Ran a new best....but think I mighta taken a head gasket out in the process.....

I ran out at the local track tonight, National Trail Raceway (where the big Pontiac Nationals NHRA event is held next month). Wasn't busy at all, which was great. Humidity was really high, and temps were in the upper 60's, so the conditions weren't exactly great.

Best run:
60': 1.738
1/8: 7.384 @ 96.29
1/4: 11.462 @ 120.27

Best 60' of the night was a 1.67, though the car dropped off some time after the 330' mark on that run, or it woulda been the best for sure.

BUT....the car decides to have 2 problems, one of which caused a call to AAA and a tow home.

Problem #1: Only on one run, the car ran fine, then all of a sudden just shut off. After coasting for about 20 seconds, I could start her again. When I mean shut off, I mean no spark OR fuel....nothing. Only happened once; happened to me once at the Hot Rod Super Nats flashlight drags last week too...... I'm clueless as to what is causing this problem.

Problem #2: After my 4th run, car start leaking coolant (this was also the car cutting out run). Well, it seems that when the car is running, it starts forcing coolant out of the radiator and into the puke canister....until the point it starts spewing out the puke canister (stock one). It does NOT do it with just the pump running (I have an electric water pump that can run w/ the car off). Anyone think it's a blown head gasket? I'll probably pull off the valve covers tomorrow and see if anything is foamy in there.

Anyway, I ended up being the fastest car there that wasn't brought in on a trailer....sadly I left on a roll back. :(

How much were you spraying? What do you run on motor? Just curious:)

Coolant entering into the overflow tank is a good sign of a blown head gasket for sure. It has happen to me before also I had coolant coming out the exhaust system while the car was running. Lucky for me it leak into the exhaust chamber instead of mixing with the oil. The car also ran like it was missing very bad.
You also say it doesnt do it when the electric pump is on, maybe you might have a clogged, or a problem with the stat.

Vinny

Originally posted by allmotorta
How much were you spraying? What do you run on motor? Just curious:)
150 wet shot (NX 62/35 jets, car runs a little rich due to lack of a good dyno tune). On motor last year, I ran a 12.45 @ 111.9 or something like that. But I was bogging out of the hole badly, and not shifting where I should have (I've played w/ where I shift and it has helped noticably). My gearing really isn't great for N/A runs either. Since then I've added an much needed LT4 knock sensor (was getting tons of false knock at launch), and have done more tuning.

I'll check for a stuck thermostat, but I doubt that's the problem. :( I've kept up on my cooling system pretty well, so I don't think it would be clogged up.

nice run joe!