Hello to the Caterham community!
I suppose you could say I'm arriving with a bang...
I've owned a CSR 260 for 14 blissful months, realizing a lifetime dream with these remarkable sports cars.
I blatted every weekend and tracked the vehicle regularly on CR500s, terrorizing all but the quickest slick-shod, race-prepped cars at these events in California.
Then, on track day No 13, my oil temp spiked at Turn 10, Sonoma, last lap of the last session. I immediately came into pit lane as hot engine cut. My mechanical knowledge doesn't stretch beyond changing oil, spark plugs, pads if I'm honest so I sent it to a Caterham guy Rich, in Sonoma.
initial inspection of motor revealed:
The rod bearing on #2 cylinder had failed, after compression test showed it was 20% down. It exhibited signs of overheating severely. So much so that the bearing has melted and found it's way out of the connecting rod big end. See pictures I have attached.
Screwdriver tip pointing to the melted bearing material that has centrifuged out of the big end.
Additionally the bearing has spun, wiping away the locating tangs which secure it to the connecting rod and it allowed the bearing shell to spin inside the connecting rod.
The crankshaft journal is also damaged, heavily scored.
Because of the amount of damaged bearing material and the damage to the crankshaft, I'm guessing a complete strip down and replacing all worn and damaged parts is one of few options, because unless I engine swap, I'd want all metal that has been run through the motor to be removed.
I've discussed replacing:
-Crankshaft
-Connecting rod
- Oil Pump
-Piston ring set
-Bearings
-Modine oil cooler
-Gaskets and seals
also removal the bell-tank oil reservoir from the gearbox, strip it and throughly clean it and reassemble it.
My flywheel shows signs of big overheating and the clutch disc friction material is loose and disintegrating - I don't want to damage the bell housing so looking to replace, given regular future track days.
I'm guessing I could opt for having the cylinder head rebuilt along with the bottom end to clean all the oil passageways, and a fresh valve job.
Alternatively, I could bite the bullet, trade the short motor and go on the search for a recon:new engine in the US or from some UK engine builders. Does anybody have knowledge or advice to impart on this?
I have no intention of gently blatting down country lanes after this trauma, I want to keep going down the Open Passing Group/Time trial route so any upgrade or preventative advice from experienced track-day attendees would be very welcome.
I'm in a bad spot, but I want to emerge from it stronger.