steel or aluminum driveshaft?

Jim Caughlin · 12-03-2014, 02:33 PM

Same issue with lightweight rearend parts, gundrilled axles, alum spool, lightened ring gear, no noticable improvement. On the other hand, lighter weight flywheel and clutch made a huge difference. In my case, this is a 4 cyl motor that crosses the finish line at 9200.

SSDiv6 · 12-03-2014, 02:38 PM

Some good reading on the subject:

http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...for-your-ride/

http://markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx

randy wilson · 12-04-2014, 07:35 PM

Carbo fiber. Don't know about improvements in performance, but takes the shock out of the driveline, and is way safer. Ran a 6.20 rear gear for over 100 passes at 3040# with a 5 speed.

Jim Caughlin · 12-04-2014, 08:44 PM

I agree that carbon fiber is probably better but not legal in SS.

Nathan Stinson · 12-05-2014, 11:01 AM

I see a few comments about durability concerns with aluminum. Maybe I have been lucky but I have ran a Dynatec aluminum shaft for several season in my car. 3350lbs run 1.11 60' and have not had any issues at all. I do agree that the performance gains were minimal at best compared to a chromemoly shaft.

1320racer · 12-07-2014, 09:16 PM

Swapped the stock 3" driveshaft in my 3880 lb. Chevelle back in '99 for a 3 1/2" MMC driveshaft from Denny's, worth .04 in the 1/4. Put thousands of passes on that driveshaft without issue or failure and it's still in the car today. Ran a best of 1.28 60 foot with it and well into the 9's.

Further, my 3144 lb. MPR Firebird has a 4" aluminum driveshaft and has been 1,17 60 foot and well into the 8's also without issue or failure.

Jim Kaekel · 12-08-2014, 01:15 PM

I really think it depends on the application. I swapped a steel for an aluminum driveshaft at the track for a back-to-back comparison and gained absolutely nothing. The added bummer was that they were checking driveshafts at that very race. They wound up banning them at the end of that year in Stock Eliminator, unless they were OEM for the particular car.

flash · 12-09-2014, 09:56 AM

can anybody see a reaction time difference with changing to light weight driveline componets ? I would think it would be very small if you could gauge it at all.

SSDiv6 · 12-09-2014, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flash

can anybody see a reaction time difference with changing to light weight driveline componets ? I would think it would be very small if you could gauge it at all.

Like it has been shared on this discussion by many, there are lots of variables involved. One of the main gains that many have seen is switching to lighter rear wheels.

Ed Wright · 12-09-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Like it has been shared on this discussion by many, there are lots of variables involved. One of the main gains that many have seen is switching to lighter rear wheels.

Yeppers, or rear tires.

12-03-2014, 02:33 PM	#1
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 680 Likes: 77 Liked 789 Times in 241 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Same issue with lightweight rearend parts, gundrilled axles, alum spool, lightened ring gear, no noticable improvement. On the other hand, lighter weight flywheel and clutch made a huge difference. In my case, this is a 4 cyl motor that crosses the finish line at 9200.

12-03-2014, 02:38 PM	#2
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,036 Likes: 710 Liked 1,538 Times in 575 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Some good reading on the subject: http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...for-your-ride/ http://markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx

12-04-2014, 07:35 PM	#3
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Carbo fiber. Don't know about improvements in performance, but takes the shock out of the driveline, and is way safer. Ran a 6.20 rear gear for over 100 passes at 3040# with a 5 speed. __________________ don,t have one

12-04-2014, 08:44 PM	#4
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 680 Likes: 77 Liked 789 Times in 241 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I agree that carbon fiber is probably better but not legal in SS.

12-05-2014, 11:01 AM	#5
Nathan Stinson Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 114 Likes: 29 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I see a few comments about durability concerns with aluminum. Maybe I have been lucky but I have ran a Dynatec aluminum shaft for several season in my car. 3350lbs run 1.11 60' and have not had any issues at all. I do agree that the performance gains were minimal at best compared to a chromemoly shaft.

12-07-2014, 09:16 PM	#6
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Swapped the stock 3" driveshaft in my 3880 lb. Chevelle back in '99 for a 3 1/2" MMC driveshaft from Denny's, worth .04 in the 1/4. Put thousands of passes on that driveshaft without issue or failure and it's still in the car today. Ran a best of 1.28 60 foot with it and well into the 9's. Further, my 3144 lb. MPR Firebird has a 4" aluminum driveshaft and has been 1,17 60 foot and well into the 8's also without issue or failure. Last edited by 1320racer; 12-07-2014 at 09:34 PM.

12-08-2014, 01:15 PM	#7
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,226 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I really think it depends on the application. I swapped a steel for an aluminum driveshaft at the track for a back-to-back comparison and gained absolutely nothing. The added bummer was that they were checking driveshafts at that very race. They wound up banning them at the end of that year in Stock Eliminator, unless they were OEM for the particular car. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

12-09-2014, 09:56 AM	#8
flash Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 89 Likes: 1 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? can anybody see a reaction time difference with changing to light weight driveline componets ? I would think it would be very small if you could gauge it at all.