Carnage pics from my road trip...

[N2TRUX]

I was sick last night and didn't get a chance to look at my 77. I got it in the air this morning to see exactly what had happened. The pics suck because I couldn't get the camera far enough away to focus.

The first few are the exhaust. It appears that the "factory" weld on the cat broke loose. The collar that goes into the body of the cat is where the weld broke. I guess there wasn't enough flex in the system and it twisted the welds loose. I'm going to say this is the cat manfacturers fault for poor weld quality...

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The blown air stystem is a bit more confusing? I can see "where" it blew, but I can't see "why" it blew there. There is a slight bend at the point that it blew, but I think the bend happened "after" it blew. I assume that the busted exhaust could have created more heat in this area, but that just a long shot.

Sorry for the crappy pics. I'll try to get better ones later...

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[Gibble]

SO basically the small fortune for the tow will be the expensive part of fixing the truck...?

[N2TRUX]

The bright white spot you see is the inner liner busting out.

I have to give Roger at Stoked Out Specialties mad props for the system design. I told him I wanted the truck to be able to roll if the air system blew out, and he assured me it would. I never expected to test it like I did though. Thanks Roger!

When the line blew I was in an area on the freeway where there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING! I was able to idle along on the shoulder for at least 5 miles without any further damage to the truck. This allowed me to get safely off the road at a Rest Area.

Make sure you design your system where it will roll when aired out. It may prevent you from dropping another inch or two, but it's well worth it...

Thanks Roger!

[Low87on20s]

Looks like it could have been fixed with a BFH and some duct tape!

No really, I hate it that you had so many problems. I hope my upcoming road trip is uneventful!

[N2TRUX]

Originally posted by Gibble
SO basically the small fortune for the tow will be the expensive part of fixing the truck...?

Yeah from what I can tell that was the worst part of the deal. I haven't had a chance to be sure nothing else was hurt, but it looks pretty good so far...

Originally posted by Low87on20s
Looks like it could have been fixed with a BFH and some duct tape!

Actually I had spare line and fitting so it could have been fixed by the road. I didn't have a working jack though, so I couldn't get under it to see where the damage was at. The airlines are between the inside of the frame and the exhaust. They are protected well, but you can't see them without lifting the truck up....

[LOHRTBT]

***GASP*** I see RUST inside your tailpipes!! haha You better get to cleanin!! hahhaaha j/k
hope you get it all fixed up!

[N2TRUX]

Originally posted by LOHRTBT
***GASP*** I see RUST inside your tailpipes!! haha You better get to cleanin!

Hmmm? I'll have to see about getting the "insidew" coated. Did you notice that even though I drove it in the mud, crud, and rain the "rest" of the undercarriage is pretty clean

[n2billet]

Ken,

Make sure and check all your airlines now, that's the second time it's blown that line. Also get new stops for the front end, after driving on them for five miles they will more than likely need to be replaced. Just my two cents............

[LOHRTBT]

hehe..you know I gotta give you a hard time broh!

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Originally posted by n2billet
Ken, Make sure and check all your airlines now, that's the second time it's blown that line. Also get new stops for the front end, after driving on them for five miles they will more than likely need to be replaced. Just my two cents............

Yeah I'm going to go through them and double check everything. It's hard to tell from the pics, but that is much farther back than last time. This is where it crosses the frame at the rear. Of course it had to be the supply line that blew instead of a corner.

Stops will probably need replaced in the front. They did start cracking, but managed to hold up well considering all. Thank God for smooth shoulders. Too bad about the dead armadillo being taller than my air dam

Originally posted by LOHRTBT
hehe..you know I gotta give you a hard time broh!

Yeah I know, kick a brother when he's down. :p

[patgizz]

on the cat i'd say installer error if you have anything but solid motor mounts, that solid exhaust mount in your pic has been twisting on the poor thing since day 1. if you have rubber or poly motor mounts that are allowing the engine and everything bolted to it to move, and then right behind the cat you have it clamped tight, something has to give and it was the weld on the cat. just an observation.

[BaggedC10]

You've had bad luck w/ breaking air line. Your the only person I know who has had this happen not once but twice!

[plumbcut]

Time for some steel braided from Earls.......... Get out the checkbook, cha-ching

pc

[N2TRUX]

Originally posted by patgizz
on the cat i'd say installer error if you have anything but solid motor mounts, that solid exhaust mount in your pic has been twisting on the poor thing since day 1. if you have rubber or poly motor mounts that are allowing the engine and everything bolted to it to move, and then right behind the cat you have it clamped tight, something has to give and it was the weld on the cat. just an observation.

I haven't had a chance to analize cause and effect, but you have a good theory. Yes it is mounted fixed right behind the Y-pipe, and floating beyond there. I'll have to consider changes when I get it repaired.

Originally posted by BaggedC10
You've had bad luck w/ breaking air line. Your the only person I know who has had this happen not once but twice!

The first time was our own fault though. We looked at the lines and wondered why Roger had left so much slack at one point. We too the slack out and made it look pretty. What we didn't consider was we pulled the line closer to the exhaust further up the frame when we did that. Prior to our "adjustment" it had a made a 3.5 hour trip nonstop just fine.

My conclusion from both of these incidents is heat and plastic airline are not good companions....

Originally posted by plumbcut Time for some steel braided from Earls.......... Get out the checkbook, cha-ching

That is being considered. This game isn't fun any more both times my family weren't with me. I can deal with these things, but I don't want my wife and daughter to have to.It would not be pleasent

[swervin ervin]

You will need to undo the solid exhaust mount for sure. You need some type of rubber hanger or it will happen again.

Ken, something like this would only happen to me. I didn't know you had bad luck.

[chevychic]

That sucks Ken. Glad to hear it's a pretty simple fix and you were able to still manuever your truck. I would've hated for that to happen in my ex's bagged toyota...sparks would've flown.

So about that armadillo...did you end up pushing the poor dead thing? And if so, pics would've been priceless

[N2TRUX]

Originally posted by swervin ervin
...Ken, something like this would only happen to me. I didn't know you had bad luck.

Mike it's almost impossible for me and my buddies to have a road trip without a story to tell about it later. I actually "thought" the wortst part of this one was going to be all the rain. Then I figured the broken exhaust would be it. The busted airline just rounded it off...:p

Originally posted by chevychic
That sucks Ken. ....So about that armadillo...did you end up pushing the poor dead thing? And if so, pics would've been priceless

Thanks for the sentiments. Yeah, I was pretty sad, but appreciated that it would roll. Trust me, you would not have wanted pics of the dead Dillo. It was not a "fresh" kill....

[Izzy]

The only thing I can think is maybe a rock or sharp object hit it but even in those pics it doesn't look like that would have happened?