It's taken me some time to post this, as I wanted to get my old engine back and take it all apart for some good photo's of the damage. Anyway let's start the story at the beginning......

Megameet weekend up in the Lakes. I was overtaking a camper van thing when the car made an almighty noise, it sounded like my exhaust had fallen off, and was dragging along the floor, all "metally". I looked in the mirror to see clouds of smoke and oil!!

The camper van guy had heard and seen this and slowed, to allow me to pull over in a rather handy layby. Opened the bonnet to see pools of oil and a crack in the crank case

BIG THANKS to Burnie who towed me a couple of miles up the road, where we left the car for recovery.

Once recovered I got onto the phone to the breakers on the list, and I must also say a VERY BIG Thanks and a very high recommendation to David at Fenland Breakers, who I got a fantastic deal on a 2005 9,000 mile Engine, gearbox and clutch (minus ECU). I checked the particulars (VIN, Engine number) out with Davey_2 at Brayley Honda, (THanks Dave!) who gave me some info which ensured that the engine was 'kosher' The engine was ordered on a Tuesday, delivered on Thursday

Jorge at Crown, Bushey fitted the new Engine and parts (in 10 hours) just in time for me to get to the Blast Thru France - another big thanks to the folk at Crown, including Lee Higgins the service manager who managed to let me borrow a loan car at very short notice (actually it was one of their Delivery and pick up cars!!)

A Massive thanks goes to those people at Megameet who clubbed together and totally suprised and embarrassed me with a very generous donation towards the new engine. I really really appreciate that

So heres some pics.

Old and new, guess which is which!!



The damage was in the 2nd cylinder where it has thrown a rod, similar to Pete's (PJL) did on the track.


It's a BIG hole


Engine # F20C2- 1020105 RIP Aged 126,189 miles

 

Don't think I'll be buying that tbh

 

F**k me, that's a big hole!

How do you find the '05 engine vs the old skool one. They sound very different, IMO.

 

It's a difficult comparison, Gaz, the old engine having 126k on it and the new one 9k. It felt very tight to begin with, but just as powerful. MUCH quieter than the old one I find.

I find the power and VTEC the same. The new one has used NO oil in 4k miles (I'd have used about 4 litres in the old one!!)

Very pleased so far. The gearbox and clutch are a big improvement too.

 

If you've still got it and want me to I'll come down and strip it and try and work out why it went bang if you like

 

So what was the cause of the thrown rod Ian, just wear and tear?

 

Looks like quite an impressive failure!

 

Power of Dreams.

 

You're welcome Ben. I've got as much off as I can, just the bottom end. I am having trouble undoing the bolt on the wheel that is connected to the crank (dont know proper name) as the wheel just turns and there is no way i can find to jam it.

 

I'm assuming you mean the crank damper pulley (black plastic thing at the front of the engine?)

If you've got the gearbox off then try and find something to jam in the ring gear of the flywheel at the opposite end.

I'll check my diary to see if I'm free sometime in the next few weeks, alternatively I'm off work for my works shutdown in August if you can wait that long