I blew up the Ferrari engine...- Ferrari engined Alfa 105 Alfarrari build part 210 

Jeff I've followed this project from the beginning and my heart sunk when I read the video title. I really feel for you. I know how hard you've worked on it, and hope you'll be able to fix it relatively easy. You're good at finding solutions, and I believe you will this time.

Worst case. Bent valves on one of the banks. Nothing major. Just a speed bump. Re time the engine and refit the belt. Comp test. Don't stress. Take a breather.

This man deserves more subscribers!

Hi Jeff, my all time favourite moment on RU-vid was the moment you started that engine and the look on your face was pure gold, got to say I was excited as you were. It’s not everyday someone achieves what you set out to do, many people simply never finish these things and that’s what sets you apart. Whilst there could possibly be some damage, the fix, whilst frustrating, will be nothing like what you have already accomplished. Chin up Mate, we are all barracking for you.

Sorry Jeff. Just push on. You will get it fixed.

Don't give up Jeff . I will be here with you to the end . Man I love this car .

Tough times don’t last. Tough men do. Keep going buddy. You’ve got this. I’m glad mrs Jeff is so supportive. Together you can shrug this off easy.

We've all had that moment with cars when you realise something has gone badly wrong. Even worse when you know in yourself that it could have been avoided. Give it a rest for a few days to let it sink in and then get back to it with fresh eyes. It's nice seeing some of the more genuine things that us home mechanic's experience rather than crafted and edited content that does not show reality. Keep up the good work!

Many of us have felt that feeling, when a noise in a newly fitted engine turns into realisation of what could have happened. I think my expression was exactly the same as yours. The pain will pass, and the car will be awesome!! Keep gping 🤘

So it went like this… I stumbled across your compilation video of the Alfararri and enjoyed it so much I had to watch the full series which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for the last 2 or 3 weeks of binge watching. You’re an incredibly talented and clever man.. You blew my mind throughout. So many times when you’d say something like “so I’m gonna build one”, I thought, “ya can’t just build something like that at home”.. and so many times you proved me wrong, and then some. I’m so gutted for you and the unfortunate way the series ended (for now).. I was close to tears myself. And even then you somehow managed to pick yourself up and reach for positives in little to no time. Such resilience.! I will continue to watch your channel, you’ve become one of my favourites, and that new truck project looks amazing.. I can’t wait to see it all come together along with the Alfarrari.. Kudos to you Jeff. Keep up the great work. 🥳🙌🏼

Re-time the engine and put the belt back on. Compression and leakdown test it. If the result are bad, heads off, check valves and piston heights. Been in you spot before :)

I’m so sorry mate… You handled this like a total Aussie trooper. We all love you, mrs Jeff and the car. If you need your loyal viewers help cover repairs just ask and I know you will get enough support to build it even better. Cheers, Chris

You'll be a 360 Ferrari engine expert when done.

My heart goes out to you Jeff, just have a beer and take your time thinking about it.

Ouch. We ALL feel for you and Mrs Jeff. Sleep on it and approach is methodically and do all the simple stuff first. The advice in the posts below seem excellent to me. A few bent valves are not the end of the world. I've cracked a 911 cylinder from top to bottom a few years ago at 8000 rpm (missed gear). Carnage, but all fixed well. IMHO, leave the truck until this is put to bed. From a sunny England, Graham.

Oh no Jeff. Really feel for you! Hoping you get the engine out and its not too bad. Low revs, not under any load and caught quickly, might be ok.

Well that's a fair kick in the nuts mate. But the road to discovery starts with the first bolt. As you said, check to see if the cam timing has moved first, then move on from there. If building cars like this was easy, everyone would do it!! You will get this sorted, and it will be glorious!!!!

Hang in there Jeff! I'd bet it's not that bad.

What a bummer 😢. This already happened to me twice in my life as a mechanic. Each time all the concerned valves were bent but no further serious damage. Another week of work that was not planned.... You will succeed and hopefully forget about the pain of this moment.

