Nightlife 0 compression found and cause.

If it was a sudden catastropic event it would have. That was some time in the making.

 

Here's the photo I was talking about. Is there a hole next to that spark plug (second from the right)?
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Roberto - I've haven't been around for a bit. Sorry about the engine. You've generated a hell of a thread. I think most would agree that your attitude and sense of humor about the whole thing is just awesome. Good job!

Nice that this happened at the end of the driving season versus the begining. You will be set for the spring and big time wise about your engine.

Good luck mate.

Troy

 

Very well said Troy - and welcome back!!

 

I really do not like the way the heads look at the valves. Sure you can tell which one blew, but it seems to me that there was an aweful lot of carbon build-up on the rest of them. Which leads me to believe that your problem might have been one we have seen before. A car that was maybe babied and not driven very aggressively for a while before you. Carbon builds up for some reason, maybe the driving style - essentially not totally heat cycling the engine and not doing an Italian tune up on every outing. Could be a leaking or partially clogged injector. Too much fuel and it doesn't burn; too little and you get lean. Either condition would have been noticible at the cat. But that carbon build-up is interesting. Then one day, the carbon loosens, circulates around, then detonates like a mini blasting cap, and there you go. So, I now have a laser pyrometer to check those header mounts for significant temperature differences. Also, I am flow testing my injectors. In fact, I am flow testing a replacement set. These kind of threads make me a much more careful owner.

Good luck with the rebuild dude. Oh, and it would be a really good time to do some performance mods, eh?