sterday I set up the AEM FIC , added enough fuel to be nice and rich under boost, and retarded 1 degree of timing per lb of boost. Checked to see that the retard was working with my timing light.
Then I slapped the turbo etc on and took it out for a test run to watch AFR. She was nice and rich under low boost, spooling and boosting at low rpm, BOV was working. Great.
I got a little ahead of myself and did a WOT pull. Unbelievable power. I was at the top of 3th and she wouldn't stop gaining power, super excited. Unfortunately my wastegate didn't open. Last I saw I was going on 20lbs, it happened extremely fast from vacuum to 20lbs. I was too excited, Should have felt it out a little more and stopped right when she went over 10psi. I only put an 8psi spring in there lol. Then I smelled coolant
Pulled over, upper rad hose popped right off the rad. Clamp was tight. Uh-oh, Cooling system must be getting pressurized with cylinder pressures. Opened cap, refilled her. With cap off, I went to crank and got a hydrolock sound. She was almost completely hydrolocked after 1 WOT pull. For every revolution the starter could turn the engine, the radiator was shooting water like a geyser. Stopped everything, hooked up the chain and towed her home. It was late so that was that.
I've never had this happen before so this is new to me, and I would appreciate some input so that it's not all guess work when I pull the heads off to see if I can slap new head gaskets in and put it back together after fixing the wastegate issue
I'm thinking before I buy any new head gaskets I need to pull the heads and inspect.
Best case scenario I blew the head gasket, next best the head floated and the threads in the block are still good. Maybe the bolts stretched. I can work with that with new head bolts
I doubt the head cracked but it's possible. If the the water jackets in the block have any damage I'm screwed.
Now while I was fabricating all the turbo parts during the last few months I also regasketed the engine top to bottom. I used felpro head gaskets. Now if I can salvage this I'll go with MLS gaskets.
Any input as to what I should look for and what you think happened? Thanks.
Then I slapped the turbo etc on and took it out for a test run to watch AFR. She was nice and rich under low boost, spooling and boosting at low rpm, BOV was working. Great.
I got a little ahead of myself and did a WOT pull. Unbelievable power. I was at the top of 3th and she wouldn't stop gaining power, super excited. Unfortunately my wastegate didn't open. Last I saw I was going on 20lbs, it happened extremely fast from vacuum to 20lbs. I was too excited, Should have felt it out a little more and stopped right when she went over 10psi. I only put an 8psi spring in there lol. Then I smelled coolant
Pulled over, upper rad hose popped right off the rad. Clamp was tight. Uh-oh, Cooling system must be getting pressurized with cylinder pressures. Opened cap, refilled her. With cap off, I went to crank and got a hydrolock sound. She was almost completely hydrolocked after 1 WOT pull. For every revolution the starter could turn the engine, the radiator was shooting water like a geyser. Stopped everything, hooked up the chain and towed her home. It was late so that was that.
I've never had this happen before so this is new to me, and I would appreciate some input so that it's not all guess work when I pull the heads off to see if I can slap new head gaskets in and put it back together after fixing the wastegate issue
I'm thinking before I buy any new head gaskets I need to pull the heads and inspect.
Best case scenario I blew the head gasket, next best the head floated and the threads in the block are still good. Maybe the bolts stretched. I can work with that with new head bolts
I doubt the head cracked but it's possible. If the the water jackets in the block have any damage I'm screwed.
Now while I was fabricating all the turbo parts during the last few months I also regasketed the engine top to bottom. I used felpro head gaskets. Now if I can salvage this I'll go with MLS gaskets.
Any input as to what I should look for and what you think happened? Thanks.
Comment