A Bad Test Drive

[biginch=bigfun]

Let me start by saying theis project been a real mutha from the start!

First I bought what was suppose to be a "good running 440"...turns out it was junk because someone made their own oil pump shaft bushing out of copper house plumbing fitting & it sent metal through the enging ruining the bearings & crank. next was a cam that wouldn't fit becausethe bearing journals were tight & the cam bearings surfaces were a little big. Next was getting a small block rebuild kit instead of a big block kit & having to pay to return it! I recieved a timing cover with no timing marks on it & an oilpan that just barely clears the suspension. I paid $30.00 a pint for exhaust coating that boiled, then flaked off on start up. But it fired up & sounded great!

Thinking all my troubled were over I attached my full exhaust & test drove around town. all seemed well so i went on the highway. right at the edge of town i noticed a very slight vibration which seemed odd because i had the bushings replaced when the tranny was rebuilt...so at the first intersection i turned around. I didn't make it far b4 the carr went into a violent shake filled with horrible noise! the engine stalled b4 i got it shut down & steered to the side of the road. When the smoke cleared I found the tranny broke in half!!!! Right at teh shifter over the top down to the pan! Upon getting it on the hoist found a missing u-joint cap. guessing a clip gave way casing all hell to break loose. luckly the drive shaft didn't make it through the floor. I'm glad i was taking it easy & not breaking it in like i planned to use it. Who know what might have happened...

Now i'm debating what to do, part of me says this is enough. I've owned the car since the late 80's & this kinda **** ain't fun anymore. A new challenger looks real appealling. But i hate to give in & quit. I do have another tranny case. the idea of throwing more money & time into this project is not turning me on right now...

ideas? comments? suggestions?
Louis

 

[FatJack]

Don't let it whip you. Sounds like you have the worse part behind you.

 

[Northwest]

I'm sure we all have horror stories - and here is mine which may provide some useful advice. I had mine when I was trying out a dual quad setup in my 71 roadrunner. In all of my excitement to get out there and try it out, I forgot to completely tighten down all of the fuel line clamps. Valley pan filled with fuel, and eventually the whole thing caught fire. Worse yet - I had an airgrabber hood that was nearly totally melted as well as substantial engine compartment damage. I felt like packing it all up and giving in. All I can say is supportive friends told me to get back on the horse and put things back together - (and always double check your fuel lines!) Glad I didn't get rid of that car and pushed past the low point.

 

[biginch=bigfun]

more than likely I will fix it but right now i just want to bitch about it. I figured if anyone would understand, it would be the people of this forum...

On the bright side I will now be one of the few that can say they broke a 727. A transmision widely known to be super tough, LOL. Gotta laugh because I'm sure not gonna cry!

Louis

 

[darkhorse]

I feel ya.. Bro, you got just got to regroup and battle on. Learn from it. Im sure everyone on this board who has owned and driven old cars has experienced similar trouble. But you just keep banging on...you have to ...your a MOPAR MAN !! thats what we do

 

[dsd1967]

If it's any consolation, I could offer you a killer deal on a transmission. The kicker is that it's out of a motor home and has the emergency brake on the tailshaft. If your tailshaft is good, you should be able to change it out. It's yours if you pay the shipping from Toledo, Ohio. I'm pulling it this weekend.

Let me know.

 

[gearheads78]

The following is a made up scenerio and has never happend to anyone I know.:angel1:


There are 4 bolts that hold a ujoint to a rear end. If you are ever in a situation where you tighten 3 and get to the 4th nut and you feel it strip do not do the following even though you have been saving for a built axle and waiting 6 months to have you car on the road.

Self: "there are 3 good bolts holding it will be OK you cruise around a little"
Self: "it's 3AM we've been cruising all night it should be OK to get on the deserted toll way and get on it just once"
Self: "That small block you built feels strong go ahead and hit 2nd"
Self: " This thing screams run it up through 3rd"
5 seconds later Self: "thats an awful lot of noise comming out from under the car and look at the pretty sparks light up the sky.

The next day Self: STUPID STUPID STUPID that 30cent bolt cost you a transmission, driveshaft, and complete exhaust system.

I look back 10 years later and its funny. You will look back and do the same. If building cars was easy everyone could do it. Take a brake for a few days if needed and jump back in with new fire.

