Ow, my oil pan!
 

So I'm driving along last night, out for a midnight drive. Suddenly I hear that ominous ticking out of my engine bay that car guys know oh so well, indicating that a bearing is on the way out. Sure enough, I get it off the highway and hear a crack. Everything dies.

Sure enough, when I finally get someone to pull over and use their headlights to check under my car, I can see the end of a connecting rod hanging down underneath, having punched a nice big hole in the oil pan.

Long story short, Martian's going car shopping, is happy he had some money stashed away and even happier that he has CAA and was able to get to a payphone to call for a tow. He also now talks in the third person.

Pictures forthcoming if I get a chance to take them.

Connecting rod ...THROUGH.. the oilpan.. :(

Damn! Sorry to hear that...

What type of vehicle?

92 Beretta GT, 3.1 MPFI V6. I'm a little bummed about it because I had big plans for that car. I saved up for it on a fairly low salary and it meant a lot to me. But with the money I have now I can get a better vehicle for myself, which is never precisely bad.

I was right pissed off by the time I got home last night, but after a long chat with my gf and some more thought about it, I've mostly accepted it. And on the plus side, I get to go car shopping, which is fun. Test driving, looking around and of course, finding something you really love. I fell in love with the Beretta pretty much at first sight.

Maybe I get too attached to my cars.

Wow never seen that happen before..I have seen push rods come out of the valve covers but not that!

sweet!

its a good thing you had a little saved up, you can likely get yourself a used honda if you've got enough change.

Probably had an oiling problem, but I bet you got your miles outta it...I really want to buy a beretta of your year and put a 3.8 engine it in.

Nah, I'm looking to upgrade for my next one. I won't go into too many details, but I have enough "rainy day money" that I can afford to get myself something a little more upscale. Plus, I am a GM man at heart. I was thinking possibly something along the lines of a Grand Prix, although there is that ad for a '79 Trans Am in the paper that's calling my name.

That's my thinking, I'd guess the pump might've failed, it's the only thing I haven't checked recently. I was actually planning on doing something like that myself, but it needs some body and interior work done.. all of that combined just doesn't seem worth it. But if you're really looking for a 92 Beretta to do an engine swap on, I know of a GT that's just come up for sale...

It's not all that uncommon. Oil stops circulating for some reason or another, a bearing seizes and the force causes the connecting rod to snap, at which point it's going in one direction or the other. I've also heard tales of shooting a piston through the hood, although I've never seen it firsthand. But this, yeah, I've seen a couple roll (or be pushed, more accurately) through shops I've been working in with this.

EDIT - I should specify that if I get a Grand Prix it'll be a GTP. I'm also considering a Bonneville SSEi, but I don't like it a smuch. The Grand Prix is just sexier, especially the coupe. And calling a Grand Prix sexy is saying something, really.

I saw someone put a chevy 350 with RWD set up in one of them things....damn insane!

Man -- is that a sight to see. Was hanging out with a buddy in a parking lot, and when he fired it up to leave.. BAAAAAAAAAM! Motherfucker! I've been shot!

It was so loud.. and a nice hole punched right through the hood. I dunno if the piston actually blew through or what.. but talk about a nice metal punch right through your hood..

i've seen the results of a rod shooting through the block, and waterpump, and doing some damage to the radiator. I've also seen a rod completely demolish a spark plug. Both very depressing sites to experience, one led to one of the most interesting stories of my life being stranded in a small town in the middle of no where 500 miles from home. Glad you had some money saved up, and a tow service available.