Bugger. I'm pretty sure these engines are an interference engine, so yeah you have bent some valves for sure. Hopefully the pistons are still good and a valve hasn't snapped off. I feel your hurt. Soldier on Jeff, we are all right behind you.

Don't worry, mistakes happen. You have come this far on your own. Yourd wife is always with you and supporting you, which is tremendous. You start thinking about your next project. You have an Alfa and a Porsche. Two cars missing from my dream BMW E9 Csi and Mustang 69 Mach 1. I would like to see these 4 cars in my garage: bmw e9 csi, mustang 69 mach 1, alfa gt, porsche 911 gt3 rs

My heart sunk with you mate... You can fix anything Jeff.

Hi Jeff,thanks for spending some time with my son and l at Berrima today. Hope all goes well with the Alfafarrie. There's an old saying ,(if at first you don't succeed, you're run about average. Cheers Shaun

Well this is a bit stressful, walk away , take breath . Re-group and make a plan , remove plugs check each cylinder for marks on piston tops . Good luck . 👍🙂🇬🇧

Brother Jeff, I’ve been following you pre Alfa and your dedication/tenacity is beyond words…. Watching this episode, my heart dropped… I hope to F*** there is no valve bending and head issues, you always put your heart on your sleeve and that is what makes you so unique… Whatever the outcome, you will rise above it worts and all…. Take care my friend, see you on the other side 👊

Hey Jeff, like the other commenters are saying, it's probably bent valves at worst. When the engine stopped running, there weren't additional pinging noises like if a valve dropped. As a previous Ferrari mechanic (worked on anything from 1960s - early 2000s), I'd put the belt back on and perform leakdown tests on the bank (looks like bank 2.) Anything lower than 80, the heads gotta come off. If they're above 80, then I'd also bore scope the combustion chambers to visually inspect the valves and the pistons. Make sure they're not excessively damaged that the leakdown says it passed. You can also check the valves and seats from the intake and exhaust ports. Best of luck Jeff, you got this!

I've watched you for years now. Since the z. I was that close to being done with my project. 69 2 door 510. i took it for a spin to test everything, and ended up in a ditch. i destroyed the quarter, c pillar, rocker, fender. I feel your pain. Fingers crossed from Bay Area California. Listen to Ms Jeff. Take a breather!

No jokes about Harry today, I'm feeling your pain mate!! Greetings from South Africa 😢❤

Not that its any consolation Jeff but we have all been where you are and feel for you. No matter how careful we are with the basics and securing stuff properly we seem to always forget something. Happens regardless of whether you're a garage handyman or F1 team!

I am truly sorry for what happened. I totally feel your frustration. The Alfa GTV has been one of my favorite cars since I was 12 years old, and that was a long time ago. So I've followed this project from the beginning with great interest and marveled at your creativity. Chin up. It will get fixed. I know it.

So sorry for you Jeff. Had a similar experience with my engine-swapped stage rally car. Take a break, it wont seem so bad in a few days.

My heart is breaking for you Jeff. Chin up, ..speak hope. Don't speak your fears. It matters. Fix the belts and or timing. Light it up again

So appreciate that you show us all of the good and bad that happens during a build like this. This is the reality of doing a project like this. At this point, just need to assess the true damage (if any) and press on. I know you will overcome this just as you have every other challenge in this build!

So unlucky. Hope its not from running with too much oil in the sump. I onestly think the best thing to do is put the old belt on again and do a pressure test. I dont think you can take the sump of without taking the engine out but in my opinion i would take the engine out again and check all the bearings too before starting the engine. And check the oil. Never nice to experience this but i think its part of the learning curve. Succes and keep your head up mate. Almost there.

Maaaaate Jeffff... SO sorry for your loss 😱 we all felt your sorrow man. Chin up mate... onwards... upwards.. Alfa forever 🫶

Gutted for you Jeff! Fingers crossed it's minor damage and a new belt fixes it. High revs and it definitely would have been toast! Mrs Jeff was super supportive at the end there, so good to see. Best of luck

After reading the title, every time you mentioned oil I clenched up a bit, I must say I didn’t expect that! Really hoping for the best results once a new belt is on.

