What Broke On My 1971 Dodge Demon 340 At The Big Ice Cream Cake Race? 

So to sum it up, the trip was 100% success, ramp truck did a great job, lots of fun and enough power and traction to break the Demon

Good stuff. I remember back in the early 70s as a lil kid, out in the gravel driveway w/ my Dad. Pulling the axel. Showing me the spline. His blue 66 Pontiac Tempest. I guess he was pissed but only thing I ever recall is he could fix anything. (RIP POP) Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads!

I am not a drag racer ...Just a lover of Manual transmissions......You will get there.

RU-vid's definition of Insanity : Content creators reading every comment on all videos they upload. Don't let the mouth breathers dictate your Sanity. I watched the road trip video last night. Good stuff. Glad you, the truck, and the Demon made it home safely.

Take a day off to sit and stare at that nice Demon. What an excellent piece. Nice to have you back.

Glad it wasn't something catastrophic! To me that's the best thing that could've broke! Seems so minor compared to exploding a rear end or a clutch, transmission or U joint and driveshaft! I don't want to see anything damage that beautiful pristine Demon's body! Great news!👍

Great you slipped in the Herb McCandless reference!! Geez, next thing you know your two early drag racer compatriots Sox and Martin might get a mention! Thanks for the video and remember, omelettes and eggs, or something….

Jamie, kudos to you for working through the ups and downs of racing a 4 speed car! I will absolutely not tell you what you're doing wrong. Cause I don't know anyhow

Your "disgruntled viewer commenter voice" impersonation is funtastic lol.

Oh Snap, An Axle! You chose violence that day, and the Demon yelled Uncle!

As a stick shift racer, I enjoyed watching your vids. The engaging of the clutch has to be done quickly, but, not too quick. It's a thing that takes practice. If you can get it so the engine starts at maybe 4,000, and by fancy clutch pedal work, drops slightly to 3000, you won't have any bogging. The weakest link acts as your wick to break. Make that your tires. Bring the PSI up to hell, high 20's on a good prepped track. You dodged a bullet with the drag radials. they dead hook, or you blow through them on a stick car. Thanks for all your content!!!

Add me to the cheerleading section. I glad that you're running a 4 speed. Back n the day four speeds ruled the streets (and strips). Ronnie Sox was almost god-like to us Mopar fans.

If you aren't breaking parts, you aren't trying hard enough to win. PS. Happy Father's Day Jamie.

I enjoy seeing you use the Demon for its intended purpose. The four speed makes it interesting. I'm excited to see you master it. Keep it up!

Experience is the best teacher. You break, you learn. Keep the car the way it came from the factory with respect to small block and manual transmission. The only failure I have experienced with many makes and models was an input and cluster failure on an M21 when banging hard into second gear on a '68 Camaro. My 340 4 speed '68 dart is almost done and I can't wait. Love your video's

Hell yeah brother 🤘🏻 can't wait for live tonight!! I went to Cordova speedway had a blast!! Happy father's day Jamie 👍🏻💯🏁

Hey Jamie I love everything you are doing…. Especially all the things you’ve been doing with “Dale’s” Demon …. That is awesome!! Thank you -Randall

As to the four-speed- like you said, “There’s an art to it,”and part of the fun is figuring that out on that car. If watching yours and uncle Tony’s videos has taught me anything, it’s to learn how to make the most out of the car you have with what you have. That four-speed car is awesome !

Turned 16 in 1974. First car was 1972 Dodge Demon 340/4 speed. No ps, pb, a/c, radio. Did have heater. Paid $1,200.00 for it at a Toyota dealership. 17k miles on it. White with black interior. Made my money back first weekend I had it. Drove it all thru High School. Only lost 2 races in 3 years. Man, that car was a terror. I beat several faster cars because I could launch and shift well. Sold it for $1,200.00 with 65k miles on it. Best ride of my life. Miss it.

Hey Jamie, I bought a Demon absolutely identical to yours in 1982 and was probably the best Mopar I've ever owned, actually owned it twice and like a dummy got rid of it again, put about 130,000 hard miles on it, great hot rod.... oh yeah, it broke an axle too, drag raced a lot, street and strip, anyway been wanting to tell you about it. Your car is awesome and brings back a lot of great memories, thanks man and great channel, watch all the time 👍👍👍👍👍✅✅✅✅✅

I really like your willing to learn and improve in all areas, I mean doing that road trip, set up tow truck and race car and on top challenge UTG is really good content. Keep on wrenching and we would love to see that Demon on full potential against many other mopar youtubers (and of course a redemption vs UTG). Sheers.

