Boom #9, poured piston ring fragments out of y-pipe
Intro Boom #1 Boom #2 Boom #3 Boom #4 Boom #? Boom #6 Boom #7 Boom #8 Boom #9 Boom #10
Once again, the car seemed to be blowing smoke, and again I remained in denial. Until I leaned the dual-cat y-pipe up against the garage wall and heard the clink of small metal bits rattling through the pipe. Upon closer examination it was quite clear that the metal bits were fragments of piston ring. That can't be good. Motor out for the umpteenth time. No pictures this time - I'm getting lazy and you're getting bored with pix of pistons with busted rings. Amazingly, the bores were not scored, so a light hone is all the block needed. Whew!
I told my engine builder, Mike Blackstone, that I wanted to convert the car to a solid roller because it seemed like I was getting some valve float at 6800, which is pushing it for factory hydraulic roller lifters. So along with the new rings and a general cleanup, the engine got its first new cam in several years.