Torqueflite Exploded on Freeway

[440 Charger]

I am so impressed with Strange price, quality, strength, and tech support, as well as production time, I got American Powertrain to refund our credit they held for a driveshaft from them, as part of a TKO600 transmission package, so I could apply that to a Strange driveshaft!
If you are interested, start here:
https://www.strangeengineering.net/...ome-moly-driveshaft-with-h-d-u-joints-2.html/

I am thinking different

 

[Q-5 Addict]

Hi everyone,

while accelerating full throttle at around 4000rpm doing about 100mph, my transmission suddenly and with no previous sign of failure, exploded. No one was hurt, no shrapnell inside the car. Drive shaft yoke at the tranny has sheard off. I was able to coast and stop safely on the breakdown lane. Apart from the destroyed transmission and the driveshaft, everything else is fine. Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this?
69 Road Runner, 76 440 with purple cam, TF727, 3.23 gears, 2500 stall, no extra tranny cooler, only stock transmission oil cooling through stock (wide version) radiator.
I've had the car for six years now, engine/transmission worked absolutely fine until then. Small oil leak at the rear of the transmission. Tranny oil changed two years ago. Everything seemed to be balanced just fine. No vibration or anything.

I was driving for roughly 15 minutes when the tranny failed and had been rolling around at 2000rpm until then. I always try to give everything time to reach proper operating temp. Engine water temp has reached 180F ca. 5min before I put the pedal to the metal and the transmission destroyed itself. Water temp was still at 180F when it happened.
Thanks for any ideas on why this could have happened or how to avoid this in the future. No speed limit, by the way, as the "Freeway" is an Autobahn here in southern Germany. Regards Mike

 

[Q-5 Addict]

Lucky is one word for it! After doing a "blast" similar to yours, AND reading your story I decided to check rear u joint straps. I just barely started to tighten the first bolt and the head broke off. Yes, maybe not safe driving this way in 50 year old iron! I too was lucky

 

[Tim Ziegler]

I feel so blessed. With slicks I've busted rear u-jnt several times and no big deal. Twisted driveshaft once. Never broke front u-jnt

 

[g413]

Yep. Been there, done that, 50 years ago. I was idiot teenager and was taking three friends out to the golf course. I took my 68 Roadrunner up to 105, and the transmission just exploded. Scared the **** out of me. I think it was something in the tailpiece. There were ball bearings all over the road, but I was still able to drive it back. I can still remember when I picked it up. There were 3 pages of parts. The service manager came out and and his exact words were, "Son, take care of it." Thank goodness for the 5/50 guarantee. My parents never found out about it.

Dick Landy came to town, and he said that part of the transmission was a weak link. The incident cured me of my need for speed.

 

[66Satellite47]

Gee, sure can't imagine how a 727 would still function if the output shaft bearing exploded, but 727's must be even tougher than I thought.

 

[ricks_RR]

when mine blow up i did drive it home scary but fun at the same time then it hits you **** how much is this going to cost

 

[-Mike-]

This was not an internal trans problem. This output shaft came out of the 1st 727 that lost a cap. I've seen it happen 4 times. Every one broke the tail shaft. Some did more damage as well. I did it myself with my 4 speed Challenger. Broke the bell housing clean off the back of the block. In every case it spit a cap. Unbelievable amount of force when the shaft gets that far off center and out of balance. Believe or not the trans this shaft came out of only needed a shaft and tail housing.
Doug

View attachment 982119

Talked to the transmission guy today. He basically told me what Doug has said here before. The driveshaft connection caused all this tranny havoc. He said my whole front yoke connection was worn and something had finally let go.
I am probably going to get me one of those sst a41 overdrive transmissions now. Thanks everybody for your opinions and ideas.

 

[-Mike-]

My guess is at 100 mph full throttle his actual rpm's were a tad higher than being told. Unless you have gone over every component of your drive train driving at this speed in a 50 year old vehicle is inviting disaster.

The thing about driving fast in a 50 year old car is true. I have definitely learned my lesson.

 

[myk r sanchez]

The thing about driving fast in a 50 year old car is true. I have definitely learned my lesson.

You just need the right equipment is all. You're going for a new automatic? If I was getting a new trans it'd be a 5 or 6 speed manual...

 

[-Mike-]

The conversion to manual would be even more effort. But the main reason I keep it automatic is because the car was originally built that way. Here in Germany all our daily driven cars are manuals. An automatic to me is way more "typical American". Whenever I talk to other car guys I tell them that at the time my Road Runner was built, we considered our domestic German cars "sporty" if they had 75hp. And even though this wasn't a high priced luxury car, an AUTOMATIC was already available!
Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate our own cars also. Its simply a different "flavor" of the hobby.
I am a bit into late 60s/early 70s America nostalgia. I grew up here in Germany (a little later) next to a huge American settlement, where all the occupying soldiers and their families lived. The settlement was your typical American suburbia, with wide streets, detached houses with tidy front yards, its own high school, movie theater, small shopping mall, etc. Most of it was accessible for us locals. The majority of the GIs were friendly towards us German kids and in my teens I even played baseball in a local league there. And they had those cool American cars. Thats how I got into all this.
I do admire your culture and country and I have visited the US a few times, but no worries, I won't emmigrate. I prefer staying where I was born and raised and will leave your country to you and your children. I couldn't emmigrate to 1960s America, anyway ;-)
Regards
Michael
P.S. Excuse me for this long off topic story.

 

[wyrmrider]

thanks for the story