She's dead, Jim: Ole Blue is gonzo

PropellerHead · #1 10-04-2025, 10:45 PM

Well, boys, I got the news today from the mechanic kid I sold Ole Blue, my '04 4.8is:

The TQ converter went bad and exploded in glorious fashion. Sent parts throughout, including through the (leaking) rear main seal. Grenade'd both the transmission AND the motor all at once. Even the kid doesn't see an out for the chassis. And that's too bad.. nice air shox, rebuilt compressor, Turner solid core bits..

Goodbye old friend. The end of an era I was hopeful would sustain another generation of family road trips. Sad to see 'er go. And also: If I'm being honest- I feel badly. I mean.. I didn't ask for a lot of $, but I sure thought that all he needed was to fix seals and a leak at the rear main.. I sure didn't expect it would just shit the bed altogether.

I gave him some parts from the F25 N55 rework we're doing for his N55.. but still.. I dunno.. hard not to feel guilty when the bullet I dodged took out my buddy.

g300d · #2 10-05-2025, 04:13 AM

Wow, that is sad and unexpected!

Homerlovesbeer · #3 10-05-2025, 11:22 AM

Very sad to hear.

I'm sure he never flogged it and drove it responsibility

What's he going to do with the body? Sounds like a PERFECT parts car now

80stech · #4 10-05-2025, 12:58 PM

I can't see how the torque converter exploding can take out the engine ?? I would think even the trans might be salvageable. But Yeah, I'm sure he wasn't driving it hard. Does that trans have the "Launch" feature ??

workingonit · #5 10-05-2025, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80stech

I can't see how the torque converter exploding can take out the engine ?? I would think even the trans might be salvageable. But Yeah, I'm sure he wasn't driving it hard. Does that trans have the "Launch" feature ??

Over the years, I've seen several torque converters let go, but none exactly "exploded". They were all on high-powered dragstrip vehicles, with very high stall speeds, trans-brakes, and launching at high RPMs. None damaged the engine blocks, because the steel flex-plates spread the load, and suffered some damage, instead.

Some damage might be possible with an aluminum block, perhaps, but a 4.8 X5 engine is hardly comparable to a nitrous-fed BBC launching at 6k RPMs, pulling the front end up, and using 4.88 rear gears.