Don't get too down mate keep the build going Jeff I'll be watching I love your channel and don't take any notice of the silly comments they can kiss your dust 🛠👍🏻

Ohh no sorry Jeff, this is absolutely rough. On a positive note it was so encouraging seeing how genuine Mrs. Jeff was being consoling you.

I only recently started following you but from what I've seen, you'll breeze past this small issue in no time... take it easy Jeff :)

My heart broke when I heard the tapping sound, I've been there too. Soldier on mate, there's many of us that have been along for the ride that just want to see you happy with the completed project. Keep inspiring others to have the confidence to try projects like this themselves.

I can’t imagine the stress and frustration you’re feeling Jeff. Ignore any naysayers . You will get there . I’m about to attempt first start on an expensive A Series Mini engine build . Not exactly super car territory but I don’t mind telling you I’m a bit stressed!

Jeff you will overcome this issue and remember that you have Mrs Jeff for support plus a wider community around you! Cars hey!!

After following several fab channels I was shocked at the seeming efficiency that you got that together and on the road. I also thought I would never buy that kind of car from the original builder because so much intimate knowledge required to fix things once they start to break. [Edit] Still, an amazing job. You used every skill in the book and did it well. Gave that husk a second life.

I can feel your pain. I have watch this journey almost from the beginning and have enjoyed it very much. I hope there's no major damage. Stay positive!!!

I've been watching this project for a long time and I really feel for you dude. Wishing you all the best 🙏

Hi Jeff, I’ve followed you through several projects. Sorry to see what’s happened, but please keep going. Fixing your engine will be great content.

Fudge bunnies, Jeff, it's a belt-hanger... drop us a Short with the compression test results. Here's hoping the controller just knocked the belt off. Cheers, mate!

I couldn't bring myself to watch this episode for a day. I watched it hoping that you would stop the video before it happened, impossible I know. I had a similar thing happen with my Fiat 124 twin cam. Engine was cranking over but didn't sound right. Lifted the bonnet up, cranked it over again. Cam pulleys aren't rotating but its cranking. Stripped the teeth on the belt at the crank pulley. Three bent intake valves. Got my fingers crossed for you Jeff.

I've been there Jeff - I know those thoughts of rage to tears to resignation. Its that grief change cycle that you can only work through.............and hopefully climb out the otherside - with a hurting wallet.

Man, jeff...that's a big bummer. Sounds like it got into the back side of one of the cam gears. If anyone can fix it, it's you! It's gonna be even sweeter when Future Jeff is cruising around the streets in it!

Condolences Jeff. Hope it’s an easy fix.

I’m so sorry mate!! I watched every episode of that car and I know I’ll be watching one day an episode where you and Mrs Jeff will cruise down the highway in that car!!! All the best from Italy 🇮🇹 buona fortuna!! Forza Jeff!!!

I repaired a Subaru DOHC EJ25D engine in which a crash had broken a cam pulley and bent 7 of the 8 valves on one bank. Amazingly the valves in the other bank were fine despite being driven by the same belt. Valve to piston wise, they're non interference engines, but being DOHC, unless all the valve stop and start moving together, the inlets and exhaust crash into one another, which is what had happened. No other damage, so a new head gasket, timing belt, pulley and new valves were all the parts the repair needed. I really hope the damage to your Ferrari engine is similarly minimal. If it's not obvious whether some of the valves are bent or not when you take the head off, pour a little of a very thin solvent like petrol into their port before you remove the valves, and see whether it gets into the combustion chamber.

Jeff, as a former workshop proprietor specialising in Italian cars I feel for you however I suspect the damage won`t be anything as serious as you suspect. Saving grace is the engine was at idle speed. Reset the timing and then do a leakdown test. I suspect some bent valves. I had the same thing happen when one of my staff left a spanner in the valley which then vibrated its way to the belt and getting caught up while testing whether the timing was correct before the covers went back on in the workshop. It happens sometimes. Generally serious internal damage happens at higher than idle revs and we did a few broken timing belt repairs.

