Went to the track(old air strip)

[team39763]

I was lined up against an S10 with a 383 and nitrous...and I was sure I was gonna get blown away.  But I was shocked when I took him off the line, then proceeded to leave him more with each shift.  Then BOOM!  I felt a kick in the butt and heard a loud explosion.  I was so startled that I couldn't think, so I just coasted to a stop...barely touching the brakes.  When I got out I wasn't sure what to look for or at.  I did a a quick check of all body parts, then I checked the truck.  There was decent sized dent in the lower passenger side of the bed.  Then I looked under the truck and my driveshaft safety loop was mangled and my driveshaft was missing.
  It sucks...I was rollin' out on that S10.  I'll post pics soon.

[BigHemi353]

holy crap! thats awesome and terrible at the same time! I've had a lot of friends with suped up s-10's and they would haul! Thats awesome that you were beating him. Sorry about the drive shaft man! Andy

[oldwhity]

Gotta hate dat. Any damage to the underside?

[team39763]

It looks like the only damage was where it pulled the safety loop out of the floor and then the lower panel behind the cab.  Both slicks got gashed, but they're still holding air. 

[78 Chevyrado]

That safety loop just paid for itself.  glad your ok.

[oldwhity]

Hopefully you have another set of slicks. I wouldn't use the ones you have.

[team39763]

I don't have another set yet.  These were almost new (6 track passes with no burnouts) and they'ev been stored inside while wrapped in plastic.  The gashes look atleast as deep as the wear indicators, so I'm sure these are done.
I think I may try to run a second safety loop in the rear next time.

BTW, I ran 14.4 coasting from a little after half track.

Any suggestions on what I should do?  I don't have the money for a nice Denny's driveshaft, but I don't want another stock one. 

[oldwhity]

They may still have some passes on them but I wouldn't chance it. That time is pretty good for coasting through the traps. What is your normal time in the 1/4? Was it the driveshaft itself or the joints that broke?

[team39763]

My last trip to that particular track, I ran a 13.00, but that was hitting the brakes way before the finishline to avoid some pot-holes.  The truck has run 12.8 at a good track, but it was un-tuned and had a monster vacuum leak(intake wasn't sealed to the heads). 
  After looking at the driveshaft and talking to some locals, it seems like the u-joint let go first and then I twisted the shaft.

[team39763]

Hey ya'll, what did I do wrong here?  It looks as if all the caps came off the U-joint and left the joint itself sitting in the straps on the diff.  Should I use u-joint girdles?

[Captkaos]

Are you saying the joints are still in the saddles?

[team39763]

Yes, that's what I was trying to say.

[team39763]

What up ya'll?  It turns out I did crack my bellhousing when the driveshaft/ujoint failed.  I might see if I can get an ultra bell or something like that or maybe I can just find an old Th400 at a junkyard.  A trans was not in my budget for this project, so I'm gonna have to cheap out on this one.  Over the last few days, I've had nothing but bad luck with this project.  First my converter couldn't be restalled to 4800 like I wanted.  Then the used driveshaft I just bought wasn't the right one and the driveshaft shop wants $$$ for a new one.   But the good news is that I'm still excited about getting it back on the road and having some fun at the racetrack.

[eventhorizon66]

Howdy team.  Is it just me or did you fall off the radar for a while?  Glad to see you're still tackling this project.

[team39763]

Yeah, I was kinda absent for the last few weeks/months...probably because I was neglecting my truck and also still bitter about losing my Dad.  But I'm feeling like myself again and I'm ready to get back to wrenching on the truck.