Doesn't sound like anything from the blower dropped in to the engine then if you're still driving it around <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I drove it 225 miles home yesterday - ran fine, except for an occasional rattle..... probably the rotors fluttering.

It could very well have ingested the rear rotor bearings - those are needle bearings. I'll find out when I take it apart.

Frank

Suspicions confirmed..... this may not be the worst thing I've seen in an engine, but it's close..... and it's ugly:


The nose drive, coupler and rotor gears are fine:

The rotors have been thoroughly trashed:

and the rotor housing as well - all because of one bad needle bearing:


That's disgusting <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> Both the engine and blower are now junk.

So.... the carnage brings this epic thread to a lousy end and I'll call this a failed project...... useful only for the lessons learned and ideas generated. Thanks to all who helped with parts and suggestions. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Perhaps the next time will be the charm. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I probably won't be buying any more Magnacharger blowers, but I do have a reincarnation idea that will have to wait until I have the time and material to try a resurrection. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Frank,

Very sorry to hear this. I definitely envied your rig.

I'm not clear on one thing... you say the motor's toast too? I thought it was good enough to drive the 250 miles home? Were the valves damaged?

Ray

No, I did not get to ride in it. What are you going to do now? You sure the motor is toast? You can put it in my 4 door, it is probably better than mine anyway.

Sorry to see that Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> I know how much work and custom fab that went into it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hi Ray -

I don't know if the valves are damaged, but the metal powder you see in the intake has likely been deposited on the valve stems and degraded the seals and valve guides..... and it's probably gone through the cylinders and done some damage to the cylinder walls and rings..... perhaps even been pumped through the oil gallery to the lifters.... and eaten the bearings and journals a little. It's nothing a tear-down and go-through won't cure, but I wouldn't continue to drive it until I at least did a complete inspection and cleaning.... that stuff is like metal talcum powder and it can go everywhere in an engine.

I called Magnacharger and explained what I found - acknowledged that it was out of warranty and asked if they had had other reported similar rotor bearing failures. The answer was "I've never heard of that happening and don't see how it's possible". Yeah, okay, right..... a blower should be good for 80-100,000 miles before a rebuild - so what happened and what can you do? "I've got an MP62 take out that's been completely rebuilt we'll sell you for $550." Ummmm.... no thanks - until you can tell me what caused this, Hell will freeze over before I buy another one of your blowers. "Well, I'll get someone in the sales department to call you tomorrow - it's their call and if they decide to honor the warranty, they'll build you a new blower." Yeah.... okay..... I'm waiting.

So, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I hear further, but I don't think this is going anywhere. They're within their right to deny any claim - even at less than 10,000 miles. Even if they gave me another one, if they won't admit what could cause the failure I don't think they're being honest and I probably wouldn't want to put their replacement on another fresh engine without an acknowledgement that they've seen the issue before and a rational reason why it happened (like a bad bearing)..... anyway, good engines cost a lot more than blowers and without some reasonable explanation from them, I won't risk another engine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Too bad - it really ran well.... and I was looking forward to doing some cam trials that I think could have made it even better. There's a lot of unleashed power still in that engine.

I suppose the effort wasn't a complete failure, but finding that mess and not knowing how to keep it from happening again will be enough reason to try another route next time.

Frank

That sucks frank. I'm really sorry to see this. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> any support from the blower manufacturer?

Here you can see where the bearing rollers chewed their way past one rotor:

And here's a picture of the forward edge of the rotor at the front of the case - looks like the rotor was shoved against the case front and ran out of clearance:


This looks like a clear case of bearing failure to me - but I don't know why.... unless the bearing was defective when it was installed.

If I was running Magnacharger, I'd file a claim against the bearing supplier and give me a new blower AND money for a complete engine rebuild...... but I ain't in charge. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I think I'll email these pictures to them and see what they think...... better yet, maybe they'd like to see this thread with 30,000 views. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Are the clearances that tight that the rotors and housing are totally done? We weren't really allowed to play with those much at chevy. They demanded all of them back as unmollested cores, otherwise I'de probably have one too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />