DSkyles

iTrader: (1)

What do you guys think of swapping them in place of steel? I am planning on a stall next fall and a cam in like a year. I'm putting a 12 bolt, tunnel mount TA, and adj. LCA's on it in a few weeks. I just didn't know how much abuse stock aluminum driveshafts take.

CW00BlackTA

iTrader: (31)

It's a good idea. Saves weight and reduces vibration. There are some aftermarket units that will handle what you are planning.

DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

I've run a LPE 3.5" aluminum driveshaft for my current setup for almost 3 years without a problem.

Driftunit

iTrader: (5)

i thought f body cars had them from the factory?

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

my car was a auto 2.73 car and it has a steel shaft. and i wouldnt even think of replacing it with a aluminum one. they are notoriously weak

DrkPhx

iTrader: (15)

Most of the LS1 f-bodies had a 3.0" aluminum DS.

sixvi6-camaro

iTrader: (9)

A stock Al driveshaft is known to tear in half easily even with stock power levels so it would be a step down in strength to go form a stock steel one to a stock Aluminum one. I'd get some new U joints the AL one and run that. If you decide to run a stock AL one be sure you have a Saftey loop.

Here are a couple posts that I had saved of broken Stock Aluminum DS's.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/5766051-post1.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/1671588-post1.html


Nope.. any F-car that had 2.73 gears from the factory also had a Steel Driveshaft.

silverz28camaro

iTrader: (20)

do it. You can easily pick one up for $100. I had the same concerns as you did. My car was a 2.73 with the steel. I was looking into swapping in the aluminum but was worried about the strenth capabilities. First of all, all 3.23 autos and 6 speed cars have them. you see more 10 bolts failing then you do the driveshaft. The ones you do see break are the ones in 6SPEED car trying to launch at 6,000 rpm with 3.42 gears. In an auto with a stall and 3.73 gear you will have a very hard time breaking them. What i did was weigh both shafts

steel 19lbs.
alum. 13lbs.

then... i looked into who was running them

a local guy hear in stl.(shortdog) runs 1.60 60' full weight car 3.73 gear mt's, 4,000 edge stall. 11.5 @ 117 heads cam... And also runs well into the 10's with nitrous for the past 2 years.

Another guy ( he's here on the board)(02blkws6)run a 225 shot of nitrous on the aluminum shaft running low 1.5x 60's in an auto with 3.42 gears. Past 2 years (full weight car)

And i run 1.59 60' 3600 stall aluminum ds and 3.73 12 bolt. 3,300 race weight

so thats 3 cars running quick 60's on the aluminum shaft. If someone has broke one they either were running low 1.40's in a stick car or the ds was now welded right to begin with, big deal, they are only $100 on the board.

I bet you will find more t56 failures then aluminum ds failures. If you are an auto car you really don't have to worry about the aluminum shaft failing. Plus if you are worried about weight i'm sure you will do others things to reduce weight as well, that all will add up and reduce stress on your entire drive train.

I really think the aluminum ds helped out my top end after i bought the 3.73 gears, and when you do get a stall go at least 3,600. perfect for street strip.

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

hmm good info. if i can find a good deal on a aluminum shaft i might try it out to see if i see a difference

silverz28camaro

iTrader: (20)

Id say that is a good idea, plus i still have my steel one so IF i did break my aluminum piece no big deal.

when i first did my 2800 stall i ran a 12.2 @ 111.

then i did the alumin ds, another 100lbs off the car, and i adj. the shift points a little. my next pass was a 11.89 @ 114.

User(shortdog) was there that night. Thats when i saw his car run mid 11's, then i decided to do a head,cam,3600 combo.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

I have an Aluminum DS in my car. With the Auto setup I put it through about a dozen mid 1.5 60ft's before the 10-bolt blew up. I had 3.73's, Yank SS3600 Stall and it managed to pull both wheels up before the Rear blew.

crzytown69

iTrader: (17)

any one who says keep the steal DS in my opinion is silly... My car came with 2.73 so it was a steal DS had very bad vibs with the prothane mount and actually broke my tail shaft on the DYNO on the 3rd pull.... I have done a lot of reading and a major failure on the tail shafts is from the steal DS flopping like a jump rope causing vibrations.... swapped to a aluminum one wow no vibes.... Granted they are not as strong as we all would like them to be but its a good options for the average upgrades that's gonna do upgraded mounts and run the car hard.....