Trouble on I-99 Seattle

I just bought this 66 chev van last summer and we got the motor re-built 250, after almost a year Its on the road. I had the drive live replaced at drivelines NW for 277 dollars. they call it "dynamically Balanced" my toe!!! I had never taken the van or the new motor above 50mph- so I thought I would try it. Everything went wrong the whole van started shaking and the front wheels statrted sweaying back and fourth!!! then I heard a BOOM and then a rattle very loud - I blew the damn drive line out on t he road. and my wheels were laying out flat///// My front bushings, tie rod bar and wheel assembalies are toast, I believe, and I might have to bag the 66 project. I bought a van that needed everything- gone through with a fine tooth comb- NE wayz I wanted to ask anyone If there are some advantages to the 3rd gens,- not as cool looking- but power steering, cheap - and about a million of them in the wreking yard- This is a sad moment -might have to strip and sell-- but a dead horse is no good to any one/////////////
Big noer out-----

sorry to hear about you troubles.

thats is bummer news, but don't give up on early's

any pics so we know exactly what happened? did it kick out a drive "shaft" or did some thing in the front end let go? dont give up on the old girl yet.

just an echo of previous posts... don't give up! she's a winner!

thats my biggest fear......did you confront the driveline guys????

I'm glad you are safe. Really sorry about your luck, and hope you can figure out a good way through it!

Drive line guys couldnt care less - I guess it seems that my mesurments were to make sure that the slip yoke was no further than 1/2 inch out of the tranny but when I got the drive line back, and put it in, it was more like 1 inch --- they said that that was the max and it would be fine. It wasnt. but ultimately its up to me to make sure everything is up to par before I get on the road--- This is more like a project /// I thought I could use it as a daily driver right away. oops. Still dont know why the wheels fell flat???? -Noer

At Drivelines NW they were telling me how to mesure it . we mesured it to be 1/2 inch out from the tranny. Got it back and it was 1 inch. they said that it was fine. It didnt fall out, the slip yoke broke in 1/2 and then it blew out. There claiming it was from a shock load now, but the van was empty. They also claim that they re tested it at 3000 rpms on there machine and it was ok. funny how they want to give me a deal on legthning it 1/2 inch- even though "its a shock load that caused it" --- about the front end-- "Like all the lugs came off or the wheel bearings froze up and the hubs came off the spindle or are they just turned too far out?"---, Donnavan65 - The lugs were still on the rims and it looked like the studs were broke clean off -- and I mean flat like the top of the wheel fell to the ground-- also, the large nut on the hub was dry- is that where the bearings go? It might have froze up, and broke.
Thanks
Noah

Don, my driveshaft measures 23"

Sometimes when a metal part like that breaks its just from plain old metal fatigue (slip yoke) if they reused the old yoke it may have been subjected to some unusual abuse in its 45 yr old life span. The lugnuts sounds like a victim of over tightening or incorrect installation. Glad you got through it in 1 piece!

Ahh yes there are no bearings--there-- and that nut is sheared pretty good too. I will take that 23'' mesurement to Drivelines nw as soon as I can find a course splined yoke.
Thanks !!!!
Noah

I think the splined yoke broke from being old? Then the studs broke and the wheels fell. I had to fix the Drive line because it was too short and the spline yoke hung out 2 inches. But I found another vintage vanner in Seattle and he might have the part.=====Oh about the tranny - its stilla three speed but Im going to throw in a auto asap== Also trying to borrow my brothers camera and get the pics.
Thanks-
Noah

My first van, a 65, back in the 70's was at that time 12 years old. The fastest I could go was 45 mph, over that the front end would shake violently because of worn kingpins....so I never went over 45 and it lasted a few more years until I traded it for a Pinto hatchback....what was I thinking???