I was running a Northstar in my rock buggy up until last week when it tossed a rod through the valley right under the starter at just above idle.

I assume I damaged the motor earlier maybe from an overheat up to 260 for about 10 miuntes(fan relay failed)but the oil never went to cream and it wasn't using coolant so I thought I was ok.

Now I am gun shy about replacing it, and I am thinking about a supercharged 3800 series 2.

This was a great day!

What PCM do you run? I'm building an off road car with '98.

What PCM do you use? I have a '98 in an off road car.

Yeah you had to do something. The bottom end is pretty strong. Head gaskets are the weak link. If I where you, I'd buy one with bad head gaskets cheap and stud it. http://www.northstarperformance.com Then it should be damn near bullet proof.

I am pretty sure the abuse I give the motor had something to do with it, but I have seen 2 others in junkyards the same way still in the car.

Northstar rods are about as exotic as stock rods get. They are powder forged with cracked caps. You must have been turning about a jillion RPM.

6700 rpm redline:crying2:

Thanks for the info, 2dedge. I couldn't reply because I am not yet allowed PM's yet. I'll tell you about my setup if I can get through to you somehow, you could email me at dan (at) glenellenlabs (dot) com.

Well after further research it destroyed the piston and the schrapnel came through the block not the rod.

pics?

I've put the pic of your buggy up on my work computer and everyone loves it.

Piston? Bad case of pre-ignition? Nitrous? What happened?

let me guess you have been using a Commander 950? Don't feel bad I hear about this type of thing with them and the Fan Thing also