Heart breaking. After all this work and so bloody close to spins and grins. I'd be sobbing in a corner of the spray booth.

as someone who lives in Arizona, USA, wish I could be closer to take you out for a beer or three. My hearts there with ya buddy.

Like many of the other comments I’ve been watching this build from day one. I really feel your pain but don’t give up on it, the finish line is soooo close 👍

A well known Italian motto says, donne e motori gioie e dolori (women and engines [bring] joys and aches). So I wish you the joy phase being back soon. Completely other topic, in the stock 2000 gt (yours should be a slightly earlier but similar 1750) the oil pressure starts high and settles down when the engine is warm, so it's opposite wrt the porsches.

That is just such a bummer! Fingers crossed that nothing catastrophic happened. Fortunately, I know this Jeff guy that can fix stuff.

Painful episode, your frustration so evident. Anyone who works on cars at this level knows what you are going through. Here’s hoping it won’t be as bad as you know it could be. Love the channel and the builds. From Texas

23:38 I gave my monitor a supportive Bro hug... I hope it got to you. Hang in there, this build is a heroic effort in so many ways and Heroes'' journey is never easy.

Dude, sooo sorry to see this. Been there, done that! Leave it alone for a bit and take it on as a new project in due course, and not as a failure.

I feel for you Jeff. I know it sucks. I’ve been a professional mechanic since 2010 and I did a clutch and rear main seal on my truck and I started it without oil and I couldn’t hear the engine because the exhaust was a hack job that I had to cut out in order to pull the transmission. So I didn’t hear my engine knocking till it was too late. Never once did this to a customer car or my own car my whole career till now. I was / am beyond pissed at myself and now I’m currently building the engine for the truck. I feel you bro

Take a step back and remember that this isn't the worst problem you've had to solve, you've got this buddy! I'll dig around and see if I have some old NH toll tokens that can go with the old plate. They're a bit of iconic history for a coin specifically minted for our highway department. They all feature a rock formation called, "Old Man on the Mountain" that collapsed in 2003 and has a bunch of awesome indigenous Abenaki lore.

I learned the lesson of the interference engine booby trap with a Volvo 740 GLE 16v. It happened twice with the same engine. The second time I gave up on the car and chucked it. Too painful. But you'll fix it, Jeff. Maybe this was the inevitable direction for this channel. Now we get to watch you take apart a Ferrari engine, figure it out, and put it all back together again. That might be part of the deal of owning a Ferrari. Worst case scenario you could do another engine swap, Volvo red block, Datsun L-series, SR20 with a turbo, 2JZ maybe? But then you'd have to change the name and lose the 'rrari' so don't do that. Just keep going.

I’m with you Jeff The idle sounded fine It may be a simple one to fix. I’m praying for you brother

That happened to my V6 Alfa Busso when the timing belt skept 1 tooth. I did the retiming, compression tested leak down tested and surprisingly was all good. Still running strong after 2 years, hope it will be the same for you.

Ah man. Brutal! As others have said, new belt, leak down test. It won’t be horrible unless a valve broke, which is unlikely. Hang in there!

Man seeing the title - this was so stressful to watch. I was thinking you may have not had enough oil and run dry which would have been 1000x worse. Kind of relieved now that its something I know you'll handle with your usual fortitude after a few off-camera expletives.

Jeff, Unfortunately this kind of catastrophe happens “Shit happens”: You need time to digest it and then you will get back to it! Keep up the good work & Godspeed! From California 🇺🇸

Your poor bloke Fingers are crossed for you that was all the noise was and there was no mating of the valves and pistons ❤ You kept your cool quite well, far better than I would have after a long days work just being met with that. Get a boroscope in there, if no signs of contact and you can get the timing gear back together then hopefully all good mate. Best of luck.

Jeff, re time the engine and do a compression that will give you an indication of damage valves. Keep going, you’ll get there.

We all feel your pain, all hoping the best for you. You ll get it done!

