Well, I never expected to be writing a thread like this, at least not so soon in the ownership of my Challenger, but ... my motor is blown. Since I've shared with you all the exciting details of modifying this car so far, I figured you should know the less pleasing results as well. I have around 6,600 miles on my Challenger R/T, and approximately 1,600 with the Techco supercharger. My car was the test car for Diablo's tuning updates for the new 5.7 engine and Johan tuned my car on the dyno several times, including almost a full day when we put the supercharger on with road datalogging also. I took my car to the track Friday for the first time since we put the supercharger on, and the first pass took it a bit cautiously and ran a 11.9 ET. I took the second run more aggressively and felt like the run would be a couple a tenths quicker. Toward the top end of the track, my car hit the 3-4 shift and stuttered a tad, but I stayed in it and ran another 11.9 ET. As I slowed the car down, the check engine light came on. When I stopped for the time slip, the car idled really rough and I knew there was a problem. Back in the pits I check the code(s) and had a 300 Random Misfire and 301 Cylinder 1 Misfire. Without any tools there, I decided to limp the car back to the shop ... but only after rooting on Frank as he ran his Techco supercharged 300C into the 12's ... on air bags!! Back at the shop late Friday night, I pulled the plugs and both from cylinder 1 had been crunched, with the straps collapsed and clear scratches as well. All the other plugs were still gapped properly. Here are the plugs from cylinder 1. I was planning to bore scope it today and decided to leave the car until then and enjoy the weekend. About 8:30 Sunday night I couldn't stand it any longer and went to the shop to remove the valve cover and check things out. I could then see down through the spark plug hole and tell that there were marks on the piston from the spark plugs. Knowing what this meant, I decided to go ahead and remove the Techco supercharger and driver's side head to see how bad it was. Here are some pics of what we found ... Cylinder 1 Piston: Cylinder 1 Valves: So, today we pulled the motor and it's sitting aside, with my car as a roller until I decide what to do. I had always wanted to just forge and keep a 5.7L / 345ci displacement (like factory) but now that this has sprung up suddenly, I want to plan out the best course for what I do with the car. I have spoken with Carlos at Techco at length and will know something for sure tomorrow on some options, but we're probably going to go with a Techco 392 short block. As an aside, I want to say a big personal thank you to Carlos. When I told him the motor blew at the track, the first thing he asked was if I was okay. Knowing the danger of drag racing, his first concern was for me, and my safety and that means more to me than anything. We all have a choice to make in improving the performance of our vehicles and I will continue to support Techco and Carlos!! I will keep you all posted in this thread, and am already missing my baby!!
Ouch! Sad news for sure Lisa, The bright side is your going forged and thats what you needed anyhow, Just glad your ok and its all gonna work out! Good Luck!
The Trials and Tribulations of doing R&D Well on the bright side looks like we will be setting some more Chally record's soon!
Blah. That sucks. Glad you are ok though. The motor WILL be fixed and bigger and badder will be the outcome. Sorry for the misfortune Lisa.
So that sucks to hear... glad that you were not hurt as well... This is the second 5.7 that I have heard of that has blown with a Techco SC on it... Sounds like it may not be safe for a stock 5.7... just thinking out loud...
its interesting to see stock spark plugs in a boosted car. i probably would've gone with a colder plug, and would assume techco would recommend it, if not include them in the kit... and as much as i hate to say it, im starting to see a pattern here....
That is the purpose of R&D...still finding out what these new 5.7's can handle...it is a whole new animal, the old 5.7's had lower compression different heads, cam etc and seemed to handle the boost fine as long as it was low. I think this was the first S/C 09+ 5.7.
True... but the other 5.7 car is a 2007 ... stock motor ... and it blew as well but not at the track .... it was on the dyno R&D has it's +'s and -'s ....
Really?As I remember it the older 5.7's didn't handle it too good either.The difference is you guys popped the motor at WOT which is not very common....most went at part throttle cruise.The compression is not the problem......the rings are.I bet if you had pulled the motor before hand and filed the ring ends another .015" the motor would still be together.
