i have recently obtained a 4" aluminium driveshaft out of a 93' model 1500 pickup. my question is i am concidering having it cut to length and use it in my 91' z28. the car is going to have a 406ci with about 470 hp/700r4 combo with a precision industries converter w/ about 3200 stall. will it hold up? i can get it cut and balanced for around 65.00, and thats a lot more appealing to me then the 300.00+ price tag on an after market 3" or 3.5" shaft.

 

Stupid question, but are you sure its alum? I dont recal the pickups going alum until 2nd generation Vortecs (as an option).

If it were up to me I wouldnt use it. Just get an LS1/LT1 shaft that is already balanced. Shouldnt be much more than 150 bucks for everything.

 

My dad had one of these in his '95 1500 its aluminium wrapped in fiberglass and definately longer than you probably want.
Note, he snaped that driveshaft factory drivetrain.

 

If you plan on making that much power and having your car hook up well you might want to look into a chrome molly driveshaft.( i think thats what they are)

Aluminum might not hold up to the hard launches and may twist. I know theres atleast one member on the board who twisted his aluminum driveshaft.

 

i think most people know the diff. between aluminum and other meatals. having been a welder for many years i feel pretty safe in the reguards to what type of metal it is. other then that i may have not stated the question properly. i know without knowing the wall thickness its going to be hard to say for sure, but will the 4" aluminum shaft hold up better then one of a smaller diameter? that was what i was really wondering.

 

I would think the 4" would hold up a little better but I think it would depend on the wall thickness of the metal also. For the hassle I dont think its worth it because you could get a 4th gen aluminum driveshaft and I think thats like 3.5". I doubt a 4" would hold upto that much more power compared to the smaller ones though.