I Broke it!

[Cncguy1]

Well, today I decided I'd drive my 69 Charger to work, its an hour drive one way. All was good cruising at 75 80 then as I approached a construction zone I down shifted, and the Charger went into a massive vibrating fit. The vibration seem to be more calm at 55mph so I limped the rest of the way to work then straight back home. I have not had a chance to inspect but I'm suspecting U Joints. What do you guys think it is?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Sounds like a loose nut that holds the wheel.

 

[Nate S]

Sure sounds like a U-joint.

 

[F4R/T]

I’d check the lug nuts first then jack it up and check the drive line.

 

[66Satellite47]

Lug nuts, then the U joints. Don't let it go. A driveshaft failure is no fun.

 

[Triplegreen500]

If it happened on a downshift (throttle transition), check all your motor and trans mounts as well. U-joints are a "reproduceable" vibration in my experience - EVERY time you hit a certain MPH, they will act up. Is that the case here? Or is it accel/decel based (i.e. motor sitting differently in the mounts)?

 

[Sahara]

I lost a wheel weight and had that happen. Terrible vibration, turned out wheel was six ounces out of balance.

 

[wvmarv]

I lost a wheel weight and had that happen. Terrible vibration, turned out wheel was six ounces out of balance.

Six ounces !! That wheel was bent and shouldn't have even been on the car.

 

[Potts]

6oz wasn't that unusual back in the days of bias ply or retreads.

 

[zyzzyx]

Sounds like you should take a look first, and then you'll know!

 

[beanhead]

The transmission is toast. Likely blew the johnson rod right through the encabulator so it's gonna have to come out for a total rebuild. Perfect time to upgrade to a full manual valve body and billet titanium internals.

 

[F4R/T]

Man you lost control of your Johnson!

 

[Cncguy1]

If it happened on a downshift (throttle transition), check all your motor and trans mounts as well. U-joints are a "reproduceable" vibration in my experience - EVERY time you hit a certain MPH, they will act up. Is that the case here? Or is it accel/decel based (i.e. motor sitting differently in the mounts)?

This vibration was at any speed, like I had 20 inch kicker speakers in the trunk. 55mph was the only speed that it was tolerable no more no less.

 

[zyzzyx]

I know ALL about those Encabulators! Helped design one years ago!

 

[turbine68rt]

The transmission is toast. Likely blew the johnson rod right through the encabulator so it's gonna have to come out for a total rebuild. Perfect time to upgrade to a full manual valve body and billet titanium internals.

I hope it's not the drawn reciprocation dingle arm. The sperving bearings and marzalcoptic vanes would need to be replaced as well.

 

[beanhead]

I hope it's not the drawn reciprocation dingle arm. The sperving bearings and marzalcoptic vanes would need to be replaced as well.

Oh those vanes are a sumbitch!

 

[zyzzyx]

 

[barbee6043]

Sound like a simple case of Texas fuckedupedness to me.

 

[chtampa]

6oz wasn't that unusual back in the days of bias ply or retreads.

In my younger days 6 oz was about $60.

 

[Cranky]

There's no way I could have driven it home after limping it on into work! If it was just a muffler bearing, yeah, that would be ok to do and usually a muffler bearing will let you know that it's bad. Let us know what you find.....