Here are the first pics of my self destructing V12. The block with heads will serve as a dummy for fixing twin screw superchargers, then it will become a coffee table. in the meantime another twelve will go back in with the torque converter as soon as I am able to rotate the crank in order to undo all four bolts.

 

Just finished replacing the engine in my SAAB 9-5, saying to my self: Thank god it was not my v12 that broke down.

And now you post this!
How did this happened?

 

Wow....those are some incredible pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

A combination of bad luck and stupidity: Starting in -25C a previous winter I didn't realise that part of the white smoke was fuel vapour. Two injectors stuck open poured fuel into the cylinders leaking down into the oil thinning it out. By the time I thought it odd that the "condensation" didn't stop I had run a big end bearing. That was the bad luck part, here comes the stupidity part: I replaced the bearing shells and ran it carefully for a while to save the seasons use. When the time came to tuck it away I got overtaken by a Merc. Not being able to resist I floored it ..........

 

Look on the bright side; at least you won't have to spend weeks faffing about with dodgy electrics, leaky hoses or sticky injectors trying to figure out why it won't run properly.
Plus that big hole in the side has got to help with the cooling!

 

like the boy, way back in the mountain, said (THAT ONE BLOWED UP REAL GOOD).

 

i guess thats called, she kicked a rod out.

at least you had fun doing it, nothing like a good street race!!

 

Bummer. So much for the myth that the V12 has a "bulletproof bottom end".

 

@ JagZilla: I think it can still be said that the bottom end it bulletproof. It sounds like this occurred under fairly anomalous conditions.

Sorry it happened though. Sounds like it went out with a bang!

 

first V12 ive seen that actually survived electrically long enough to suffer a mechanical failure. ouch.

ive also got a coffe table in the rough. i wish someone would let me borrow their head puller

 

A mighty bang immediately followed by a death rattle, smoke and a trail of oil and coolant on the road. The conrod bolts had snapped, and there were all the signs of material fatigue from the continuous hammering they had received over the preceeding 20 miles or so. The resultant valve bender gave the neighbouring cylinder enough to think about to snap the bolts there too as well as mashing the piston skirt. So yes, something in the block knocked and wanted out! To add insult to injury, I had secured a new crank and conrod for the imminent rebuild. The good news is that I secured a replacement engine from a (terminally rusty) abandoned resto project for about the same I paid for the newish crank. I have lifted the valve covers and oil pan (+ sandwitch plate), inspected and refitted with new gaskets etc.. The engine goes in during the next mild spell whenever that may be. Come spring maybe?

 

Who? Madonna?

 

Geez, I bet that made a loud noise when it went off...kinda like the working man's symphony.

 

OK, back to the coffee table idea!

i got FS,a brown smoked table top, 48" long 24" wide ,semi oval shaped, 8MM thick, perfect condition, no chips, any takers? PM me!

 

a pic would help!!

a light in the block would look kool, with edges glowing, darn,might keep it,but?

 

That's funny M

 

The offending conrod, pieces of piston skirt and conrod bolt.

EDIT: Upload failed, will add later

 

Have me nervous now. How long after starting in cold weather should the white smoke condensation stop ?

 

Did you beat the Merc?

 

Good question. I used to notice that JagZilla would have a lot of vapor coming out for much longer than I thought was normal. Whereas my '88 XJS seems to have vaporous exhaust no longer than any other car on the road.