Thank you for your vids. Watching them takes me back to assisting my dad with his 68 383 Coronet.

100% with you on keeping it manual. Automatics take away a bunch of your connection to the drive train and a lot of the fun.

You are obviously knowledgeable about all things Mopar, and a little ticked off at the way things turned out having driven that far. Look at the bright side, you built a transport specifically for the trip..great content by the way. You now know how the demon can perform, albeit, having twisted and broke an axle shaft you are still learning what the car can do. For never having taken a 4 speed down the quarter mile, stop kicking yourself..Nobody else out here is doing this..we are watching (and learning) from you! Great channel!

I am SOOOOO with you on the three-pedal option. I would be totally into the challenge, don't care about being the fastest. being able to make all of my appendages work along with that machine would make me so happy.

You nailed what you need to do. Back in the 70’s I raced four speed B bodies, and you are on the right track. Congratulations and keep going!

Glad to see you got it back together

As a UK viewer i agree on sticking to the manual . In the past We didnt generally get a huge amount of autos over here . Driving a manual properly esp. on the track takes skill and learning . well done on sticking to what you want. At least you broke an " easy " bit to replace , next weakest link might be trickier .

Great video, glad you were able to fix the Demon ,keep the 4 speed its the way the mopar gods intened this car to be . Like all your videos, you be you we will keep watching. And remember its fathers day.

You are having fun! That’s all that matters. Also having fun in a vintage race car that sounds awesome. Yes, it’s usually the loose nut behind the wheel that needs fixing. Myself included.

4 speed drag racers are so badass!! There’s a guy here who races in Spokane who drag races a black big block 67 coronet 500 with a 4 speed. Jays my hero!

EPIC ENDING!!! Happy it wasnt too much of a ordeal to put the beast back into action!

I've only drag raced a few times, with an ancient toyota celica 5-speed. Respect the sticking to the joy of a manual transmission.

I'm glad you are doing it the way you are good Old School learning how to get it done Jamie

Regarding your reply to "put a 727 in it" -- you summed that up perfectly. Sometimes people want to learn to do something that involves a higher level of effort/understanding. If you can do it, there's the reward. I'm the same way with some hobbies that I'm involved with.

You had me at "...I want to get good at THIS" ! As always, much respect. Thanks for the ride along! and remember Happy Fathers Day!

Kart racing suppliers will have the tire pressure gauge you need. Great analysis of the failure!

I can't tell you much I like seeing that three pedal Demon going down the road! Keep keeping the other dead Dodges on the road Jamie! Have a great week everyone!

Keep you doin you brother..nothin better than an angry MOPAR!

You can't imagine how much I envy your adventure learning to Race a 4-speed car. Such a fantastic experience.... Go get'em Jamie! .

In our earlier years we went to the drags to see what we could do. It was never about beating the guy next to us, it was for learning and seeing what we could do.

Man, pay the naysayers and know it all's no attention 👍, love the Demon and I am a Ford Guy, but also a Mopar lover at heart 🤣, That's what I love about your channel, Brutal Honesty all the time 👍

This was a great recipe for a great time. I too am a stick guy. It’s who we were in school during the late 70s. We wanted to be the best at shifting gears. And on the street it was the fastest way to earn respect. Every car I bought after my two 70s Mopars were stuck cars. 88 Conquest TSI with a 5 speed. 91 Stealth TT with a 5 speed. And a 2009 Challenger R/T with a 6 speed. But my 70 Challenger and 70 GTX are tried and true 727. But I sure wish they were 4 speeds. But all are fun cars. Have fun Jamie and be yourself.

Totally agree with you Jamie. Excellent post race analysis

You're learning how to drive this setup. I'm learning watching you do a repair. We'll all keep on having fun. Enjoy Jamie and cool break of that axle!

Nobody want's/or likes to make mistakes, but that's how we learn & get better. Keep on Keep 'in on. You'll get there. I'm digging it. Rock-n-Roll!!🎸

Keep at it, you'll get there, there's something magical about bangin gears through a 4-speed... it's like watching your hood shake at a red light, some people just don't get it.

