this even impressed me... the carnage is mythic.

I love a good carnage teardown!

I had a '72 Beetle dropped off last summer, had a ton of high performance parts, monster engine, Porsche brake conversion, etc.

Anyway, the complaint was a misfire and excessive oil pressure. Didn't sound horrible aside from the miss, but yes, oil pressure was double what it should be. I pulled the plugs and #2 was absolutely mangled- to the point where I couldn't believe it came out of the head. Pulled the valve cover, and the aftermarket valve retainer cap had come apart, which allowed the valve to drift out, eventually into the piston.

Except it made it all the way through the piston. I ended up finding the valve head sitting in the oil sump (and a ton of shrapnel to cause both oil pressure relief valves to stick closed).

Posted by bandi I love a good carnage teardown! I had a '72 Beetle dropped off last summer, had a ton of high performance parts, monster engine, Porsche brake conversion, etc. Anyway, the complaint was a misfire and excessive oil pressure. Didn't sound horrible aside from the miss, but yes, oil pressure was double what it should be. I pulled the plugs and #2 was absolutely mangled- to the point where I couldn't believe it came out of the head. Pulled the valve cover, and the aftermarket valve retainer cap had come apart, which allowed the valve to drift out, eventually into the piston. Except it made it all the way through the piston. I ended up finding the valve head sitting in the oil sump (and a ton of shrapnel to cause both oil pressure relief valves to stick closed).

i've only blown up two engines... a High-Output 2.8L carb V6 in my 81 X11 and a 2.0L OHV in an 84 Cavalier... in both cases, there were holes punched through the block, but they looked nothing as bad as that Subie engine.

I've grenaded a 2.5 Iron Duke (and it still drive home on two cylinders an a window in the block) and a AMC 360 in a wagoneer at something over 85 mph going down Saluda Grade in NC. No tac, speedo maxed at 85, three speeds. I'd guess I was pushing 120 when the engine went inside out.

Posted by jeepdave I've grenaded a 2.5 Iron Duke (and it still drive home on two cylinders an a window in the block) and a AMC 360 in a wagoneer at something over 85 mph going down Saluda Grade in NC. No tac, speedo maxed at 85, three speeds. I'd guess I was pushing 120 when the engine went inside out.

do you one better... when that 2.0L in the Cavalier exploded, i was going 55mph in neutral, engine off, hole blown through the radiator side of the block when i said fuck it, dropped the shifter into 2nd (it was a 4spd manaul) and let the clutch out. I have scars on my right leg and foot from when the firewall side of the block blew and punched holes through it... and into my tan fleshypoo. Ouch ouch ouch! I was digging oily metal out of my leg for a couple of days.

Got Dayum 😂