NHRA Funny Car engine explosion

[arvidj]

If you look at the video frame-by-frame there are several frames where you look down thru the cylinders of the block as it spins. Where one normally expects to see pistons and crank a view of the white and red of the hood show up clearly. I am assuming said pistons and crank exited the vehicle with a similar velocity (Newton's third law or something like that) in the opposite direction of the block. We don't see them because the vehicle probably drove over it (probably some number of Murphy's law).

I counted 4 turbos. Two at the very back that seem to have be in parallel feeding two more that seem to be in series. I have heard of systems like that with a claimed 100+ psi at the intake manifold.

[PJs]

If you look at the video frame-by-frame there are several frames where you look down thru the cylinders of the block as it spins. Where one normally expects to see pistons and crank a view of the white and red of the hood show up clearly. I am assuming said pistons and crank exited the vehicle with a similar velocity (Newton's third law or something like that) in the opposite direction of the block. We don't see them because the vehicle probably drove over it (probably some number of Murphy's law).

I counted 4 turbos. Two at the very back that seem to have be in parallel feeding two more that seem to be in series. I have heard of systems like that with a claimed 100+ psi at the intake manifold.

Absolutely right about the 4 turbo's but the block was pretty muddy video to see that the cylinders were empty although whiteish. Interesting to see how it came apart and what stayed together considering a possible 100+psi...Wow! Strapping oneself into a bomb...Pass, not the right physics for me let a lone a Murphy number!

[Radioman]

What we’re looking at is the upper half of the engine. The crank, rods and pistons are still bolted to the transmission. The block split at the base of the cylinders. An amazing failure. At least that’s how I see it. At first I thought the row of cylinder holes Wes where the head bolted on but it is where the rods and pistons go in after coming off the crank.

[marksbug]

raido man may be correct, that may be the bottom portion of the block.Ive seen a few that broke out all the mains, but never seen a movie so exciting,stuff flying,smoke and tumbling. there are a few vid's of engines exploding similuar to this on eue tube....or is the oops tube... I see what looks like 3 turbos. the one I worked on at bristol had 2 1 big(the bigest Ive ever seen on a road vehicle) feeding a tiny turbo. I wonder just that the turbine speed was in the tiny turbo....

[Jon]

[PJs]

Surprisingly not very loud when it went off...and glad the driver didn't take a rod to the chin based on the damage to the top of the cab.

[Jon]

[bruce.desertrat]

And THAT is why Don Garlits developed the rear-engined top fuel dragster...

[Jon]

[Frank S]

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Prime example of packing too much power into the engine.