Pumpkin on fire! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

whitesswj · 03-06-2011, 01:57 AM

Long rant - here goes.

Well. I took the Beast out for a long trip today. He don't get many so I thought it would be a great bonding time.

Well 190 miles round trip and he made it 170 of them on his own and had to be towed the last 20.

Was having fun doing 80MPH on the free way and the whining that's normal was getting louder and louder coming from the gear box so though, "Oh crud. Here we go again with the tranny issues!" Well get to the 190 mile marker on Missouri's I-70 east bound and the whining turned into a on-off-on jerking then BANG!!!!!! and sparks come flying out the rear of the truck.

I'm thinking the drive shaft broke and fell down. Trow it in neutral and get off the road quick. Jump out to look down to see a nice amber flicker on the ground coming from the rear end. Look under and

. Yea FIRE!!!
I had a 1L of Coke with me and had barely sipped from it and so I grab it and start to splash it on the rear end as the fire is coming out the pinion seal and the bottom. THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMPKIN WAS GLOWING AMBER.
OH HOLY CRAP.

I run out of Coke and the fire still burning. So I ring 911 and they send a fire truck but it was out by the time they get there.
We load the truck up for the 20 mile tow and while it's on the flat bed I take a gander and see the bottom of the rear end is broken and has a nice hole it it.
Look on the ground where the truck was sitting and there's barely any oil there and what is there is jet black.

So, with that all said, I need a new rear end near St Louis. Sorry for the long rant.

travlinman · 03-06-2011, 02:29 AM

WOW sorry to hear about the troubles.. look on the bright side... time for a 5 lug swap?

whitesswj · 03-06-2011, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travlinman

WOW sorry to hear about the troubles.. look on the bright side... time for a 5 lug swap?

It's possible. But that means I'd have to buy some new rims... and the since I'm switching it all out - might as well put disc on it and since we're going disc - might as well add power breaks and since I'm gonna take the bed off to get to the rear end - might as well upgrade the gas tank to rear.
My wife would kill me...

travlinman · 03-06-2011, 02:51 AM

well while the beds off for the tank u can put drop springs in and clean and paint the frame and while ur painting the frame and doing disk u can lift the cab and paint and put new bushings in and well while everythings off u can send it to the paint shop for some new color..... just sayin

67chevy1series · 03-06-2011, 03:29 AM

very sorry to hear that man sucks when they take a dump on us but its usually only a one time fix with this kinda stuff good luck

Jacfourteen · 03-06-2011, 03:39 AM

That really sucks, but at least your just gonna have to find a rear. It would have been much worse if it had all went up in flames or if it would have lost an axle and you went out of control or something like that. Let us know how the search goes!

cdowns · 03-06-2011, 07:43 AM

shouldn't b bad finding a new rear//fire extinguishers are an even easier thing to find

a rear mounted gastank would of spiced things up

Hottrucks · 03-06-2011, 07:53 AM

Glad you adventure was just that and evryone is home safe....

think about that 5 lug convertion and if the wife has anything to say tell her the truth...its cheaper than a new truck payment???

eagleuh1 · 03-06-2011, 09:51 AM

Yep, cheaper than a new truck payment. And you can stop when you don't have the money and no one will come tow it away in the middle of the night. Glad to hear it wasn't more serious. Good luck with the frame off resto.

Sammy · 03-06-2011, 09:52 AM

Glad to hear it turned out OK, could have always been worse. Two years ago close to where you were, I blew a PS pressure line during morning rush hour traffic in the 71. A huge dark cloud of fluid from hitting my hot L/H pipe had folks thinking I was driving a truck on fire. But luckly the fluid didn't ignite just created a cloud across the west bound traffic causing everyone to slow to 25 MPH. Maybe there is some bad vibes from the ol former Chevy truck plant floating around the area?

674x4ton · 03-06-2011, 10:02 AM

i can remember a time in 1983 i just got back from a 200 mile trip. Pull in to town and lost a axle.I was lucky going 25, when that happen.Hate to think what would happen to me and the truck if that would happen on the interstate.

