20261026T205155Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Well, I had an engine failure with my 996 at the track. The car was taken immediately to the shop, there was no loss of oil just smoke two laps earlier shifting from 2nd to 3rd. I noticed low oil pressure and then within two seconds the car shut down and I rolled to a stop. Now I am looking for my options. I have an LN IMS and there was no sign of oil. What is a good source for a low mileage engine or rebuilt. I am considering all options depending on what they find.
That's unfortunate, you have had so much fun with that car! Hope it isn't too catastrophical and it can be fixed soon. Whatever is broken, you might consider to go all the way and have a good quality rebuild which can give you another 10 years of fun.
Volkert
Since you enjoy using it as a track car, can you stomach the rebuild to beef up the internals & give you a better shot at worry-free tracking? It's a pretty mk1 aero, she deserves the best
Sorry about the failure & good luck sorting it out.
Super bummer man. 4.0L upgrade? Looks like you have plenty of fun cars in your stable already so maybe not worth it...just move another car into the track role!!
Lots of options.
1. Used (from eBay or Rennlist). Some of the eBay engines come with 30 Day Warranties (looking at between $6K-$10K) plus install.
2. Buy a rebuilt motor from one of the 2-3 companies that are around (won't get into who is best). These tend to start at $10K plus core, plus installation
3. Have Jake building you a motor (what I would have done if money was no option).
4. Buy a salvaged car with good motor, pull motor, part the rest of the car. This is the option that gives you the best chance of not coming out of pocket, but is the most amount of work.
5. Sell your car as a roller, and buy another one.
When the exact thing happened to me, I did #4. I already had a system in place for parting out cars, so it was something I was comfortable with. People will warn you that you don't know what you are going to get with a used, or salvaged car motor, which is true, but at the end of the day, you do not have a warranty on any motor that is going to see track time.
Would I feel better and be less paranoid every time I track my car if I had one of Jake's motors? 100% I would.
For me, it was all about economics. I could come out of pocket $6K-$20K for a motor, or I could do lots of work, and end up netting some money after it was all said and done. Since it is a track car, and things may happen, this is the way I went. I also know that if I blow a motor again, I can repeat the process (really hoping not to do that).
It's all about time/money though and which one you are willing to part with more.
Thanks everyone for the kind words and the advice. I will consider all of it. I did get an update, they were able to start the car, but it smoked like crazy. They will be tearing into it when they have some time but since it was an unexpected bit of work, they will get to it when they are done with scheduled work they have. Will keep you all posted as I find more out.
BTW Kris, I love your Aero....I really think the MK1 Aero is the nicest looking 996 and after yellow, red is my favorite.
Sorry to hear, lowpue. Will be interested to follow the thread and see what happened. I lost a motor a couple years ago, and found a wrecked car to salvage the motor from.
Latest update is that there was a lot of metal in the oil and likely a oil starvation issue resulting in rod bearing failure. Looking at options including a rebuild from 3.4 to 3.8. Need to look at the cost. Will continue to keep posted. I sold a 997 GT3 engine almost two years ago...wish I still had it now.
Sounds like a classic... But that "starvation" was likely from oil that was either overheated, or dead before that last session even started.
I have a slew of good 3.4 cores we can build from, after a catastrophic loss, I trust nothing from the core.
That's a good point on the core but how do I know that a new core is any better.
Also, if you have some ideas and prices on engine rebuilds please PM me. That is what I asked my race shop to do. Everything from a stock rebuild to 3.8 and even considering a GT3 engine. All probably cost more than the car at this point but I just love that car.
BTW...oil was fresh with less than 500 miles on it.
Motul 8100 Acess 5W40 Synthetic.
BTW...I see you have a 70 Cuda. I grew up a mopar guy with 65 Coronet 440. That is why my track number is 440 :-)
Still looking for the same exact car....
A few months ago I opened up a second schedule for StageII & III builds. My shop foreman had time freed up as we stopped accepting IMS Retrofit work, and he could build one engine per month himself, while also doing his QC work for the my other builders.
The idea was to have a bit bit of a fast track for those who wanted something faster and were willing to pay a premium for the next level.
Now that second schedule is booked for 10 months while the primary schedule is booked for 13 months... So much for that!
We are officially busier than ever... I have 4 more engines on the build boards than ever.
That said, I've been spending my own time building AirCooled engines, and I'm finishing the last one now..... I planned to take a few months off and finish a couple of my own projects... If sometime wants something bad enough, I'll do it myself and have it done in 3 months...That'll cost, though!
🙂
Wow, I was going to say I have time but since I just want to get it ready for next year, but it looks like you are booked beyond the start of next season. That means business is good. Congrats on that! I am having my shop come back to me with options....
Jud informed me thast we have one March 2018 completion date left. He left it as a spare slot for a racer that usually wants his engine freshened up every year.... But he totaled the car and is currently in the Hospital.
Other than that we are a solid year out.
Just to follow up, I have decided to put in a 997.1S motor into the car. It will be flashed and provide substantially more HP. Once I get the project going, I will start a new thread for all of you to follow if you choose.
I'm not a guru on that engine by a long shot. Having said that, something tickles my brain about the oil scavenge pumps for track use. Maybe mention it to your engine guy. Have fun, should go like stink depending on what else you do to the engine.
Trust me...this is something I am hyper sensitive about....So will have some sort of upgrade on this. Also, the engine I am putting in has less than 1000 miles on it....Leakdown on the engine to be done this week. Once it passes that test the project will be a go.
Leakdown was 2-3% cold. So the project is a GO! Will try to document along the way and once complete, will post.
In the meantime, let me know if anyone has a pair 996 turbo/C4S heatexchanger assemblies they want to sell. I need to upgrade my cooling.
Here is a snapshot of a video that shows what went wrong. In the video, the center piston does not move up and down while the outer ones do. So looks like rod bearing went along with the rod itself.
That's exactly what happened to mine when I money shifted. #2 & #5 pistons freed themselves from the connecting rods. Amazingly, no valve damage. It did double D-chunk both cylinders though.
I got lucky....someone decided to to upgrade their engine in their car right when I needed the engine at the shop and I got a good price....easy transaction.
My only worry at this point is what to do with IMS. The engine has a big bearing and my understanding is they are not prone to failure. Need to do some research.
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