For some obvious reasons, I am looking for easy ways to make my engine a little happier in the torque dept.

Currently, I am thinking of installing an aluminum drive shaft in my car.

To date, I have only done moderate research on this so I am kinda green on it.

I do know that it will reduce the mass of the shaft so the engine has more torque to provide to the rear tires, it will probably help gas milage, and it will probably not vibrate as much at higher speeds.

I am in Canada, so I'll probably have to pay an arm and a leg for one.

Do you guys have any good/bad information on this thought?
Has anyone tried it yet on a V6 engine?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Chris
- 2.8.... the.. um.... gas price eater....

 

I am looking at installing one in mine. Everything you said was right.

Even paying a pretty pennie as they go for 150+ us buxs.

It has been done. One member installed a carbon fiber shaft which is even lighter.

 

go to a junk yard, and get a used LS1 alum. shaft, it is a direct bolt in.

i dunno how much it helped in the performance arena on my , as i did it the same time i did my lightweight flywheel, and centerforce clutch. but the ls1 shafts have an elastimer (spelling) damper built into them, i can personaly verify that the drivetrian is silky smoot clear up to the 130 range

 

Hey thanks for the info.

I was talking with some friends here, and yeah going to a junkyard would be the cheapest way to get an aluminum drive shaft.

I was thinking of replacing the U-Joints as well seeing as it will be apart anyhow.

:lala:

 

The main thing it helps is the car will deliver stronger power at higher revvs in the taller gears- this is where you will notice it. Third gear now feeels seriously like I gained 10 HP and pulls smoother and stronger in the higher revs- Car use to vibrate noticibly above 3k in third or fourth and robbed power. Note that I do have a very solid mounted drivetrain- I feel more vibrations from that alone than most other people have.

It is not as noticable in first and second gears- only 4-5400 in second it shows a little- mainly 3rd and OD.

Edit: Ps- I have the CF Driveshaft

 

Redraif has an LS1 aluminum driveshaft, and we're pretty pleased with it. Unless you find a really high mileage one, the u joints should be ok.

 

Personally I always replace the U-Joints whenever I work on the drivetrain tha requires removing the driveshaft. Of course, this is given I havn't done anything to it in a while.

 

Well I bought this car used at 207,000 kms on it. The dealer didn't know much, and I have not replaced them (U-joints) since I got the car which now has 291,000 kms on it.

There is no play in the U joints now, so they likley are ok for now. But like someone said before, its probably a good precautionary measure to change them if you are removing the drive shaft.

Thanks again guys!

:hail:

 

Whats an LS1? is that off a 4th gen car? Did they put aluminum driveshafts in third gens? what years did they and will any be a direct bolt in for a v6?

 

Any driveshaft From '82 to 2002 is interchangable. Most companies will list '93-'02 applications only because catalogs are usually only generated towards the current body style- but a '93-'02 driveshaft will fit an '82-'92 car. I promise you that info is correct.

 

to the camaro tuner, the LS1 engine is the new v8 engine found in the camaro/firebird and corvette. The engine is considered a 3rd generation small block (the third evolution of the small block chevy v8) and is made of aluminum. LS1 is actually a designation code or RPO code that identifies the engine...Our cars have these too, a 2.8L is a LB8 a Tuned Port Injected 305 v8 is a LB9 a 350TPI v8 is a L98 etc etc etc....don't remember what the 3.1L is, the L03 is the 305 with Throtle Body INjection and the LG4 is the same engine but with a 4bbl carb instead...Also, while there were many engine combos in the third generation cars, the 4th gens don't have that versitlity (sp) . Instead, you have a v6 car and a v8 car...a 3.4L was used from 93-95 and a 3.8L was used in late 95-03 for the v6 models (RPO's i don't know) and a 350 was used 93-97 (RPO-LT1) and 98-03 (was a 346v8 LS1).

 

The LS1 part has already been answered, but I'll answer the rest of your question. Yes, some third gen Firebird Formulas had aluminum driveshafts, as did the 1LE cars. They, like the later aluminum driveshafts, will fit most third gens (the exceptions being the 82 4 speed cars and TH350 autos...those transmissions are shorter). They are slightly heavier than the 4th gen models. You'll find an aluminum driveshaft in all 98-02 six speed V8 F-bodies, and coccasionally in a 96 or 97 six speed V8 car (there was a service bulletin about driveline vibration, and the factory fix was an aluminum driveshaft. This was NOT factory original for the 96-97 cars). Yes, any of the above mentioned aluminum driveshafts are a direct bolt in, as long as you don't have a 4 speed or TH350.

 

Heres Redraif's driveshaft, which she hand polished with Mothers. Its now in her 87 Firebird (3.4 V6, TH700R4)