Tranny came apart, Don Brummer injured

I had my race trans built a few years ago and passed on the front drum option. Never felt the need and the stuff was not available 30 years ago. The project is still under construction. I think I will call the builder and price out a steel front drum installed. This maybe my last "hurrah" and I won't be the only one driving it (Daughters & Granddaughters). I would rather spend the money on insurance than hospital bills. It would kill me to see one of them hurt because I was being cheap!!

Not the first time I've heard of the "approved" kevlar shield allowing debris to run right through it. Thing about the blanket is that it will absorb the energy. Unfortunately I'll be using the "approved" shield on my latest project as it's the best thing going for a stock floor pan racecar, but I'm also going to put my Lofgren blanket over that.

well I have a blanket on my and it is double over, and I am gald. I blew one up broke the rear and free wheeled the trans the drum came apart. moved the floor boards, but nothing went though the blanket. I am sure I would of kill one them shields.

...happened to a friend of mine two weeks ago, he's going with a 'Glide.

I know my small block is a little slower with a powerglide but I will gladly sacrifice A little ET for safety and consistency. Two of my Friends exploded 727's.

This one is not from doing anything wrong. I left the line 20 ft out broke the rear end took all the teeth off the pinion. free wheel the trans and boom we had fire and parts every where.. No more Richmond gears for me. most of the time when we see this it is from someone doing something they should not. I race this car for 27 years. only had this happen one time.

Cousin had one blow. He broke a ring gear in the rear on launch. Had a blanket wrapped tight. It still bent his floorboard. He put another stock drum in the car and said the previous owner had more motor and most have hurt the gears. Titaz

There is nothing wrong with running a 727 or a 400 turbo. You just have to run a better drum that does not blow up if you break anything behind the transmission and hurt the sprag or just loose the sprag. Low band apply and good drums no problems. Just like you don't run 1,500 hp on stock rods. Just part of racing

Hope the foot heals.

Leon

What is it with some people they will spend the money on everything else on there racecar but wont spend it on a part that has a known weakness. It's a no brainer you make power equals billet drum and 16 element sprag there really is no excuse.

Don had a aluminum drum in the trans, last outing he sheared the pinion teeth on the 4.10 dana 60, broke the tailhousing and bent the main shaft, trans was repaired, gear replaced and sprag checked, 2nd run after was the explosion. He is still in the hospital, broke several bones in his right foot, they were going to decide today whether to amputate 2 toes or try to save them.

Dang! hoping for the best... My first experience with this was similar to Verns. Buddy of mine had a Challenger street/strip car. Foot brake, 8.75 rear. We "assume" it broke the gear first, shocked the trans and rolled the sprag, and about 100 ft out all hell broke loose. Luckily he walked, or limped for about 6 months, away. This one opened up the tin floor like a cartoon sardine can...it actually wrapped around his ankle. Took out his gauges, stuck small pieces in the door panels. We were young and totally oblivious that this could even happen. Way before you could join a chat room and read of such things. Chuck Lofgren was at the track that day and we met him as he checked out the carnage. He explained what most likely happened and sure enough the rear gear was broke just like he said. From there on we put blanket on everything. As I stated earlier, I'm going to be putting on a "rules compliant" shield as the blanket itself is not 9's legal, but I'm still running my Lofgren blanket over that. Hope to hear more updates as to what happened... Stock floor pan? The "one piece rules compliant sheild" that fits stock floor pans well that most seem to use? again...hoping for the best for your friend.

I hope he is OK .... BUT the 727 has been in THOUSANDS
of race cars over the years and in most cases they never
had/have a problem... you just dont do certain things...
when in low gear you DONT PEDAL IT... if you loose
traction SHIFT it... when you start getting on and
off the pedal when in low your ASKING to blow the sprag
and once you roll the sprag the drum will turn 2.2
times the engine RPM.. if your above 6200 rpm it CAN
blow the drum due to centrifugal force.... as Jim
said... if you break a drive line part CHECK the sprag

Any updates?

They sent Don home earlier in the week, stitched up his toes and foot , saved everything, set his bones and sent him home to heal, everything should fuse together on it's own, I imagine he has some kind of cast or special shoe, I'm going to call him this weekend to see how he's mending. A friend talked to him this week and he was in great spirits.
russ

Good to hear!