No, no, no, no, no!!!! I have followed you for a long time and since day one of this project. Been going through some horrible stuff in life and these videos brought true joy to me and lived vicariously through you and when the engine started knocking, it knocked the wind out of me. I am hoping that it was just the sensor smacking around the outside! Either way, I hope you are OK, and that the engine is fine. What is worth doing well, is worth doing twice, but hopefully not this engine.

I'm so sorry to see that happen jeff ..absolutely gutted for you . But i know you will sort it and we will all love watching you fix it . Its happen to all of us at some point .. keep ya chin up mate ..respect from the UK🇬🇧

Haven't got the words mate ,absolutely gutted for you but we all know that youve got the skills to bring it back no matter what it is

Dang Jeff, so sorry this happened. I hope you’ve had a chance to dig deeper since this was filmed. Pretty hot car and you’ll get there. Your thumbnail for this video had me waiting for the moment!

You can just feel the pain! As someone who builds cars also that never a good feeling! Chin up and get it fixed! Cars gonna be amazing when done! And looking forward to the truck!

That’s the same noise my Alfa Busso motor made when the timing belt slipped a tooth. In my case I got lucky, reinstalled the belt and all was good. Hopefully you’ll get lucky too. As others have said, reinstall the belt and tensioner, turn it over by hand, and cross your fingers. If it turns over smoothly do a compression test, if that’s good start it up again. Hoping for the best from California.

Luckily you discovered the belt is just half shredded and not totally broken. All good in that engine 👍

What a tough turn of events Jeff. My heart and face sank almost as much as yours when that happened. Here's hoping that the solution is a relatively inexpensive one.

Ahh Jeff -- that's terrible. Your self control in the face of absolute disaster is incredible and something I am in absolute awe of. I would be exploding and certainly couldn't say anything suitable to camera. Fingers crossed for you. You're a solution-focussed bloke.

I am so sorry friend, I hope the damage is not too extensive. Keep with it, you have a whole community pulling for you.

This episode had as much dream and tears as the ending of James Bond, No Time to Die. Our hero is down but we know he’ll return.

Best wishes from the UK! You have so many people willing you on with this!! We all can't wait to see you enjoying it properly, and I'm sure youre not too far off now... keep going!!

Jeff, I feel your pain. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I hope it's all good. Please keep everyone updated. Let's all just hope it's not as bad as we think. Best of luck Jeff.

I am so sorry Jeff, but if there's anybody who can fix it and get past the setback and make it even better than ever it's you. Stay strong brother.

I feel your pain. Your wordless expression says it all. Fingers crossed it’s only one bank and only minor valve damage.

Think positive. Keep going and don't give up. You have done a masterful job. Best wishes.

Hi Jeff, don’t give up, look forward and fix it. It is such an amazing project and a really cool car! You are doing an extraordinary good job!! Wolfgang

Jeff...absolutely gutted for you but having watched all your builds your determination and hard work will turn it around...

I honestly almost cried for you. Was hoping the title was a joke.. Rooting for you to fix it soon without too much cost.

It is also possible that no valves are bent and the loose belt is the ‘trailing side of tension’ after the engine stopped rotating. That’s my hope for you Jeff.

We are all affected by this video seeing your reaction, but we believe in Jeff! Head up mate!

Jeff your self control was admirable, I certainly wouldn’t have been that controlled! Having been following your amazing work for a while I know you’ll get this fixed !!!

Man this was more heartbreaking then the Titanic. I hope it is not a big mess Jeff ❤

On a positive note, you made huge progress with all the annoying niggly stuff and the normal idle is a big big win. You'll have it up and running again in no time

Ohh no!!! We can feel your frustration Jeff! How devastating. Fingers crossed it is not a major deal to fix. Credit to you for sharing the error, you don't let ego get in the way of the story. We (who work on cars) have been there in some sort or fashion. Wishing you the best with it. Paul (Victoria)

Take a break, come at it with fresh eyes and heart! We love this project, and can’t wait to find out what you have as a solution.