Transformula · 03-06-2011, 11:18 AM

In 2005, I was going 90 MPH on an interchange ramp with a long curve in my 67 Lemans when it dropped the driveshaft from the front end. Pole-vaulted the car about a foot up in the rear, spun sideways, driver's side first, and luckily kept it rubber side down. Blew the trans tunnel a lot wider, blew open the rear diff wide open, gears all over the highway, cracked the trans bellhousing, wrapped up the exhaust pipes, bent 1 wheel, blew out a tire, dented a front fender from a plastic road marker thing, and the cop measured the shid marks at around 900 feet!
I've also lost an axle before, same vehicle, on the highway at speed! Sucks!
I feel your pain, but I have a free 12 bolt you can have, if you want to come to Mass. to get it!

**72 Super** · 03-06-2011, 12:36 PM

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Glad everyone is ok and it could have been alot worse. Hope you can get a rear soon.

Ray

basemodel67 · 03-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Biggest tragedy of the whole story was that you had to waste your Coke... good thing it wasn't a Mountain Dew or there'd be a good chance you'd find Longhorn Man licking your pumpkin in the middle of the night.

Glad it didn't go as bad as it could have.

Hottrucks · 03-06-2011, 01:19 PM

youi know really we all want pics of it??

**too much stuff** · 03-06-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basemodel67

Biggest tragedy of the whole story was that you had to waste your Coke... good thing it wasn't a Mountain Dew or there'd be a good chance you'd find Longhorn Man licking your pumpkin in the middle of the night.

Glad it didn't go as bad as it could have.

That is just wrong... Funny, but wrong.

Should be easy to find another 6 lug rear just to get up and going again.

colin_havens · 03-06-2011, 01:50 PM

Sucks you had trouble with your rear axel, it could have been alot worse for sure. Its always easy for the snowball effect to kick in, but if it were me I would take the oppurtunity to add positrack to my rear end and possibly upgrade the gear ratio if you wanted. Drop springs or blocks are an easy swap and can be done later, so is a rear mounted tank. But a rear end rebuild is a little more involved. I would take care of that area before I did anything else in the back.

**oldgold70c10** · 03-06-2011, 02:00 PM

Ouch! Glad to hear you came out OK though.

treveiger · 03-06-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basemodel67

Biggest tragedy of the whole story was that you had to waste your Coke... good thing it wasn't a Mountain Dew or there'd be a good chance you'd find Longhorn Man licking your pumpkin in the middle of the night.

After reading this i think im going to go take a shower

.
Hey better the rear end than the motor right... And now you have a excuse to spend money on your truck.

Jacfourteen · 03-06-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basemodel67

Biggest tragedy of the whole story was that you had to waste your Coke... good thing it wasn't a Mountain Dew or there'd be a good chance you'd find Longhorn Man licking your pumpkin in the middle of the night.

Glad it didn't go as bad as it could have.

That's too funny, now imagine if he had replaced "pumpkin" in the last sentence with "rear end"

**Boog** · 03-06-2011, 04:08 PM

Steven, you gotta check that rear end lube every now and then dude..

Longhorn Man · 03-06-2011, 04:20 PM

took care of that annoying whine at least.

Kinda reminds me, my eaton has been whining for some lube the last couple years

bosco200 · 03-06-2011, 06:00 PM

Post some pics up of your rear end.