Man, a warm tuna melt is allllright

Thankyou enjoyed this video, let's see you grow shifting gears at the drag strip so we can call you "Jamie Soxx" so you can carry on the tradition. I said it in the past love to see the day, that 340 goes back into the car, since I have a 73 Satellite with a 340 and 4:30 gears, a heavier car and thinking twice about going to a big block since it runs strong. Yes I run an automatic, 3500 stall and here's the shocker, 8 1/4 rear and have never broke an axle. But I will be inspecting them more frequently after seeing what happened to you. I think your trip was a great success for the channel. Long live the demon!

Jamie you are a rock star, Herb McCandles “MR. 4 Speed” was a monster in the day and he had the exact same desire to shift the thing. He got a hemi dart super stock 4 speed from dodge because no one could drive them. You are an artist in search of an art I applauded you.

You’re living the dream brother and absolutely do it with a four speed. It’s so much harder and so much more fun.

All my cars are manual it's the only way to fly . Even the street racers have a manual class . Manual racing is a real life adrenaline rush . Please stay at it Jamie loving every minute of it. Wheels up..... TORQUE breaker 360

Drag racing with an A-833 4 speed and a Hurst competition shifter is awesome. I've been doing it since 1976. You're doing fine Jamie you will get there. Thanks for the great videos as always.

Amen on your view on the 4 speed. Everything I have ever owned has been a manual, and will be until I can't drive anymore. I actually love really driving !! Some people will never understand...... Really driving is a physical, tactile thing, not just going along for the ride.

Keep doing what you’re doing! Half the fun is learning and improving both yourself and the car. 13 plus years ago I had a Holden commodore SS with an LS1 and T56 6 speed and it was a real challenge to be fast and consistent to do bracket racing. These days I’ve got a 1971 Holden HQ Ute with a 350 sbc, T400 manualised and an old 9” diff. Engine hasn’t been apart since it was built 10 plus years ago but still runs mid 11’s @120mph and weighs 3640lb. I’ve been having the time of my life learning how to get the best out of it, tuning, suspension and tyre set up etc. Dales Demon is a brilliant car and what you’re doing is sensational, keep it up…. Cheers from an Aussie fan 🇦🇺🇺🇸👍

Love the ramp truck! Looked like it did great👍 Car does sound really good .. even if it’s not moving much at the moment. 😬

I learn something pretty much every time I watch one of your videos. I wouldn't spend too much time answering every little thing. You're a good man Charlie Brown - and way better than I am in the respect. Just an encouragement to not let the keyboard warriors get to you. You rule...period. Major respect for doing you the way your want to - I fully support it 1000% and that's why I watch!!!

I raced w 4-speeds back in the 70s. Racing w 4speeds is about the challenge, nothing feels better than beating an AT car of similar power/setup, or being able to out-shift an opponent. Keep on Shifting 👍

Figuring out how to get "the Car" down the track at it's best potential is a quite fiddly task. It's fun. You put yourself, your car, and your skills to a VERY short test that gives immediate feedback. Then you fiddle some more and try again. The object is not necessarily to go "fast" the object is to go as fast as that particular car can go with you driving. That's the fun part. With the qualifier that if you have an epic hoard of parts and the skills to fix the inevitable problems, that makes it even better. Just do it, have fun, and lets see how fast you can go. I'll watch.

Easy fix. Lesson learned. When your the one fixing the issues, you'll learn. I'm glad your keeping the 4spd. The car wouldn't be the same otherwise. On another note, the Cummins was awesome as usual!!

I feel like you did a great job, Jaime! 1/4 mile Drag racing is NOT as easy as it looks & you obviously have your car set up as well as it can be without dumping a fortune in racing parts into it! Keep on driving hard my friend & thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!!

Not unheard of, I have seen it many times with the 426 Wedge or the 413 maxed out in internal goodies! 😊

727’s were great transmissions…..I still wouldn’t pick one if I had the option, I wanna shift myself.

