I want to share a break-down story

[Bob Lawrence]

Sorry to hear of your problem...question..by the time it started to
smoke was it to late? Or if you had pulled off and had it towed,
would the damage have been so extensive?..again sorry for the problem.
Bob Lawrence
84 PT36 (Whirlybird)
Tacoma, Wa.

Once safely at a gas station, called friend who owns diesel shop, he
said if it was running, the
> gauges read OK, and I could not smell diesel in the oil (which I
> didn't), limp it home below 2000 rpm, probably just blew a tip off
an
> injector, not a big deal. 2000 rpm is about 55 mph. I make it
home.
>
> Take to friend's shop next week. Check injector...not the
problem.
> They have to go in. The final prognosis: broken valve.
>
> A valve broke and went in to the cylinder, carving up the piston
face
> pretty good. When it had been pulverized enough, it finally went
out
> the exhaust port, carving up the head along the way. Then, of
course,
> the remaining parts went in to the turbo, gutting it. So all that
was
> replaced. Not cheap.
>
> But to me, this story isn't about the fact that I needed an
expensive
> repair. It's about the fact that my 'Bird, seriously wounded,
running
> on 7 cylinders with no turbo, got me where I needed to go. I say
> that's a true testament to how strong these coaches and their parts
> are. I was never more sold on having a 'Bird than I was the day
they
> ran down the list of everything that had happened in that engine.
>
> So that's my story. Just thought I'd share, especially for any of
you
> that are debating whether or not a 'Bird is for you.
>
> Scott Forman
> 82 FC35RB
> Memphis
>