anyone know why Ron Capps blows up at about the 800 ft mark. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dougeb
- Start date
Bob
Nitro Member
That explosion was a classic example of a "top-end" failure. While it looked like a standard run initially, the consensus among tech analysts and the NAPA team was that it started with a dropped intake valve.
Here is the typical chain reaction for a Funny Car "boomer" like that:
1. Valve Train Failure: A valve snaps or the spring fails, causing the valve to drop into the cylinder.
2. The Gulp: Because these engines are force-fed massive amounts of nitromethane, the open intake port allows the combustion process to flash back into the intake manifold (the "blower bag" area).
3. The Concussion: When that much nitro ignites outside of the cylinder, it creates a massive pressure spike that blows the supercharger off the top of the engine (which is why you see the burst panels fly and the body lift).
In Capps' case, the engine "hydraulicked" almost instantly. When the valve failed, it disrupted the timing of the fuel delivery, and since liquid nitro doesn't compress, the rods let go and the whole top end exited the chassis. It’s a testament to the safety equipment and the ballistic blankets that he walked away without a scratch!
Here is the typical chain reaction for a Funny Car "boomer" like that:
1. Valve Train Failure: A valve snaps or the spring fails, causing the valve to drop into the cylinder.
2. The Gulp: Because these engines are force-fed massive amounts of nitromethane, the open intake port allows the combustion process to flash back into the intake manifold (the "blower bag" area).
3. The Concussion: When that much nitro ignites outside of the cylinder, it creates a massive pressure spike that blows the supercharger off the top of the engine (which is why you see the burst panels fly and the body lift).
In Capps' case, the engine "hydraulicked" almost instantly. When the valve failed, it disrupted the timing of the fuel delivery, and since liquid nitro doesn't compress, the rods let go and the whole top end exited the chassis. It’s a testament to the safety equipment and the ballistic blankets that he walked away without a scratch!
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