Exploding Torqueflight

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jim

jim

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It happened to me and it can happen to you. I have raced my Dart for 4 or 5 years not even thinking of putting a shield over my transmission. Last Saturday my luck ran out. After doing my first qualifying burnout and staging the transmission exploded when I launched. As my grandson says "there was a earth shattering KABOOM" Pieces ripped thru the floor board like it was paper. When I looked down at the hole in the floorboard and feeling the pain in my right foot I figured my foot was gone. I moved my leg and my foot was still attached Thank God for that. The track Safety team was there johnny on the spot to help out . When they removed my shoe I could see my foot swelling before my eyes. I was then transferred to a local hospital for x-rays to see over a dozen fractures to 4 of my meditorsos. Now the next thing to do was call my wife to come pick me up. I live 2.5 hours from the track and was there by my self. I am thankfull the guys at State Capitol loaded and secured my car on my trailer for transporting.
Well here I sit waiting till Monday hoping the swelling goes down so I can get a surgury date to place plates and screws in my foot. Dr says I will be off 3 to 4 months. I am already bored.
Last time I was at the track I blew out my pinon and ring gear. I think this might of fractured something in the trans.
Guys look at these pictures it could happen to you. I have a blanket ordered that was a comande by the BOSS.
 

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Jim when ever you lose a driveline component under power you must remove the trans and inspect the over running clutch. That is what happened to yours. The over running clutch can not hold and it zings the front drum to 3X engine RPM. A stock 727 cast drum can't stand that and it blows apart.

A trans shield should be considered mandatory, a steel billet or aluminum drum is even better insurance.

Hope you heel quickly. (heel, get it?) :)
 
jim said:
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Last time I was at the track I blew out my pinon and ring gear. I think this might of fractured something in the trans.............
Click to expand...

Thank the good Lord you are ok....and I hate to say it, but the quote above is probably the reason why it blew. If you snap a u joint, bread the rear, etc, you NEED to pull the trans and inspect it for damage to the sprag.

Sorry for your loss, but at least you still have your foot.
 
Damn. I am glad I have done my research before getting the 727 for my TT Car. I too never new that if you break your driveline the trans needs to come out for complete inspection. I just learned that one in the last 18 mos. I opted for the Billet Front Drum and bolt in Roller Sprag among other upgrades that were done.

I hope you heal well and get back after it soon!
 
Man that's difficult to look at. Glad it wasn't worse on you and that they can put you back together. Get Well soon Jim!
 
One word...........

Wow-20110531.png
 
HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you have me convinced, I'm putting a blanket on mine
 
Yep, just one more to prove if you don't think you need a shield think again. After reading Duster346's post on Exploding Torqueflights in transmission and drive train I RAN out and got me a shield. Glad to know you will be OK after a long convalesce, could have easily lost a foot.
 
Last time I was at the track I blew out my pinon and ring gear. I think this might of fractured something in the trans.
Guys look at these pictures it could happen to you.
Click to expand...

bingo... lots of guys don't want to hear it but when ya blow something like that the trans has to come out and be gone through. hopefully this will wake a few guys up and inform them.. glad you'll be ok...

like stated.. billet drum and an ultimate sprag will go a long way in making this not happen.. especially when we are talking 727's..
 
Purple Haze said:
Yep, just one more to prove if you don't think you need a shield think again. After reading Duster346's post on Exploding Torqueflights in transmission and drive train I RAN out and got me a shield. Glad to know you will be OK after a long convalesce, could have easily lost a foot.
Click to expand...

Does your trans also have a Billet Front drum and bolt in sprag? Just curious.
 
glad to hear your ok-- how fast is/was your car? man that looks horrific, Lawrence
 
Does your trans also have a Billet Front drum and bolt in spray? Just curious.





I don't think so, Its just the standard ATI race trans I never asked for anything special. If I decide to put a Brake in I'll have it all done at one time, unless I have some kind of failure before. But even if it does I would still have the shield, better safe than sorry.
 
Purple Haze said:
Does your trans also have a Billet Front drum and bolt in spray? Just curious. I don't think so, Its just the standard ATI race trans I never asked for anything special. If I decide to put a Brake in I'll have it all done at one time, unless I have some kind of failure before. But even if it does I would still have the shield, better safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

Yes for sure!!
 
I have had three occasions with a driveline failure in low gear.
Each time, the transmission came out & was inspected.
I only had damage on the transmission one time, if My son had made another pass, he would of had the same results of you.
Always start your burnouts in second gear, not first.
I run a blanket for safety on our current car. I will be using a shield on the other car we are putting together.
The 727's now have good aftermarket parts to prevent this.
The 904's still need help in this area.
 
Glad to see your ok,but down for part of the season.I just had a brake installed in my 904 and also bought the CSR Supersheid.Money well spent,cause I still like dancin.:DGet well soon.
 
This is a 727 issue. Billet front drum takes care of the issue in almost every case.

904's don't do this unless you can twist your engine in the 10K range.

Hope the OP heals up quickly.
 
Thanks for the get well comments. This trans had the bolt in sprag and I always start the burnout in 2nd gear. It be a while before I can do a biopsy. I guess I need to check on billit drum.
 
sorry to hi-jack your treads
and in the same way hope you ll be okay after surgery

can you tell me if a blanket or a shield can be install
if we dont work on the floor and if so wich company do you used

thanks Bob
 
Really glad you are ok have seen this happen before with tragic results, You are a lucky man .
 
Mad Dart said:
Billet front drum and a bolt in Roller Sprag would stop this from happening.
Click to expand...
Yep.

crackedback said:
This is a 727 issue. Billet front drum takes care of the issue in almost every case.

904's don't do this unless you can twist your engine in the 10K range.

Hope the OP heals up quickly.
Click to expand...

And yep.
The 904 has a much smaller diameter drum , so it is less prone to grenade if the sprag is over run.
Every time I see a picture of this , I wince and wiggle my toes.
Best of luck on the mending process.
 
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