LAST CHAPTER IN SPF #51 SAGA
Well, here we are, about six months after the Car & Driver testing that ended up with a couple of spun bearings caused by
oil starvation when #51 pulled 1.12 G's on the skid pad – when the C & D driver either ignored or failed to notice that the
oil pressure had dropped with the
oil being pulled away from the pick-up during the high G’s.
Roush’s warranty excludes track events and Roush had not been notified of the last minute substitution of my car for the C & D tests depriving them of the opportunity to make sure my engine was set-up for these tests. Remember that the engine was a crate street engine, not a track engine, and I had not set the car up for the track, mainly, no dry-sump or Accu-sump.
Nonetheless, Todd Andrews at Roush took it upon himself to have my engine repaired. My car was promptly put on a Roush transporter and delivered from California to Dennis Olthoff’s in North Carolina to pull the engine at my request who shipped it back to Roush in Michigan. Roush determined that oil starvation not only spun a couple of bearings requiring the crank to be turned and the mains line bored, but new rods, cam, roller-lifters, valves, timing chain and gears as well. My engine originally came with the older style Superformance shallow oil pan that was designed for the car’s low ground clearance but wasn't the best in keeping the oil at the pick-up during high G's. Dennis and Roush came to this conclusion and the later engines have a Roush provided oil pan that's fitted on the later coupes and GT40’s. Roush installed the new pan on my engine as well. Other repairs were affected and the engine was shipped back to Olthoff’s for reinstallation. Dennis not only reinstalled the drive train but fine tuned the engine and car for me. He also re-aligned the car and relieved the hood for the K & N air filters. Hey, might as well have the 80 HP back!
Finally, with the car ready to be shipped, Todd looked to get my car on a Roush transporter to bring it cross country only to learn that Roush no longer uses their transporters for cross country hauls. At this point Todd had no in-house means of getting my car back to me. Up steps Lance Stander of Superformance and Peter Brock and pay the cost of a private cross-country hauler to bring my car back to me. Peter had already stepped up to cover the cost of the cosmetic damages to the car.
Thumbs up to Todd Andrews and Roush for going far and beyond their responsibility and to Peter Brock, Lance Stander of Superformance, and Dennis Olthoff for all they have done to make me whole. Thanks guys, really appreciate all you’ve done. Todd, Peter, Lance, Dennis – great guys!!! Roush, Superformance – great team!!! Brock Coupe/Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – great car!!!