I got the latset issue of summit's catalog and saw an aluminum driveshaft for 82-00 f bods. It's made by Inland Empire Driveline on page 162. Is this a quality piece and is this even worth it? Thanks in advance

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84 Z28 L69. 5 speed with 3.73 posi (broken)Ported heads, intake, 10:1 comp. 230/230 .480 lift cam @.050" w/108 LSA

Triumph Spitfire SCCA roadracer. 1.1 liter 4cyl w/ 14:1 comp.
turns on rails!

 

Yeah, I saw that too.Haven't heard of the company, but it seems like about the same price as the factory optional aluminum driveshaft.Anybody bought one of these?
I'm curious about them myself.
-Rich-

 

I don't know about the quality of that one, but you can usually find AL driveshafts for like $150-160 in the classifieds (JamesC) off 4th gens that will work in our cars.

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90 IROC 5.7l (L98)

LIKE A ROC

The Camaro Pit Stop

 

I have an Inland Empire aluminum shaft in my car. It is a very nice piece and I am happy with it. The quality of it seems very nice. I bought it a while back more for some high speed vibration issues with my steel OEM shaft, but it is supposed to be very strong as well. I have forgotten what kind of torque it is rated to, but I recall it being fairly high for an aluminum shaft - plus it comes with the Heavy Duty Spicer U-joints.

Also, just some FYI for ya'll, I spoke with some representatives of Inland Empire at the Car Craft Summer Cruise here in St. Paul when it came around, and they also make heavy duty steel drive shafts that are extremey strong, as well as carbon fiber shafts.

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1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

Cool, i have a little high speed vibration and want to cure that, the additional power freed up with the lighter shaft is just icing on the cake.

 

If you have a GM dealer account you could get an aluminum driveshaft from GM (made by dana corp) for about $220-$250. I'm sure the strength and materails are comparable. If your engine makes or is going to make massive amounts of power, get a chromoly driveshaft.

I replaced my steel driveshaft due to vibrations and age. No differences in 1/4 mile times.

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Hybrid Black 5.7L 5 Speed
'95 Competition Yellow Corvette Coupe ZF6

 

Once again, there is little to no power gain when switching from a steel driveshaft to an aluminum driveshaft.

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355 c.i.
Dart 180 Heads
Lunati 224/224 cam
Harland Sharp 1.5 rockers
Performer RPM Manifold
Holley 600 cfm double pumper
Hooker Super Competition Headers
Flowmaster Exhaust
Competition Engineering Sub-frame connectors
Tremec TKO
Pro 5.0 Shifter
GM posi 3.42 rear
Hurst Roll Control
13.9@102
http://www.geocities.com/thetpiguy/index.html
chemjoker@aol.com

 

Why is there no power gain? It's lighter right? This seems like there would be less for the engine to turn. Just curious

 

less rotating mass does "free up" some HP, u should see 5 - 8 hp at the back tires depending upon motor/tranny combo, but where a balanced aluminum drive shaft shines, is the fact that it's SAFER at top speeds (200mph capable) due to no vibration. The stock steel shaft will vibrate like hell at 135mph (trust me)!! I had the factory shaft turned and spun balanced. I now can do 150 or so with alot less vibes than before, but vibration is still there. It will be even better with the aluminum shaft that I'm gettting.

 

Do all aluminum ones come with vibration dampners? Or is it just the 4th gen ones?

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White '88 RS (originally 2.8)
Previous engine-350, .040 over, vette alum. L98s, stock tpi, stock 305 injectors & chip. TES headers & edelbrock cat back. 3.73 gears, 700r4.
Best with 2.8-17.4@77mph
Best with 305-15.0@93mph
Best with 357-13.7@101mph
on a 2.050 60 ft.
(Damn the 2.8!)
New Setup:
4 bolt 357 (10.2:1), AFR 190s (fully cnc ported), LT4 Hot cam (1.6 RRs), Ported SuperRam (upper&lower), Ed Wright custom chip, 24# Accel injectors, Yank 3200 lock-up TC, 3.27 9 bolt rear, some traction! Hoping to see some 12s.

 

The thirdgen shaft has no vibration dampener. For more info on the alum shaft, see the FACs on this site.

JamesC

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I've been drooling over a composite driveshaft.

http://www.acpt.com/driveshaft/index.html

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Bill Rockhold
92 Camaro RS, 305 TBI M5
SCCA Solo2

 

Keep in mind that you CAN use a fourth gen drive shaft in our cars!!! 1985-2002 drive shafts will all work with each other.

 

5-8 rear wheel HP from adding an Al driveshaft? My a ss. Must I calculate this? I thought that 1le driveshaft was only 160 bucks??

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1991 Firebird
350 L98 (was a 305 TBI),T-5,Edelbrock TES and cat back,Accel manifold
NOS,subframes,jegster torque arm,MSD Digital 6
AFPR,Lakewood lcas
Hurst linelock,SLP cam (206 212 .480 .486),relocated battery,cold air,Hypertech chip,centerforce df,clutch
poly bushings and mounts
AFR 190s
Harland sharp 1.5 rockers
autopower rollbar

12.33 @ 114.83 juiced uncorrected

13.510 @ 102 non juiced uncorrected

 

Will a fourth gen shaft work on my 84?

 

If you have a 700r4 or a T-5, a 4th gen shaft will work in an '84. If you have a th350, I dont know if it will work. Yes, the 1LE driveshaft IS aluminum and will work the same in '85-2002 camaros/firebirds. HOWEVER, I personally wouldnt want to take the chance of buying and installing a used 1LE driveshaft or any used shaft for that matter. If you top the car out alot, you wouldnt want to take the risk of vibration etc... especially at high speeds. AND, it was Horse Power TV that proved a gain using an aluminum shaft compared to the stock shaft (on the dyno), I cant remember what kind they used, but they did say a gain of 5 - 8hp at the back wheels due to less rotating mass etc... Most people will not feel this gain, but when you add it all up with all the rest of the bolt-ons, it makes a difference. Just my $.02

 

Thanks all for the good info! I think a new GM shaft is the way to go.

 

I believe http://www.ws6.com has a dyno chart comparing the steel to the Al d/s. It was an ave. torque gain of approx 5ft-lbs.

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-Justin-

T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 5/30/01)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited December 08, 2001).]

 

Well, the HP gain depends on the rate of change in rpm of the shaft. So, those numbers can be really biased.