anyone have any good or bad experiences with any brand of alluminum driveshaft? i'm looking to upgrade the stock one on my 305/t-5 setup.

 

Why new? Alum shafts are advertised regularly in the classifieds. IIRC, there's one there now.

JamesC

 

Best price/performance would be a Used Camaro/Firebird LS1 (98-2002) driveshaft.. They are a perfect fit, balanced for hi-speed, and strong enough for any 305. Check your local yards, or the many LSx focused internet forum classifieds..

 

Will the aluminum driveshaft out of the LS1 fit a 305 TPI with an auto tranny?
Do they all have aluminum driveshafts if they have the LS1?

 

If the auto tranny is a 700R4, then yes it should fit. I got one from a 98 TA and it fit my T5 just fine. All the 98-02 LS1's got aluminum driveshafts. Stay away from V-6 driveshafts from the same era - they're 2 piece steel and not compatible with thirdgens AFAIK...

 

Yes.

JamesC

 

The LS1 A4s are called 4l60e's, but output compatible with the 700R4. The same driveshaft for any (A4 or M6) LS1 4thgen will work in the 3rdgens (A4 or M5 or M6).

 

Thanks for the info to all who replied. I will search the boneyards.

 

I checked the local pontiac dealer and they have 2 listings for the ls1 driveshaft. The only difference between the two is that one has 3.23 rear and the other has no ratio listed. I called the local boneyard and they also wanted to know if the car had 3.23 rear or not.

Has anyone run into this?

 

Not sure about the rear ratio difference, or why it should matter..

The piece you're looking for is GM# 12564004

(Dang, I just noticed they want $333 for one on GMPartsDirect now!! I remember buying my first one for $178.... wow)

 

The shaft is the same length regardless of gear ratio or transmission. A GM parts man once told me that the so-called 1LE shaft wouldn't fit a manual trans--this after I'd sold more than 60 of them.

JamesC

 

Maybe the numerically higher ratio is balanced better. Or maybe the other number is for the 2 piece 6 cyl shaft?

That 4004 number is the one for the 3.23/3.42 ratio shaft. If noone has run into this before, then i won't worry about it. As long as when i go to pick it up, it's aluminum opposed to the steel 2 piece, i should get it, correct?

 

Yes.

JamesC

 

Thanks