 

[bob myers]

Big,
Hang in there....when I was building my Willys, that took four years and way to much money, I was really frustrated toward the end of the build. I told my wife I wasn`t going to quit, I wasn`t going to sell it, I wasn`t going to give it away, I was going to put it in the yard and BURN IT TO THE GROUND! It`s been finished for 3 years now and it is amazing fun.....hang in there buddy.

 

[Propwash]

I wouldn't let it get you down Louis. The car I'm restoring now had me at the same point in the means of dealing with all the vendor F**k ups. A few days ago I was really at the tipping point. After some generous advice on here as well and settling for a bit, I took some time to reflect on the car/hobby/lifestyle and what it's really suppose to be about. Take it as it comes and let the hurdle's be a learning leason.

The thing about a new challenger is, yeah they're nice, but just about anyone can buy/own/drive one. Plus, you see them everyday. I guess to me, the old cars have a heck of a lot more culture, class and story behind them. All the old mopars i've sold over the years, I can pretty much look back and say "wish I would have never sold that", on all of them. All the regular/newer cars I've sold, I never really think about them that much (including a 98' and 01' WS6 Trans Am).

These old mopar's require more attension than the newer vehicle's, but hey, that's another thing that gives them character. It makes you "Know" your car. That's just one of those things that seperate your car from being " just a car." IMO, the biggest thing with old car's is, One they're gone, their gone. How many post's do we all read on here about people searching for their old mopar or trying to find one like they use to have?
Mainly not because it was economical or "boy it ran great all the time", but because all the memories that went with the car. You had your's since the late 80's. You sure that is something you want to trade off for buying another Joe Bag of Donut's Challenger at the dealership? Myself, no way in hell...but that's just me.

Obviously just spouting my opinion's here. Good luck which ever way you decide to go.

 

[74Satellite]

Sit back, take time to cool off, if you quit now, you will regret it later. I completely restored a 1970 Dodge Challenger RT/SE with a 383/slapstick auto. I was to the point I was happy with it, back in 2001. I got deployed after September 11th and parked the car in the garage. Up to this point my wife (now ex-wife) had always wanted to drive the car but I never would let her. My dumb arse left the keys in the key hook by the door. So what does she do? Takes it for a drive and proceeds to smash a telephone pole. She had to towed back to the house and parked in the garage and through the car cover back over it never saying a word to me while I was gone. When I got home and discovered the mess I was so heartbroken that I sold it for $3500 just to get rid of it. Everytime I looked at that car I felt anger, frustration, and such towards my wife.

Its been 10 years since then, the wife is gone and the car is gone. I 100% regret selling that car. I put so much time and effort into it and it could have been rebuilt again. Needed everything from windshield forward, but was fixable. Long story short, cool off, fix it, and drive it, you will be glad you did.

My .02

 

[biginch=bigfun]

thanks to all of u for the advice & encouragement! Much like kick your *** kicked it hurts the pride for awhile but in the end you come back stronger & wiser the next time around!

I'm just about ready to slide under the black hearted beast I love so much & fix whats been mangled...

 

[Meep-Meep]

Sorry to hear about the major meltdown but I'll say it too - push it in the garage, cover it up and take a breather. You'll eventually be glad you didn't make any decisions while in an angry state of mind.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Oh, and an older wise man I knew said: Failure + analysis = success.

Whoa, broke in half!!?? Geez!

 

[Meep-Meep]

Big,
Hang in there....when I was building my Willys, that took four years and way to much money, I was really frustrated toward the end of the build. I told my wife I wasn`t going to quit, I wasn`t going to sell it, I wasn`t going to give it away, I was going to put it in the yard and BURN IT TO THE GROUND! It`s been finished for 3 years now and it is amazing fun.....hang in there buddy.

Great car; I love it!!!!!

 

[okiemopar]

Don't give up all you'll do is regret it. I got my RoadRunner running and was driving it to the shop to get the front end lined up and my new rebuilt tranny went out on it. Got that fixed and couldn't get one side of the top of the motor to oil, got to checking it and the machine shop put the #4 cam bearing in it wrong, this is the s:nike:hop that done all the balancing and cutting and assembly on my short block. I ordered hollow push rods for the one side and that is how I'm running it right now, I'll tear it down this winter. Oh ad all the other stuff that has happened so just wait a while and get back on it. Good Luck! Ronnie