Well, after going back and forth with the insurance company, we're finally done. We replaced all six connecting rods as well all the bearings. We figured we might as well replace the rings while we're there, so we did those too. I took the suspect rod in and hung it on a wrist pin, along with one of the new rods. This is a good way to check for even the slightest bend. They matched up perfectly, so there goes the bent rod theory. I did notice however, that the wrist pin was binding slightly on the rod in question, as compared with all the others. Apparently, the wrist pin bore was compressed/deformed when the engine locked up. I can't explain the low compression in that cylinder though. Maybe it was low before the "water event" but it seems like an awfully strange coincidence. I would've run another compression test, but with new rings why bother. Anyway, the car runs fine, and the owner is happy.

Since my last post, another "puddle" victim has arrived at my shop. It's an SLK 350 (M272). It was sitting at a local independant shop for a few weeks before the proprietor got fed up with the insurance company and told the owner to get it out of there. We replaced the engine with a re-built unit (the insurance adjuster wouldn't pay for a complete engine). As soon as we started it up the alternator was screaming, so we replaced that too. The owner asked me to drive the car for a few days, just in case something else goes wrong.

That brings the total number of "puddle" victims to five. All of them were damaged by a few days of rainy weather in early September. Three of them had the engines replaced, while we repaired the other two. I wound up with another M272 in the collection. I'm sure we'll have a nor'easter or two before next spring. When that happens, the guys in the shop will be working some serious overtime!!!