RIP Old Girl
03-29-2014, 04:35 PM
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RIP Old Girl
Took my '03 out to Harris Hill Raceway today to get some seat time. Halfway through an off camber sweeping right hand corner, BOOM 
!!! The smoke, the smell, the sound of metal pouring onto the metal undershroud. I already knew. Get towed back to the pit, lift her up, and stare through 4-inch window on the side of the block with a valve rod sticking out 
Unfortunately she's been my daily driver since 2004 and my only vehicle presently. I knew the risks, but thought the VQ35 engine was bulletproof. Guy at the track who has a Z told me about this problem with the PCV valve sucking up oil on hard right hand turns and detonating engines. Why have I never known this???
She's been good over these past 9 1/2 years. Sebring, Daytona, COTA, and many other track days never caused her to pause. I guess this is the most fitting way to end it instead of rotting in a junk yard.
Now comes the hard part of figuring out what to do
. Just registered with NASA so I think I may get a truck, a trailer, replace the motor, and start building her into a Spec Z 
. Maybe this is was a good thing after-all...
!!! The smoke, the smell, the sound of metal pouring onto the metal undershroud. I already knew. Get towed back to the pit, lift her up, and stare through 4-inch window on the side of the block with a valve rod sticking out Unfortunately she's been my daily driver since 2004 and my only vehicle presently. I knew the risks, but thought the VQ35 engine was bulletproof. Guy at the track who has a Z told me about this problem with the PCV valve sucking up oil on hard right hand turns and detonating engines. Why have I never known this???
She's been good over these past 9 1/2 years. Sebring, Daytona, COTA, and many other track days never caused her to pause. I guess this is the most fitting way to end it instead of rotting in a junk yard.
Now comes the hard part of figuring out what to do
. Just registered with NASA so I think I may get a truck, a trailer, replace the motor, and start building her into a Spec Z . Maybe this is was a good thing after-all...
03-29-2014, 05:08 PM
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Everybody knows cars are only meant to take left turns:/ maybe your piston just wanted to say hi!
Okay I'm sorry:/ that's shitty. But good luck on the rebuild!
Okay I'm sorry:/ that's shitty. But good luck on the rebuild!
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03-30-2014, 06:35 AM
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03-30-2014, 07:10 AM
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03-30-2014, 07:45 AM
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Ask and you shall receive. Sorry for the angle on a couple, but here's the window and the guts that fell out. I am loading the GoPro video right now. Kind of a great tragedy story so far...
Storyline goes: Buzzed by mustang on warm-up lap, pissed off Z digs R888's into track, scared mustang gives pass signal (nemisis!!!), mustang fires red turtle shell at Z, Z dies on side of track, end scene.
Storyline goes: Buzzed by mustang on warm-up lap, pissed off Z digs R888's into track, scared mustang gives pass signal (nemisis!!!), mustang fires red turtle shell at Z, Z dies on side of track, end scene.
03-30-2014, 07:55 AM
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Sorry to hear about your VQ, looking at those pics it was clearly some type of rod or bearing failure. Regarding what you were told, hard right hand turns are not the Z's nemesis. After racing the Z in SCCA and NASA competition for many years, I've never had a PCV related engine problem on any track in the country.
03-30-2014, 08:00 AM
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Sorry to hear about your VQ, looking at those pics it was clearly some type of rod or bearing failure. Regarding what you were told, hard right hand turns are not the Z's nemesis. After racing the Z in SCCA and NASA competition for many years, I've never had a PCV related engine problem on any track in the country.
03-30-2014, 08:03 AM
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I thought the z took 5.5, I know if I ever take some tight like a tiger turns my oil light will come on. I've reserved tight turns till I get a baffled oil pans.
