New Build Kirkham KMP709

[damage]

So I pulled the not so happy Cammer out of the Kirkham on Friday.

It definitely broke a chain.

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The chunk of casting is one of the guide section off the front case.

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Unfortunately just about every exhaust valve too was bent.

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Not a good first outing but oh well at least I can say I built the motor too when it's back together.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by damage

Not a good first outing

Sorry to discover the bad news...

Originally Posted by damage

but oh well at least I can say I built the motor too when it's back together.

I'm super impressed with your attitude towards it!

KUDOS, and more power to you for looking at it that way...
I mean most people, who experienced half the battle you have documented with your build, would have packed up sh!t and moved on... NO NOT YOU... "Bring it on" you holler from the roof tops, "I'll just make it better!"

Well Done to you and best of luck with it.

[deano59]

its sad to see any engine in that state god knows ive blown a few up racing over the yrs but a nice engine such as that and new as well is heartbreaking . good luck with the rebuild bigger and better they say .

[750hp]

Not cool at all...
Does Keith have any thoughts as to why it happened? The chain is about as long as the Great Wall, but it still shouldn't just snap.

[Donunder]

Dave I read this article some time ago after I first laid eyes on your beautiful cammer engine.

It appears that the secondary timing chain was a cause of concern back in the day, but the article relates that if the chain is tensioned correctly all should be well, and any chain failure could likely be tracked back to some other cause.

Ford 427 Cammer Build - 800 HP SOHC Big-Block Race Engine Assembly - Hot Rod Magazine

I hope you receive all due assistance from Keith and that you're back on the road stronger than ever in the not too distant future.

[spookypt]

Mr Damage, can I ask if it hasn't been mentioned already at what time did you hear it go? Wide open? Decel? Or neither? I'm assuming its at WOT but curious as to the answer. as it "may" point to a different suspect?

Always difficult dealing with OS engine issues. No flame to Keith C as he's always been great when I have spoken and dealt with him but distance makes issues hard and time consuming to sort. I've been down that road (Not with KC) and can't bring myself to travel again back down that road.

At least its not a "no warranty on race engine" scenario. Oh how many times I've heard that said to me.

[dhs.buckley]

ouch! that is nasty, very sad

[damage]

Spook, chain let go at a vary low throttle position of around 2000 rpm in 3rd gear.

Already have my theory as to why the chain has stretched and then snapped but I need parts to put it back together so that I can check valve to piston clearances/cam timing positions.

I will be making sure that everything is well measured prior to breathing life into this thing again. The stress of denting the car pulling an engine is far greater then the pain of pulling an engine out.

I wasn't entirely happy with the horsepower so who knows might have a tinker.

[damage]

Donunder,

Thanks for that article, I have read that before, the timing chain has several variants that are available .222 thou .225 thou and .250 thou journals. The .222 is a direct replica of the original the .250 is the general journal thickness of most short chains that are available after market today. Unfortunately the chain in my car varies from .218 to .223 so clearly the manufacturing tolerances weren't that rigid I suspect that the supplier of this chain wouldn't be aware of the quality.

[itempany]

Good luck with the rebuild. Always sad to see such an idealic motor destroy itself. I dont know too much about the crammer.......but they sure sound nice.

[spookypt]

Timing and Tolerance - yep at that load and rpm and based on what you mention above it sounds like you know where to be looking. Perhaps the "feeling of lack of power" for what it is will help you locate the issue.

Did KC give you a list of specs (timing and tolerances) for you to now cross reference against?

[renovationinnov]

told you damage to put an lsx in there & this wouldn't have happened
ehehehehehehh

[damage]

Spook,

Yes they did but I have a sneaking suspicion that the specs are wrong or they set it up wrong, one whole bank was contacting valves prior to the chain snapping so I think it's obvious where the failure has occurred.

[lovehamr]

Oh damn that sux! I feel for ya man!

[damage]

First fully registered Kirkham wooop woop well 2014 anyway

[deano59]

well done ......now just get a engine in it and enjoy it

[renovationinnov]

great to hear damage
but as said before ..now for the engine
rob

[Tenrocca]

Well done mate

[750hp]

Well done - you've certainly set the bar for build-spec, and to get it through engineering and rego is a great achievement.

[albanycobra]

Woohooo.....welldone Mate. Great feeling when all the rego bs out of the way.....
Paves the way for many others.....awesome mate