Stupid me, I just about blew it up last night!

[brads70]

Last night was really hot and humid, so around midnight I decided to take the Challenger out for a rip as I couldn't sleep!    So I drove downtown to see what was going on. Got a slushie and cruised around for a bit. On the way home after rounding the last corner about 1000 feet from my driveway I put her to the mat and was utilizing Quapmans shifter, listening to the 440 rev when it started ticking.... I shut it off right away and coasted into the garage and went to bed. I was thinking "maybe" I just blew a header gasket? But fired her up this morning and the valve train was clacking like crazy...   So I shut it off and was just gonna pop off the valve covers when I wanted to start it again to see what side it was coming from. The noise went away? I said OHHHHH Thanks Lord! Went to get the wife and I a coffee and to take it for a little test run... that's when I noticed the oil pressure gauge dropping and bouncing back up....yep it was low on oil! I just changed the oil and it was full a month or so ago so I didn't think to check it?    Dumb ass!  It was low about 1 1/2 quarts....
It came with a cheesy chrome oil pan on it that I'm guessing doesn't have enough oil capacity to be up in the higher RPM'S....LESSON LEARNED!       Time to put in a lower RPM chip in the MSD box!....and check the oil more often!

[Bullitt-]

Let's hope no real damage was done.... My mind went to the oil pickup, possible it's not positioned correctly.  Also why would you be 1.5-low?  I don't think you've put on enough miles for this to be nominal consumption.   

Good Luck
Wade

[422STROKER]

Brad take it easy!

LOL 
1.5 qts?  make sure your intake isn't sucking oil at the runners, IIRC you put a new intake on.

Tom

MSD chip is set to 6K on the SB here.

[brads70]

Ya I'll be taking it a little easier on the old girl!    I can't remember....I might have forgotten to check the oil after I fired it and  filled the filter ? I was in such a rush to get this thing on the road.
I hope it's not hurt either! It still has the same oil pressure 70 cold, then 40 hot at idle climbing to 60 at higher RPM's 
Maybe I'll have to escalate my engine build a little sooner..? I hope not though!
I'll be keeping a better eye on the oil level from now on! If it starts to go down I'll start pulling plugs to see where it's going as it doesn't leak anywhere on the outside.

[ChallengerGary]

Thank goodness it was something so minor!

[brads70]

I'll pull off the oil filter sometime this week and cut it apart to check for "shrapnel" inside?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

As for the engine, it is probably OK.

As for you, I can't imagine how close you came to cardiac arrest.   

[dodj]

Ya I'll be taking it a little easier on the old girl!    

It's a Challenger, not a mini-van, drive it like ya stole it! 

(but check for leaks  )

[moparmaniac59]

A little valve train clicking never hurt a Mopar! :smilielol:I have a small block 360 in my '68 Barracuda and was doing a massive donut. All the oil in the pan was sloshed to the outside due to centrifugal force and when I stopped the motor was clacking like crazy. I cut it off, let it sit a few minutes, restarted and it was fine once it got a good oil flow again. 1 & 1/2 qts low isn't enough to take a dry suction, so you should be fine!!

                                               Matt B.

[brads70]

Ya I've been driving it around for over a week now with no issues! Got lucky this time!

[Cooter]

Hmmmm, last time Exclaimed I had "Blown one up", there were pieces of 440 block, Three pieces of crank, two pieces of camshaft, pieces of lifters, pistons, etc. all over the track.....