**Boog** · 03-06-2011, 06:05 PM

I can't believe you said that.....

treveiger · 03-06-2011, 06:15 PM

^^^What happens in the thread stays in the thread

03-06-2011, 01:57 AM	#1
whitesswj Embrace the Redneck Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 1,334	Pumpkin on fire! Long rant - here goes. Well. I took the Beast out for a long trip today. He don't get many so I thought it would be a great bonding time. Well 190 miles round trip and he made it 170 of them on his own and had to be towed the last 20. Was having fun doing 80MPH on the free way and the whining that's normal was getting louder and louder coming from the gear box so though, "Oh crud. Here we go again with the tranny issues!" Well get to the 190 mile marker on Missouri's I-70 east bound and the whining turned into a on-off-on jerking then BANG!!!!!! and sparks come flying out the rear of the truck. I'm thinking the drive shaft broke and fell down. Trow it in neutral and get off the road quick. Jump out to look down to see a nice amber flicker on the ground coming from the rear end. Look under and . Yea FIRE!!! I had a 1L of Coke with me and had barely sipped from it and so I grab it and start to splash it on the rear end as the fire is coming out the pinion seal and the bottom. THE BOTTOM OF THE PUMPKIN WAS GLOWING AMBER. OH HOLY CRAP. I run out of Coke and the fire still burning. So I ring 911 and they send a fire truck but it was out by the time they get there. We load the truck up for the 20 mile tow and while it's on the flat bed I take a gander and see the bottom of the rear end is broken and has a nice hole it it. Look on the ground where the truck was sitting and there's barely any oil there and what is there is jet black. So, with that all said, I need a new rear end near St Louis. Sorry for the long rant. Attached Images __________________ '01 Camaro *Son, you just can't get there from here...*

03-06-2011, 02:29 AM	#2
travlinman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: stockton ca. Posts: 502	Re: Pumpkin on fire! WOW sorry to hear about the troubles.. look on the bright side... time for a 5 lug swap? __________________ 94 ls swap silverado 65 Pontiac 78 c30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 82 c30 crew cab dually ( now building ) 91 r30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 69 swb-sold 71 lab sold all in progress......__ ..........._______ \|__\__ ..........\|__(O)______(O)] ........................

03-06-2011, 02:51 AM	#4
travlinman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: stockton ca. Posts: 502	Re: Pumpkin on fire! well while the beds off for the tank u can put drop springs in and clean and paint the frame and while ur painting the frame and doing disk u can lift the cab and paint and put new bushings in and well while everythings off u can send it to the paint shop for some new color..... just sayin __________________ 94 ls swap silverado 65 Pontiac 78 c30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 82 c30 crew cab dually ( now building ) 91 r30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 69 swb-sold 71 lab sold all in progress......__ ..........._______ \|__\__ ..........\|__(O)______(O)] ........................

03-06-2011, 03:29 AM	#5
67chevy1series Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301 Posts: 10,713	Re: Pumpkin on fire! very sorry to hear that man sucks when they take a dump on us but its usually only a one time fix with this kinda stuff good luck

03-06-2011, 03:39 AM	#6
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Pumpkin on fire! That really sucks, but at least your just gonna have to find a rear. It would have been much worse if it had all went up in flames or if it would have lost an axle and you went out of control or something like that. Let us know how the search goes! __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

03-06-2011, 07:43 AM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Pumpkin on fire! shouldn't b bad finding a new rear//fire extinguishers are an even easier thing to find a rear mounted gastank would of spiced things up __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY Last edited by cdowns; 03-06-2011 at 10:16 AM.

03-06-2011, 07:53 AM	#8
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Glad you adventure was just that and evryone is home safe.... think about that 5 lug convertion and if the wife has anything to say tell her the truth...its cheaper than a new truck payment???

03-06-2011, 09:51 AM	#9
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Yep, cheaper than a new truck payment. And you can stop when you don't have the money and no one will come tow it away in the middle of the night. Glad to hear it wasn't more serious. Good luck with the frame off resto.

03-06-2011, 09:52 AM	#10
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Glad to hear it turned out OK, could have always been worse. Two years ago close to where you were, I blew a PS pressure line during morning rush hour traffic in the 71. A huge dark cloud of fluid from hitting my hot L/H pipe had folks thinking I was driving a truck on fire. But luckly the fluid didn't ignite just created a cloud across the west bound traffic causing everyone to slow to 25 MPH. Maybe there is some bad vibes from the ol former Chevy truck plant floating around the area? __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

03-06-2011, 10:02 AM	#11
674x4ton Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: st.joseph mo. Posts: 116	Re: Pumpkin on fire! i can remember a time in 1983 i just got back from a 200 mile trip. Pull in to town and lost a axle.I was lucky going 25, when that happen.Hate to think what would happen to me and the truck if that would happen on the interstate.