I'm no Mopar guy but I'm learning. That's the main reason why I keep comments to my self. Great video, my man! Fyi. I'm still here. 😂

Glad it wasn't catastrophic. I had a gut feeling you twisted off an axle. Easy fix and back on the track! 🏁💪

Hahahaha a bit ranty son 😂 but well deserved to put the bench racers in there place once and for all. I cant begin to tell you the preaching i got from ronny sox about being a 4spd guy lol. So much info to unpack my young brain could not take it all in. But your doing as i did. Live and learn. Race it, brake it, repeat. As for gears and slicks and tire size. 28" tires and 456 for eighth mile would be about perfect given the bog we talked about. Maybe 430s too. But go try one change at a time not a bunch so you know what works and dont. Like ronny said just go have fun and learn what works for you. So remember its all about fun son. Happy dads day.❤ 31:16

Happy Father's Day Jamie! Love your cars, love your show. A smart tip from an older gentleman, if I may, Remember your pseudo-latin! Illegitimus-Non-Carborundum! Which translates very roughly to: Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down. Live to race, race to live. Peace brother!

Jamie I love that keeping your car 4 speed an the keyboard warrior's are annoying an screw them it's your car run how you want

You will be beyond all the head games, psych outs, and I will say that you are going to have the perfect launch soon and then you will be happy as sin. Can't wait to see you get it dialed in, coming sooner than later and I will be there to say that you did awesome and I think you have it set up correctly.😊

Keep up the good work, I cant wait to see your next video on this project 340. To combine the cars mechanicals and your reactions and clutch/gear changes to achieve your personal goal makes it a must watch.

I call it getting tuning your self in and practice is all the same, I am looking forward to seeing you there also.

Admitting the problem is the first step 😂Love the videos! 4 speeds are fun, keep having fun. I’ve bracket raced many times, 3speed automatic, glides with brakes. I’d be a screw up trying to race a 4 speed. Definitely a learning curve

We learn by screwing up Pain and/or failure are always the best teachers. Keep it up you'll get there!

Jaimie, regarding the cam/ spring issue. Maybe worth a re visit to address the low torque issue. Cam swap is laborious but a spring replacement might help. I had a 70 GS 455, the engine came out of 73 Electra, so the RPM’s were low, I started building it to stage 1 specs, a comp cam, stage 1 springs, msd ignition, it woke up that engine big time! Good job with your explanation on your adventure!

I,ve never had a good 'air line' gauge.Thumbs up.

Jamie, keep doin’ what you’re doin’……..great content, all the best from the U.K.

Love what you are doing! As I’ve never drag raced before either……we will learn together! Yes, I watched the video and observed the bog, logically too much traction. Glad you got it figured out!

DaveLa here, There is so much in your head at the lights on the strip. I was messed up several launches with an auto. As far as breakage I have broken several Jeep axles, looks about the same to me, some twist and a snap.

DDG, I'm an old horse so I'll try to make it short. Back in '80-'81, a good friend of mine and I, decided to try to break into racing. We had a limited budget. I wanted to get into NASCAR but he was the best 4 speed shifting guy I'd ever seen. Outside of the story of the car that I built for the project ('68 Cutlass S, 350 4 speed) the secret to what made him the best at being a 4 speed shifter for drag racing, was that he had spent several years doing motocross bikes. In the end, he broke the car and I decided I needed to do college and find a job. No NASCAR or Stunt driving for me. I wish I had made a different decision back then. Take note, UT spent a fair amount of time on bikes and still does. They're small and helluva lot cheaper to practice on. I like that you're a 4 speed guy and guess what; the 4 speed guy who knows how to build it and drive it, is going to shock the hell out of people. Good for you sir! Be safe and thanks for reaching back in time to make the point. My buddy was 18 back then and I've seen nobody as good since. Go man go!

I really like what you're do! I Have a 73' Duster with a 360, Holley 650 dp, Mopar performance W2 heads, headers 3" exhaust x2, 727 reverse manual valve body, 8 3/4 with a snubber! and it's also blue 🙃 I'm learning to do dragracing also... My car is a "old school" California dragcar and are now in Sweden and it's "My precious" 🤩 Keep up the good work and I will follow your progress 😎

That whole trip was amazing! Your 3 week ramp truck worked, you did a wheelie or a few! And most of all it was fun watching you do thanks

ok ok Shirley Muldowney calm down don’t make me call your Probey. We’re all with you and your already 10x ahead of where i’ll ever be. (2014 Mustang auto. Convertible- 3.7l tuner, no mufflers, 3.55 gears)

Sounds great shape I love the sound especially when you decide to crack it down.

