I looked at a new to the market SFI approved blanket being offered last week - covers the whole transmission including the bell housing - its being made specifically for the TF727 and is very well designed using ballistic grade fabrics - seeing these explosions reminds me - better safe than sorry!

It was rough. He had a blanket, but everything was mangled. Overhearing the guys talk, it broke the block, bent the framerail, bent the headers. You could see the floorpan bent well past the gas pedal mount.

Insult to injury, as was mentioned, the car was pushed back over the shrapnel which cut the slick.

Thanks for all the updates, sorry for all the damage, but glad all he had was a cut.

Bill

So what failed, the roller clutch allowing the drum to burst or the converter?


ETA...NVM, now that I see the pictures.

A few pics. In the 2nd pic you can see the sun sheet is expanded on the edge. That's where the high gear drum sets.
Doug

was he running a stock drum with a trans brake? - sure looks like that converter ballooned up. Glad he walked away that could have been real ugly..

Pretty violent.

glad hes ok, saw it happen at ubly once on a stock looking road runner, a girl was driving it and it let loose doing a burnout, she broke her foot and was back later wearing a cast.

Stock Drum...?
Sorta looks like on.

That's ugly!!

Pretty serious carnage to that floor pan.

Thats the worst ive seen, glad the guy is ok for sure.

I cant imagine being that close to that happening.

What converter is that?

First pic flame in scoop.
Second pic, smoke plume coming from hoodside on drivers side.

I wonder if more mayhem has happened here, perhaps started at the engine first.

Take a good look at the rear gear....

i had that happen before,typical 727

yes.... but was it because it was built like a "typical" 727.

OUCH!!!!!!!!! That's gonna leave a mark

Perfect illustration showing why not to run brake lines across the firewall





Witnessed a 727 trans explosion in an early '70s Newport at a demo derby. The blast bent the brake pedal at a 45 degree angle, and the steel bar had to be at least a 1/4" thick. The floor pan was a sight to see too. The driver actually walked away after 15 minutes on the ground holding his ankle.

I'm happy he's okay. Seeing these photos makes me feel good about the $600+ I spent on a steel drum.

Could the fluid vapors in the trans blow?

Im thinking im gonna keep my crt trans now and probably throw the blanket back on it just for good measure.

A local racer recently lost a sprag which wiped out the case and rear support. Disassembly found other distressed parts. I gave him a list of the minimum parts I would replace but he won't spend the money.

Sometimes an incident like this is the only way to make believers out of skeptics.