LUVTruck.com

4 months ago I put a new transmission (automatic) in my Camaro. Along with that I put some new U-joints in just to be on the safe side. The new trans is pretty built up so it hits gears pretty hard. Hard enough that it barks the tires just idling thru a parking lot. The downfall is that with it shifting so hard like that all the time, its hard on parts like the motor and trans mounts, suspension bushings, rear end gears, U-joints etc. Well anyway I guess 4 months is about as much as my U-joints could take of my new trans.

I was flying down 5N yesterday near La Costa and went to pass a car. I didnt downshift but just put the pedal down in overdive. got the car up to about 100-110 and when i lifted...... BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!! Sparks EVERWHERE in my mirror (poor drivers around me were probably shitting) and then a BAD vibration. I immediately stuck it in Neutral and coasted off the freeway. Anyway i get it towed down to my friends shop and stick it on the lift thinking i just blew up the ring and pinion gears. but what I found out was the U joint busted. so I slap another U joint on and drop it and take it on the road. Unfortunately there is a terrible vibration and noise at idle that smooths out when I take off and get over 15mph. so i stick the thing back on the lift and start looking around. What I found was that half of my transmission bell housing was sheared off the motor and the front of my trans was hanging on by 3 bolts!!!!! Driveshaft was also bent. Anyway, trans is toast, it comes out today, I located a new case to dump my guts into and it should be back in a week or so. BUt dont you just HATE it when your car is running the best its ever run and some stupid catastrophic shit like this has to happen????? I'm so pissed. Good thing I had a driveshaft hoop that kept it from flying out on the highway. Anyway after i get the trans it, I get to take it to the Chevy dealership to have the driveshaft replaced with a nice 1LE aluminum piece. It seems that there was a recall on the steel driveshaft in my car. so no charge for that.

Yeh but shit happens!

Good luck with the driveshaft swap. I tried that approach with my Camaro already and they wouldn't replace my driveshaft unless my car was completely stock and if it vibrated at a speed that was common. In other words, if it vibrates at something like 85 (like mine does) they won't do a dam thing about it. Then when they found out that I had thrown a couple aftermarket parts on it they REALLY weren't going to do it. Like, no chance in hell.

that sucks, i know how having stuff bust and break goes. I mud race

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

I know somebody that knows somebody at the Chevy dealership He said bring it on down!

Oh man I got pics of the devastation. Who has free webspace that wont block the link to my pics? Yahoo sucks.

send em to me.....


e-mail = nmthyper21@houston.rr.com

AIM = Luv Truck 76

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It sucks but most things run the best before they go boom!!!!!!!

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stripped and just a memory!

Luck is improving..... ok my Camaro is going to be down for a week or so while i get this trans thing sorted out but my backup car (truck) is my 1989 toyota. Unfortunately it has about 230K miles on it and is pretty used up. so i went out looking at beater chevy trucks today that I can drive to work for the next week while my camaro is down and also use to tow my flatbed with the LUV on it. Anyway I didnt find any good beater chevy 1/2 ton trucks today but I ummmmm acccidentally ended up buying a 1987 Z28 with 61K miles on it. body is excellent with exception of small dent in front fender. needs paint, needs interior cleaned up and a headliner but it runs hard (no posi) Best part is I only paid $450 for it!!!!!

for your viewing pleasure

http://www.hostingmojo.com/images/rickm/DSC00940.JPG
http://www.hostingmojo.com/images/rickm/DSC00943.JPG
http://www.hostingmojo.com/images/rickm/DSC00944.JPG
http://www.hostingmojo.com/images/rickm/DSC00945.JPG

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1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

Update on the 93 Camaro:
My trans (or whats left of it) went to the tranny guy yesterday and he is hooking it up. guts are going into a new case today or tomorrow, converter is being inspected for damage to the splines in the hub and if there is damage it will get cut open and ummmm as long as its cut opened, its gonna get tuned a little... I am going for 2800-3000 stall this time. I am backing the shift kit off to stage 1 as to hopefully not bust any more U joints. should be back in and running maybe by the end of the week (fingers crossed) and will only set me back about $200

Update on the LUV:
Magic smoke coming out of the tail pipe... too much nitrous.... oh well this was a free 350 motor too, time to park it for a while and do some work to it anyway.

Update on the new toy (87 Z28):
put brakes on it yesterday... wow no more grinding and it actually stops good now! fixing odds and ends like crazy. hoping to have it in decent enough shape to go into the trader for $1700 as soon as my 93 gets up and running again. Also considering keeping it as I have a line on a complete 1997 Vortec 7.4 truck motor with harnesses and computer and exhaust. would be cool to have a smog legal big block 3rd gen Camaro.

Coming up:
My friend is building a 4x4 1974 big block Suburban (formerly a small block 2x4) using the parts off of another truck. After he is done, I get whats left over... that means I should get a running 3/4 ton truck with a 350 and TH400 in it. Now i have a new tow vehicle for the LUV. Was getting ready to buy a beater dually for $3500 but this truck is free so... ya gotta love free!!!