customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

i dont think the 3rd gen aluminum 1Le is the 4th gen aluminum shaft.

and everyone on the LS1 forums beleives the steel ones are stronger. only down side is rotational mass. i kno the stock aluminum DS are paper thin. at least the aftermarkets are really thick

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I'd like to see something more concrete than personal opinions. Anyone have a source?

JamesC

FueledSoul

iTrader: (18)

4thgen V6 cars they came with a two peace drive shafts and as far as i know all 1993 - 1997 cars have steel 2.5" diameter including the one peace drive shafts that V8 cars got there was a service bulletin put out for the 4thgen V8 cars do to terrible vibration coming from the drive shaft more then half the cars rolling off the assembly line for those model years. if your was under warranty they would replace it for free with that of a 1988 - 1992 aluminum one and in rare cases the 1984 - 1992 steel ones. GM finally fixed this problem for the 1998 model year making a 3" aluminum drive shaft standard

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

I`m not trying to be a smart *** but my previous post seems like a source of proof and not an opinion.Like I said I`m not saying the alluminum DS is stronger than steel,DOM or whatever.Just saying for your average to not so average joes hot rod it should be enough.Seen 10 bolts go bye bye with the alluninum DS and the DS was fine.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

See post #47 for what I was after. I fully agree with you that for your average joe, the OE alum shaft is plenty.

JamesC

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

i also stated that on a mostly stock to lightly modified motor the stock aluminum DS would be fine. just dont plan to build any power with one on. and thats where i also stated that paying more than 100$ for one is not a smart choice since u can get heavy duty aluminum ones for alil over 200$ now.

jensen73110

iTrader: (4)

Where...??

mpb74

the aluminum shaft i have came out of a 3rd gen trans am gta. do you guy's think it can handle 330 horsepower? it's larger in diameter than my stock shaft and it's a few pounds lighter.

antman89iroc

In real world terms- None!

An aluminum shaft is only for controling vibration.

I don't care what that dyno sheet said. They don't even "free" up any power. Yes, "IF" the drive shaft is lighter it will spool up faster and require less power to bring it up to that speed, but we're talking fractions of a percent. Furthermore, if a lighter shaft is of a larger diameter, it may even have the same "weight" in regards to the amount of power required to spin it. Think about the longer "arm" of a large diamerter tube. A heavier weight closer to the centerline can have the same inertia as a lighter weight further away.

I'm all in favor of the aluminum drive shaft. In fact I'm going to get one. But not for power, to hopefully clear up a nasty vibration at 75 after a gear change. My .02.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Not trying to argue but ur wrong. U don't need a new drive shaft to stop vibration. u need a shop that can balance it at higher rpm's. Factory they only wind them up to about 3,500. So save yourself some money if you think the rest of what you said is true, and get it balanced. Simple as that. If not you eat your own words.

antman89iroc

You have a good point about the balancing RPM. I'll check into it because that's the only advantage I see with an aluminum DS- thanks.

STRIKER911

iTrader: (1)

Cool. Hey if it saves you money then why not. I had a stang gt that had a bad vibration. Only reason i changed it for aluminum was that my stock one would have cost more to fix then getting the new one. When I had both at the same time the aluminum one seemed better. My dad has the stang now. the shaft is still going strong even with 400hp, on a 5 speed. It was a nice add on, & when I get to it, then I will put one on my 89 rs.

91 camaro rs

anyone know the actual weight difference between the stock steel one and the 4th gen or 1le aluminum DS? thanks

chevyracingrox

conservation of energy goes along with this pretty well. it takes energy to vibrate the ds. those are lost joules. so having a shaft with less vibration won't lose those joules. but its a long way from creating a horsepower.

Guro 305

I doesn't create HP it reduces PPL (parasitic power loss). They shave weight off of your car in general and the less weight makes it easier for the tranny to turn the DS and the less weight makes it easier to turn the Dif.

So although it doesn't CREATE more HP, it puts more of the stock HP to the pavement.....hence creating more HP....make sense?!

mpb74

i installed my aluminum shaft the other day. it seems to have created a little bit of a vibration but it may be all in my mind. however, when i floored the gas pedal it seemed to light the back wheel up faster in first gear and continued to smoke the tire into second.
the aliminum shaft is bigger in diameter but it weighs five pounds less than the stock shaft.

antman89iroc

Just an update on my earlier post. I had my stock steel DS re-tubed and now have no speed related vibration. Seems my stock shaft was about an inch short after I swapped over to TKO 600. The stock length shaft left about 1 1/2" of yoke showing and was "whipping" the front a bit. The new tube is probably straighter too.