MC-2 Lets loose....... (long, depressing)

[Allen Swett]

Hi list,
Certainly did not expect this.....
Car is an 89 200q Avant, MC-2 w/ SJM 1.8 ECU/spring	
Coming home from Vermont Sunday afternoon after two epic days of skiing.
Running southbound on the Taconic above Poughkipsee.....Cruising along no
worries.
NO inclination whatsoever of trouble, sudden clickity clackety sound arises
from the engine, loss of power along with a putrid burning smell, no smoke,
guages all indicate normal pressure and temps....., sh*t, shut engine down,
coast off onto crossroad.  Pull V/C off expecting to see some carnage,
nothing, not good, fire it up again, deep gutteral
clanging....ugh...Luckily a very helpful gent rolled by with the # of a
local towing company, quick call and a flatbed is 1 hour away.......By
chance the cooler still had some frosties inside, I proceeded to have a
couple beers and watch a beautiful sunset over the Catskills......
So, will get a chance to start tearing it apart tonight, in full autopsy
mode......
As I said, no impending signs of doom at all.  Car has only 97k, I've owned
it for 6 months, going the full SJM route, everything that needed
replacement was done, all systems go, no problems.....

Not much I can really ask 
of your wisdom at this point, but would certainly appreciate any BTDT's
with MC-2 related internal failures.  I know, it's sort of vague, but just
posting out of grief.... 

This wasn't supposed to happen.......
I'm grieving, my wallet's getting nervous....
Allen Swett