My Calibra is coming!!! - Update!

[049 Jennifer]

So we bought a new battery... old one was really flat... didn't check anything as we did not get the camera... changed the oil - Motul 15W50 - changed one fuel pipe to the 6th injector that had gone hard and started to leak when the fuel pump put pressure on it... swung the motor about 6 or 7 times... no luck... left it for a couple of mins or 10, then went back to swing it again... still nothing... lifters didn't want to know our story... hubby said stuff this... got me to swing while he sprayed quick start down... 3 rd time it flashed and took... boy was it damn noisy... the lifters were going mad... let it idle for about 5mins, then hubby revved it a bit... kept the revs up at 2000 or thereabouts, after about 10 mins of revving and releasing, the lifters finally gave up and quietened down... Baby is running smooth and no smoke! Couldn't believe it! So happy...

[049 Jennifer]

Oh dear... checked through the oil we drained yesterday, this morning... found a small piece of a big end bearing!! Looks like we are going to have to pull the sump off and change the big ends... hope that is all that is needed...

[127 Gordo]

That's a bummer - but better to find it now than when it's really done some damage.
If the engine was still mechanically quiet, you should get by with just new shells - I assume the oil pressure was good?

[049 Jennifer]

Yeah... the pressure is there, but it took between 1 to 2 secs for the oil light to go off when it was warm yesterday... that is what made my hubby think maybe the big ends were fubar, but there was no knocking... we are just hoping that the crank hasn't been damaged... will probably be stripping this coming weekend... I guess we can't complain too much considering what punishment the poor motor has had in the three years before we put it into storage... 1.5bar boost is no joke... just hope there is no other damage... will definitely be getting the camera to have a look at the pistons now...

[127 Gordo]

If there's no speckling on the plugs, and compression/leakage figures are good, I wouldn't worry too much about the top end.
Drop the sump and see what the problem is down there.
I've ramps, stands and jacks you can borrow, if needed - or drop in at Repco for a set, then you've always got them.

[049 Jennifer]

Thanks Gordo, we have already bought a trolley jack and stands... so all good! But thanks for the offer... much appreciated!!

[049 Jennifer]

So the big ends are fine! But we are changing them anyways, seeing as the motor is open... not exactly sure where that shard of metal came from?? Camera went down the cylinders to check the pistons, etc... looks fine... Thinking maybe the shard has come from the turbo... Oh well... time will tell...

[127 Gordo]

Did you say you were already running ARP big end bolts?
If you can post a picture, it may be possible to make other suggestions about the suspected bearing piece, are you sure it couldn't be a main bearing part or thrust bearing/washer piece? Whilst rather unusual, they can wear.

[049 Jennifer]

Hi Gordo, yeah running ARP rod bolts... Not sure where that shard has gotten to now... it was on top of the freezer... Hope I didn't dust it away! But it looked very much like a bit of big end ... it was brass on one side and steel on the other... so very much like the big end bearings... As far as I know, I have a 270 degree thrust bearing on the turbo... which is supposed to be able to handle some serious boost... Will let you know if we find anything else... and will post a pic if I find the shard...

[127 Gordo]

The crank also has a thrust bearing, usually part of one of the main bearings - it controls the end play of the crank and poor lubrication and/or high release forces required for HD pressure plates can cause excessive wear.
I don't want to alarm you, just trying to account for the puzzling piece of metal.

[168 Derek S]

does "terminal" sound too alarming?

[049 Jennifer]

Gordo... the crank seems pretty good still, no infloat... so don't think it is from there... I really have a sneaky suspicion it is from the turbo...

Derek> we do not know the meaning of terminal... We are looking to add N2O soon...

[020 Brad]

How big was the metal shard, just tiny? I can't really see how it would make its way from the turbo back to the sump. I mean obviously the oil return line, but it can't be that big can it?

[168 Derek S]

Gordo... the crank seems pretty good still, no infloat... so don't think it is from there... I really have a sneaky suspicion it is from the turbo...

Derek> we do not know the meaning of terminal... We are looking to add N2O soon...

at least you have a sense of humor

[049 Jennifer]

How big was the metal shard, just tiny? I can't really see how it would make its way from the turbo back to the sump. I mean obviously the oil return line, but it can't be that big can it?

The shard was small... and could easily have made its way through the oil return to the sump... We have pushed, pulled and prodded the rest of the motor and the new big ends will be bought on Sat this week... so lets see... another reason why we think it might be from the turbo is that there is an oil leak (small but there) on the turbo... We actually think that there is not enough oil pressure going into the turbo... so we are trying to make a plan! It is all one can do when modifying!

Derek> yeah, I do have a good sense of humour... But N20 is something we really would like to do one day... just want to run it down a drag strip once!!