[Sinister]

Well I blew up my Mark Jones 498. I won't be tearing it apart for a while. I am in the dog house. lol Today was my wife and I's anniversary and I blew the car up. Not good. I should have seen the signs but everything seemed fine. Last week my oil pressure did something funny for a second. Replaced the line and all was well. I guess it wasn't. Today, the car was running about 10 degrees warmer than usual. Still was only running about 185 deg. but usually only runs around 170.

First pass was a 6.37, second pass was a 6.52, 3rd pass was a 6.63. I should have known something wasn't right but thought maybe the convertor was just hot. 4th pass go up to do my burnout and the car dies. It never dies...so I told them to open the gate I was going to pull off and I should have I guess. Anyways I started it back up and it seemed fine so I went ahead and went to do my burnout. I started in 2nd and the second I shifted the 3rd there was a loud explosion, the car immediately died and smoke rolled out from under the hood and side of the car very thick.

I had oil and water gushing out the side of my oil pan. I assume I threw a rod. So I called my buddy who just sold his car and he came and towed me home on his trailer. The only real thing that sucks is that King of the Street is next week. I missed that friggin race 3 years in a row now.

Now before everyone or anyone starts bashing on my engine builder...don't bother. I don't blame any on the builder but at the same time I am done with this particular big block. The common denominator in all 4 engines is the block. I hope I blew the block to pieces personally. I drove this car very hard and raced it hard and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. However, the amount of money I put into it and it only last 7 months, I am not going to do it again.

I now have friends that are big into the turbo builds and will start planning to build a 6.0 and a turbo. The goal will be simple. 5.90's and 20mpg. I figure it will cost me a whole lot less and I can still drive it on the street as much as I want. I still plan on E85. E85 doesn't cause you to throw a rod. For all I know my crankshaft busted in half. The motor is completely siezed.

I plan to sell the heads, intake, convertor, trans, carb, etc...I still think I can sell all my stuff and build the engine I want. Plus, if I blow it up, I go back to the junk yard and buy another $400 short block instead of being out $8k.

LS Turbo here I come. I always wanted one and plan to have one ready to go by this comeing April. My Mark Jones 498 was fun while it lasted.

[GsxrDave]

That is bad news man. Ive been following u from time to time on here and i know she was running like a raped ape. Guess all you can do is start over. I have also been plotting a 6.0 so curious to see how u make out with it.

[blasttime]

A sad day indeed but Happy Anniversery good luck Bob

[superstocker72]

how many passes were on it?
good luck with the ls build

[Bigdogss]

to bad about the engine.. i have a feeling this thread is going to get pretty interesting.

[SS_Sean]

That SUCKS!!!

[69 Malibu]

Oh no! that sucks. I feel for you. Good luck on the LS build.

[1997bird]

Originally Posted by Sinister

Well I blew up my Mark Jones 498. I won't be tearing it apart for a while. I am in the dog house. lol Today was my wife and I's anniversary and I blew the car up. Not good. I should have seen the signs but everything seemed fine. Last week my oil pressure did something funny for a second. Replaced the line and all was well. I guess it wasn't. Today, the car was running about 10 degrees warmer than usual. Still was only running about 185 deg. but usually only runs around 170.

First pass was a 6.37, second pass was a 6.52, 3rd pass was a 6.63. I should have known something wasn't right but thought maybe the convertor was just hot. 4th pass go up to do my burnout and the car dies. It never dies...so I told them to open the gate I was going to pull off and I should have I guess. Anyways I started it back up and it seemed fine so I went ahead and went to do my burnout. I started in 2nd and the second I shifted the 3rd there was a loud explosion, the car immediately died and smoke rolled out from under the hood and side of the car very thick.

I had oil and water gushing out the side of my oil pan. I assume I threw a rod. So I called my buddy who just sold his car and he came and towed me home on his trailer. The only real thing that sucks is that King of the Street is next week. I missed that friggin race 3 years in a row now.

Now before everyone or anyone starts bashing on my engine builder...don't bother. I don't blame any on the builder but at the same time I am done with this particular big block. The common denominator in all 4 engines is the block. I hope I blew the block to pieces personally. I drove this car very hard and raced it hard and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. However, the amount of money I put into it and it only last 7 months, I am not going to do it again.

I now have friends that are big into the turbo builds and will start planning to build a 6.0 and a turbo. The goal will be simple. 5.90's and 20mpg. I figure it will cost me a whole lot less and I can still drive it on the street as much as I want. I still plan on E85. E85 doesn't cause you to throw a rod. For all I know my crankshaft busted in half. The motor is completely siezed.

I plan to sell the heads, intake, convertor, trans, carb, etc...I still think I can sell all my stuff and build the engine I want. Plus, if I blow it up, I go back to the junk yard and buy another $400 short block instead of being out $8k.

LS Turbo here I come. I always wanted one and plan to have one ready to go by this comeing April. My Mark Jones 498 was fun while it lasted.

I'm sorry to hear about all the problem but maybe you can trace the failure to find out the cause.

[Bowedup]

Sorry to hear about your engine, I know firsthand the $$$'s involved in this kind of build. Good luck w/ the LS build, I've got a 6.0L in my daily driver and love it.

Bowedup

[marks412]

Happy anniversary!!!

You drove that car verry hard. I am all for that. Yes, bad things do happen, but you would not have done it any other way. At least you know the rest of the car can take the power you threw at it.

498 R.I.P.

[DougA]

Sorry to hear that,but you'll be back at it in no time.

[1997bird]

Delbert, This is not to pick on you or your builder but when you had the blown head gasket a while back Butch and myself stated we have seen this happen on alcohol circle track and drag race engines with Alcohol fuels but we were told we did not see this by others who post here. What I'm thinking is maybe you can send the heads out to be pressure tested and I think you will find the Alcohol and the aluminum head caused the engine to Hydrolock. If you want to ship the heads to me in New Mexico I will pressure test them for free if it helps you out.

[El Toro]

Happy anniversary, buy her something niiiice, wait 6wks and buy yer car something nicer.LOL feel bad bout yer car man

[Stokerboats]

Del, it is the nature of our game. I think about the possibility of catastophic failure every time I go to the track. Like yourself, I am merciless on the gas pedal. Perhaps it's time to focus on that anniversary for a spell. Congrats

[46872chevelle]

Del, sorry to hear about your 498.....Good luck with the 6.0/turbo build