Well it finally happend. I went to the drag strip to run my new setup for the first time. VD says my power is 431hp 378trq. Since it was 30*, wasnt use to the new clutch for launching and hitting the rev limit (7800rpm) in 4th 75ft before the finish line, i only ran a 12.4@111mph. My last run my CEL came on so i checked everything and told my buddies that i was heading home to check it out. So half way home i started loosing power and then the engine shut off and wouldnt fire back up. I called a tow truck and asked for a flat bed but they said they didnt have any. They said they will use the dolly since the car is AWD. The driver showed up, said he wanted to get off the highway due to the traffic so i thought he was just going to tow the car with the rear wheels on the ground to the next exit, which was 100 meters or so. He kept going and about 20km later my buddies come flying up in their car saying my car is on fire. We pull over and the car is just smoking like crazy...well there goes the drivetrain. Had it towed to the dealership and they told me they want to replace the whole engine for $11k and the drivetrain for $14k.

So im currently going through a law suit with the tow company for the damage of the drivetrain, i plan on sueing them for $20k. And im hoping i win enough to build my engine. If i send the tcase and rear diff to Jacks transmission, that will cost roughly $4000.

So I had the car towed back to my place so i could work on it. I got the plugs out and heres what they look like (the damaged one is #1)







I got the intake manifold off and found this in there....



Then seen this...






So its going to be a long and expensive rebuild...

 

dam

 

gratz, thats gotta be the worst day I've heard of in a while. Good luck with your lawsuit.

 

I love telling good people bad news, so here it is:
The tow company is only liable for the drivetrain components that were damaged by their negligence. That's if (IF) the judge has mercy on your soul and all the particulars are in your favor. Total cost recovery will be the 4k you would spend on the rebuild, and that's if all planets/stars align properly for you. Good luck.

Phenomenal amount of carnage for a single night at the track. At this point I would give up. At least for a few months. I hope you're ride isn't down for too long. Good luck.

 

Yeah, why would they pay for everything. If you try and get more than you are due or owed from their negligence you will probably end up with nothing. They did not damage the motor yet you are trying to get it thrown in to the deal.

I would consider that to be unethical.

 

Crazy badluck ! I did blew engine with my honda on the track but at least, i didnt get any more problems coming back with the car on the towing.

And i guess he`s sueing for more because you have to pay for lawyer ?

 

To the guys saying im trying to get them to pay for the motor, im not. That being said, any extra i may win, goes towards paying that. I've spoken to the cops, court and my lawyer and all 3 said i have a strong case and to go for what the dealership quoted for the drivetrain + deminishing value + legal fees + expenses and all that bull****. So in the end im sueing for $20k. If i get it, great. If i only get the 14k, its still enough to cover the drvetrain and the engine, if not, most of it.

 

were you on drugs or something? I would have instantly called another tow company as soon as they told me "no flatebeds" forget about that dolly crap. And then you actually let them tow ur car with the wheels down for 20km.

 

funny thing is, they do have a flat bed. When i went to the guys office, err, house (the owner works out of his house), there was a flat bed on the side of the street.

 

Just for reference, what is the max distance to be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. IE at a track day?

 

Damn man that sucks to hear. Keep us updated.

 

Wow that's horrible. Can't believe you even considered or let them tow the car on a dolly though. I would have rather let my car sit on the side of the road for a night than have my whole drivetrain explode.. Which was inevitable with the way y'all towed it.

Good luck getting it back up and running.

 

Holy s@$t! Forget that sue em for more its called mental stress and pain and suffering

 

Either you misunderstood or im missing something here. If they had used a dolly, all 4 wheels would have been off the ground.

if all 4 wheels are on the ground, there shouldnt be a problem towing it via a tow hook in the front. If you shift it into neutral, it shouldnt cause any damage.

 

It's not unethical. He has the right (well not sure with Canadian law, but here where the laws are really messed up), to sue for additional downtime of his car.

The fact the engine was damaged is irrelevant to the case completely. The facts. His drivetrain was completely destroyed due to improper tow, after he as the owner told the driver now to tow it like that because of the risks.

it's completely valid to sue for parts, labor, and inconveniences caused. Things that can be added are rental car, lawyer fees, time spent away from work while visiting with the lawyer, etc.


The first responder said it correctly though. It always will be in the favor of the judges opinion, but the condition of his engine or what he was doing that night is unsubmissible in most courts as it's not relevant to the lawsuit.


Good luck dude! and were you really reving to 7800rpms with stock block and head?