03-06-2011, 11:18 AM	#12
Transformula Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 160	Re: Pumpkin on fire! In 2005, I was going 90 MPH on an interchange ramp with a long curve in my 67 Lemans when it dropped the driveshaft from the front end. Pole-vaulted the car about a foot up in the rear, spun sideways, driver's side first, and luckily kept it rubber side down. Blew the trans tunnel a lot wider, blew open the rear diff wide open, gears all over the highway, cracked the trans bellhousing, wrapped up the exhaust pipes, bent 1 wheel, blew out a tire, dented a front fender from a plastic road marker thing, and the cop measured the shid marks at around 900 feet! I've also lost an axle before, same vehicle, on the highway at speed! Sucks! I feel your pain, but I have a free 12 bolt you can have, if you want to come to Mass. to get it! __________________ T.Y.N Custom Works..... Because "Stock" Sucks! 1971 K 10 GMC Long Bed 1977 Formula T/A Frame off Resto-Mod 1995 FXDL Harley Low Rider 1985 C10 ShortWide 91 Burb front.

03-06-2011, 12:36 PM	#13
72 Super Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hyattsville, Maryland Posts: 3,682	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Sorry to hear about your troubles. Glad everyone is ok and it could have been alot worse. Hope you can get a rear soon. Ray __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super (Purchased new by my parents in August of 71) Black and White

03-06-2011, 01:12 PM	#14
basemodel67 Factory Strippers Rule! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shingle Springs, CA Posts: 707	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Biggest tragedy of the whole story was that you had to waste your Coke... good thing it wasn't a Mountain Dew or there'd be a good chance you'd find Longhorn Man licking your pumpkin in the middle of the night. Glad it didn't go as bad as it could have. __________________ "Feast your eyes on a feast of smoke." 67 Chevy Short Fleet PLAN: LQ9, 4L60, D60 Looking for School Bus Gauges - Help me out!

03-06-2011, 01:19 PM	#15
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Pumpkin on fire! youi know really we all want pics of it?? __________________ 1970 C10 CST fleetside 472 ....big dreams little cash... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335721 SunShine Syndicate.. Mikes Sandwich Fair Run OCT 8th 2011 http://www.thesandwichfair.com/html/...auto_show.html

03-06-2011, 01:50 PM	#17
colin_havens Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mountain Home, AR Posts: 405	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Sucks you had trouble with your rear axel, it could have been alot worse for sure. Its always easy for the snowball effect to kick in, but if it were me I would take the oppurtunity to add positrack to my rear end and possibly upgrade the gear ratio if you wanted. Drop springs or blocks are an easy swap and can be done later, so is a rear mounted tank. But a rear end rebuild is a little more involved. I would take care of that area before I did anything else in the back.



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03-06-2011, 02:00 PM	#18
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,026	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Ouch! Glad to hear you came out OK though. __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel

03-06-2011, 04:08 PM	#21
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,109	Steven, you gotta check that rear end lube every now and then dude.. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

03-06-2011, 04:20 PM	#22
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Pumpkin on fire! took care of that annoying whine at least. Kinda reminds me, my eaton has been whining for some lube the last couple years

03-06-2011, 06:00 PM	#23
bosco200 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ste. Genevieve, MO Posts: 526	Re: Pumpkin on fire! Post some pics up of your rear end. Last edited by bosco200; 03-06-2011 at 06:00 PM.

03-06-2011, 06:05 PM	#24
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,109	Re: Pumpkin on fire! I can't believe you said that..... __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

03-06-2011, 06:15 PM	#25
treveiger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 4,093	Re: Pumpkin on fire! ^^^What happens in the thread stays in the thread __________________ 1969 Chevy c20(Miss Hackjob)

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