mr_blasto
1/2 ton status
I was just coming up on the 100 mile mark on a nearly 700 mile road trip and was nearing the top of the Cajon pass. The truck was charging up it without issue at 65 mph. I just passed a squad of firefighters caravaning to some forest fires in Wrightwood. About 30 seconds after passing them, I am engulfed (top was off of course) in some really thick smoke. The motor was still running and I never heard anything abnormal, just instant smoke. I immediately get over to the shoulder and throw it in park and turn off the car.
After coming to a stop, the smoke was still coming but there wasn't much. So I was sitting there trying to think what could have happened. I barely hear my wife screaming from the car behind me over the roar of the traffic to get out. I jump out and run back toward her and saw a fire going right about at the transfer case. I picture my truck and all my tools in it (nearly all the tools I have, welder included) burning into nothing, so I run back toward the truck for the fire extinguisher. As I am running to the truck I remember that the flames are on the side of the truck with the fuel lines and recalled I had just passed the firefighters 30 seconds ago. I stop and go back to our other car and watch so thankfully as the firefighters pull over and do their thing.
After a cursory inspection in the dark with a cops flashlight, it looks like the flames did minimal damage to the truck, but I definitely spewed ATF all over everything from the trans back (the rear axle was pretty saturated). We loaded it on a flatbed and had it towed back to LA, we kept going in our backup car, which was taken out by a big rig tire in our lane just outside of Primm - but that's another story.
Anyways, I am in Vegas now as the backup is being repaired and the truck is in LA. My step dad said the truck runs fine and after they dropped it off he drove it on the street to find a parking spot, but he says the trans is likely not going to last much longer after that sort of ordeal (he had a similar experience in a loaded truck once).
My wife, my 2 yo son, and I am all safe, and the truck is not a smoldering heap thanks only to those fireman who just happened to be right there. The guy behind my wife pulled over and said he had to dodge a piece that came flying off the car, but I can't think what would have come flying off and how my wife didn't have to dodge it, but he did.
So this is the long way of saying, is it nearly certain my trans is done? What should I inspect or look for once I get back to it? Is it likely that the np205 is toast as well? What's the best deal going on a 700r4 (and possibly xfer case)? I have a built motor, so I guess I need a slightly beefed up 700r4, would you consider having a local place take care of it or only a place online with a reputation? Would you even consider using a junkyard pull 700r4? Never been down this road before, so any help is great.
After coming to a stop, the smoke was still coming but there wasn't much. So I was sitting there trying to think what could have happened. I barely hear my wife screaming from the car behind me over the roar of the traffic to get out. I jump out and run back toward her and saw a fire going right about at the transfer case. I picture my truck and all my tools in it (nearly all the tools I have, welder included) burning into nothing, so I run back toward the truck for the fire extinguisher. As I am running to the truck I remember that the flames are on the side of the truck with the fuel lines and recalled I had just passed the firefighters 30 seconds ago. I stop and go back to our other car and watch so thankfully as the firefighters pull over and do their thing.
After a cursory inspection in the dark with a cops flashlight, it looks like the flames did minimal damage to the truck, but I definitely spewed ATF all over everything from the trans back (the rear axle was pretty saturated). We loaded it on a flatbed and had it towed back to LA, we kept going in our backup car, which was taken out by a big rig tire in our lane just outside of Primm - but that's another story.
Anyways, I am in Vegas now as the backup is being repaired and the truck is in LA. My step dad said the truck runs fine and after they dropped it off he drove it on the street to find a parking spot, but he says the trans is likely not going to last much longer after that sort of ordeal (he had a similar experience in a loaded truck once).
My wife, my 2 yo son, and I am all safe, and the truck is not a smoldering heap thanks only to those fireman who just happened to be right there. The guy behind my wife pulled over and said he had to dodge a piece that came flying off the car, but I can't think what would have come flying off and how my wife didn't have to dodge it, but he did.
So this is the long way of saying, is it nearly certain my trans is done? What should I inspect or look for once I get back to it? Is it likely that the np205 is toast as well? What's the best deal going on a 700r4 (and possibly xfer case)? I have a built motor, so I guess I need a slightly beefed up 700r4, would you consider having a local place take care of it or only a place online with a reputation? Would you even consider using a junkyard pull 700r4? Never been down this road before, so any help is great.
