help a friend

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Jeffrey Gamble
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help a friend

#1 Post by Jeffrey Gamble »

Faithful,,, A friend recently joined the Registry and purchased a 58 couple CofA matching (you know the one with the weird oil valve). Before going to the local annual Tubac classic car show he was on a check ride at normal highway speed and the low mile rebuilt engine exploded.
One less matching A coupe in the world I suggested going with a C replacement engine. Perhaps someone has a stock C engine stashed away in the corner? Thank you, email, jgambleart@aol.com
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: help a friend

#2 Post by Vic Skirmants »

I can't help, but it looks like the early con rod let go.

Norm Miller
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Re: help a friend

#3 Post by Norm Miller »

In 1960 while racing a 58 speedster I felt a shudder and coasted into the pits.
After the race, a competitor Laurie Leva came over and asked what happened.
I had looked over the engine and found a dime-size hole in the top of the case.
I said to Laurie it might not be too bad as it's a small hole.
Very seriously he said, "there is no such thing as a small hole".
I'll always remember that when I removed the sump plate the cam fell out in 3 pieces amongst other fiekle matter.
It was a con rod bolt that broke.

Norm
 

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Wes Bender
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Re: help a friend

#4 Post by Wes Bender »

Hey, Jeff. Before giving up on the matching engine, have the owner take as many pictures of the damage as possible and contact Walt at Competition Engineering. Depending on the extent of the carnage, he might be able to save the case. It could then be rebuilt with sturdier components.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Thomas Sottile
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Re: help a friend

#5 Post by Thomas Sottile »

Wes makes a lot of sense.

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Al Zim
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Re: help a friend

#6 Post by Al Zim »

If it was not against the ruling of the Trustees you probably could find a 1958 case put your third piece on the case and have it line bored and the case oil passages cleaned. It is extremely doubtful that you will find a "nice" 356C,SC or 912 engine lying about. The minimum age of those engines is close to 50 years. You should plan on a full restoration no matter what you do. al zim
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Ron LaDow
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Re: help a friend

#7 Post by Ron LaDow »

Wes Bender wrote: Mon Feb 10, 2020 12:41 pm Hey, Jeff. Before giving up on the matching engine, have the owner take as many pictures of the damage as possible and contact Walt at Competition Engineering. Depending on the extent of the carnage, he might be able to save the case. It could then be rebuilt with sturdier components.
+1
By the time you spend money for a good case and all the other parts you'll need, welding the case might even make $-sense.
If you do replace it, save all the bits for the next owner; somewhere down the line, it'll be worth welding.
Ron LaDow
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: help a friend

#8 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Norm; In 1968, racing my 1956 speedster with my 1958 "race" engine, a con rod broke at the thin part next to the nut.
In 1972, a 1959 356 engine in my VW bus broke a rod in exactly the same place; while towing my race car home from a race at Mosport; where I had crashed due to a broken linkpin carrier.
And that is why I don't use the early rods, or sell them. I keep one set as a sample, and SCRAP the rest.

Norm Miller
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Re: help a friend

#9 Post by Norm Miller »

Vic,

It makes one wonder about metallurgy in the early days.
Left front spindles are also subject to grief.

N
 

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Jeffrey Gamble
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Re: help a friend

#10 Post by Jeffrey Gamble »

Thank you all for the words of wisdom,, case all cleaned up to view area of the catastrophic con rods fail. Brutal teach to Faithful No oversize pistons on early connecting rods.
located a complete fly Wheel to muff C engine.
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: help a friend

#11 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Walt's not fixing that one!

Dick Weiss
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Re: help a friend

#12 Post by Dick Weiss »

ALL;

I just received a '57/'58 engine case w/the same "dime-size" hole (next to the generator stand)
and NO WAY it can be saved due to internal damage inside # 2 and several cracks in the split-line
surfaces plus a broken tappet stuck in its bore!!! However, the 3rd piece is OK after a cleanup
and the thermal oil temp bellow cavity is empty, and the cap has a new O-ring for resealing.
This 3rd piece (serial # 82410) was deleted in late '58 (and onward) series due to some warranty
failures; The small oil pump still exists.

Dick

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Jay Wiener
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Re: help a friend

#13 Post by Jay Wiener »

Just don't have Chuck at Red Line touch it!

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Neil M. Fennessey
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Re: help a friend

#14 Post by Neil M. Fennessey »

Hi Jeff,

Check your email. I might be able to help.
Back to the Ivory Tower I go!
 - Neil
'67 912/356D (Ol' Blue)
'82 HP 34C

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Brett Meyer
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Re: help a friend

#15 Post by Brett Meyer »

I guess we were lucky the factory installed "A" rods in our 60' Roadster never failed.
Dick McKee ordered the car new and raced in F production from april to aug. 1960
When running at Meadowdale Dick would have to push in the clutch on section of track in forth to keep the revs from going over 6000rpm's.
Prior to the complete rebuild the only time the engine was apart was when Dad had Dick replace the rod bearings in the mid 60's and of course the B rod bearing did not fit and A bearings had to be ordered .
In 2010 Jim Bach rebuilt the original engine with just over 80,000 miles - the factory " A"rods were replaced with B rods & B bearings plenty good for weekend drives .
 '60 Roadster -87234- Mom & Dad purchased in 1960



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