So glad I watched your alignment vlog . When you left the line , during the UTG showdown , it tracked straight and , it wheelied !! The dump tubes , sounds 👌 Phenomenal !!!! Axle deletion , not so much Hey at least , that wasn't the pervebial "candy red button" 😬 I genuinely appreciate your brutal honesty

Keep at it bro You'll get to where you want to be

Dude, don’t even sweat. The haters car ran great. Another great video.

So .. Technically .. when ya break something back there … It shows Your putting out some REAL tourque!! Sweet Bro 🤘🏼⛽️

Your car is in amazing shape. Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

HEY Mr problem! Great show! I'm learning so much about drag racing from your experience and it is much more complex than I ever realized. I wish you the best. Have fun and be safe.

That is interesting. When i was a teen about 13 in the late sixties . Remember going to the National drags here near Seattle. I remember Dick Landy and his team racing Mopars. Very momorable.

Don't let em get to ya. You're doing just fine. I once broke an axel just like that in a 60hp Datsun. Couldn't believe it! I was taught in a mechanics class that the smooth part of a break indicates a crack was there and the surfaces of the crack were polishing each other as it flexed. Could be your axel weas cracked for a while. Looking forward to seeing you improve!

Your enthusiasm for having a good time is fantastic, some people’s advice is well ahh amazing don’t let it grind you down,over here in England where most of our cars have four on the floor it was funny to watch you squeeze as much power out of that car as possibly . My old boss once told me those people with a greater mechanical understanding make bad racers because they understand the limits of what’s going up and down and around an around and don’t thrash the hell out of things, Watching you was great keep having fun

Loved the forensics! Keep up the good work. Damn the torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!

Yes. Run the 4 speed. I’ve got a duster with a 4 speed so you’re helping me learn along the way. I did notice the super aggressive clutch dumps and your luck it was just an axle. Could have had more major damage in the rear end of the trans. Good luck in the future and 100% stick with the stick!

My first 65' Coronet 500 was a beast that was put together on a very small military pay of the early 80's budget. I worked at a bone yard on weekends that I was off the ship. I pulled parts on a list and my pay was a choice of parts in the yard.. That was great for many parts, but it wasn't until I actually took it to the track that I saw a large jump in my cars real grunt. Since the yard was absolutely full of x-cop cars, I had a load of 440's . I traded for just about everything needed.. Then a fellow racer, who was really showing me the ropes on mid 60's B-bodies, let me use a set of his fairly worn out slicks. 29 or 29 x 9's on steel widened wheels. HOLY SHIT!!! I about lost it the first time I launched at the track!! The next week, he surprised me with the tires. The following week I had them mounted on a set of Cragar S/S wheels and found out exactly why most racers don't drive the car to the track.. I launched and only moved about a foot forward. The rest was very much turning toward the left wall... I spun the center right out of the Cragar!!!! Track prepped. Aired down. Me excited as hell and it was all over as I watched my light go green. So I learned 2 things from that experience. 1) Make sure there is no corrosion in the hub of Cragars before you mount anything that will stick on them. 2) Ya might just need 2 spares to get home... Oh yeah, the 742 is a pretty brutal case. The 741 is the smallest and lightest duty... Also, I don't care what you do, you will break something and replace it with far better and then break the next part in the chain.... And yeah, I've done the same to a few mopar 8 3/4 factory axles... I like Moser axles and green bearings. Well, on a drag car anyway. I would love to see a video of the pinion on launch. We set up my cousins 65' B-body, pretty much the same. Though automatic, it was on a trans brake. First launch exploded the transmission tail shaft and housing... I am sure it was due to the axle wrapping way too far.. The tranny builder, (was at the same race), totally agreed... There's something about getting real traction!!!!!! ;)

Happy Fathers Day. Another great video and I'm glad you had a good time and have experienced what many of us won't.

Ozark Super Shifters is a fantastic 3 pedal clutch race group

You will soon be a great racer as soon as you get the routeen the way you want it. I have faith in you and your running a four speed car is a great thing to me I have to say that I am glad you are doing it and not using a slushy box. I have broken a axle or two and a yoke or two along with twisting a drive shaft. It was almost identical to what you pulled out of the rear end. Awesome and I will say that you are doing it the way they used to back in the day. Respect from me for running the four speed. Hopefully you stick with the manual transmission.

I busted an axle once, but it was due to doing insane donuts in the snow and meeting up with a curb hidden under the snow - the result was immediately evident

I always enjoy your videos brother, don't let the negative comments get ya down. Do what makes you happy with the Demon!!!!