Thread: My VE-T is sick... not in a good way

Well guys, after a short time of actually getting to drive my VE-T, it's back in the garage. Now, before I go any further I DO NOT want to discourage people from going the VE-T route, I am so glad that I did. The failure had nothing to do with the setup being too weak or anything like that. It was purely my fault for a few different reasons.

So I was on my way home from the bar with my buddy (3am or so). He was in his hybrid swapped wrx and I was following him through the tunnels. I don't know why, but everyone always gets the urge to mess around in the tunnels (including me). So he gunned it, and I followed suite. Now, I need to mention the fact that I was running 10psi on a stock GTIR t28 on a completely stock VE. I also was running a stock clutch (which was temporary until I found an LSD trans so I didn't have to drop the tranny twice). I have been noticing recently lately that my clutch has been slipping a bit under boost and had been taking it easy... until the other night. So when I stomped it, I started pulling on him as the boost built, then all of a sudden it felt like I just dropped the car into neutral, looked down at the tac... it was up past 9k... I lightly tapped the gas with my fingers crossed and heard some chattering/clacking noise. Right then, I knew it was over. I coasted up to a car lot just outside of the tunnels, popped the hood and noticed some smoke coming out of the vent tube on my VC. I let it cool down and turned it over twice to see if it was getting oil psi... nope. No scraping or grinding or any other types of bad noises were audible though

I haven't gotten a chance to do a comp check or really look at it at all since that night. Anyone wanna take a guess as to what went? I'm thinking i probably F'd up the valve trail from the over revs, but that wouldn't explain the 0 oil psi. There was no oil leaking anywhere that I could see. One of my buddies said it could be the crank bearings, but I don't think that sounds right.

Ok, so anyway, this is what I was thinking. Any input will be appreciated. I am looking to get this thing back on the road asap, as it is my DD at the moment. If the head is junked, get another VE head and just plunk it on there. If it's something in the bottom, pull the motor and swap the block for a DET bottom end and call it a day. I remember reading about some machining needed done to fit a VE head on a DET bottom, but can't seem to find the thread. Anyone done this or can post a link? I dunno if I'm terrible at searching or what.

Thanks guys, wish me luck!

you probably shattered the oil pump, If your lucky you might be able to get away with just replacing the oil pump and get it back running. I over reved my stock ve to past 11k by mis shifting with no rev limiter several times and nothing messed up as far as the valve train It wasnt until i went farther than that on a bad mis shift that i dropped a valve into the piston.

Now thing is the pumps are not meant for those rpms. If you want a ve pump i have one up for sale for $110 shipped. haha. As long as you didnt run it long after that, the bearings should be fine. Might wanna replace at least the rod bearings while yoru in there though if you decide to open it up.

Would the oil pump prevent it from starting though? It didn't even try to start when I turned it over a couple times afterwards. And when I tapped the gas, it didn't even try to accelerate.

no then you broke more than that then. You need to tear into it and take a look. Start by popping the valve cover and see if you see anything unusual.

Before you pop the valve cover, do a compression test. Compression #'s can tell you everything.... let us know what the results are when you find out.

Yeah, that's the plan for when I get home from work.

u need to lookin to it more man, and we need more detail....

See above post. Also, I was asking for guesses, not precise diagnostics..................

You prob won't be able to do a proper compression test anyway, so I would just pop the cover off first and look for broken stuff.

I wish you the best of luck, this sort of stuff really sucks, but when it is back on the road there is no doubt in my mind she will be better than ever!

Definitely sounds like oil pump based on the info provided. Let us know what you find when you get the VC off.