HOME FORUM RULES CONTACT
     
   
   

Go Back   CLASS RACER FORUM > Class Racer Forums > Stock and Super Stock Tech


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-22-2010, 04:13 AM   #1
Ed Carpenter
Live Reporter
 
Ed Carpenter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Dripping Springs, Tx
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 185
Liked 502 Times in 125 Posts
Default Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

What if any performance gain would there be going to an aluminum driveshaft. I always weigh the cost vs performance gain before buying anything. If 400.00 is going to get you .01 to .02 on the track then forget it. I race on a budjet I have to make smart purchases. Thanks. Ed
__________________
Ed Carpenter
2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM
Race Engine Development
Ed Carpenter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 08:09 AM   #2
richie 2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 909
Likes: 307
Liked 147 Times in 67 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

X 2...
richie 2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Liked
Old 11-22-2010, 09:10 AM   #3
Woodro Josey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

ED I doubt you would even see that, save your money as far as i can tell!
__________________
Woodro Josey 2002 STK
Woodro Josey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 10:07 AM   #4
jmcarter
VIP Member
 
jmcarter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA)
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 1,958
Liked 2,665 Times in 851 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodro Josey View Post
ED I doubt you would even see that, save your money as far as i can tell!
Agree with Woodro, not worth the extra $ unless you're after a contingency posting from manufacturer who only pays for the 'premium' series. If it was me I'd rather buy a component proven to yield results (i.e. chiller).
__________________
Jim Carter
2340 Super Stock
2340 SST/2340 Stock
jmcarter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 03:31 PM   #5
Tom Turner
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lake Tapps, Washington
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

I ran a pretty comprehensive back to back test in a pretty good stocker (96 Corvette) Results? zero performance gain. The aluminum unit is lighter so if you are a proponent of movable ballast, that is a plus.
Tom Turner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 05:10 PM   #6
Jeff Lee
VIP Member
 
Jeff Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Anthem, Arizona
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

Kip Martin with his 289/210 SS/L broke his aluminum one last year. Borrowed a steel one for the remainder of the race. He said it felt like a slug in high gear. I know it lost a few MPH but don't remember the ET loss, if any. Once he put a new aluminum back in, it was back to it's normal self.
I think a lot of questions need to be more directed at "what you got" and not with blanket statements. 5-speeds seem important to little engines over 4-speeds, same with light-weight parts like wheels & drive shafts.
I have all sorts of light parts. Has it helped set records? Probably. Can't complain about 10.50's in D/S and that's not a little engine.
If I had a 327 like yours, I wouldn't hesitate; 327 is probably about borderline on little engines with 350+ taking over from there.
I do understand budgets though! Could you borrow one?
__________________
Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX
Jeff Lee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 05:12 PM   #7
Jeff Lee
VIP Member
 
Jeff Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Anthem, Arizona
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Turner View Post
I ran a pretty comprehensive back to back test in a pretty good stocker (96 Corvette) Results? zero performance gain. The aluminum unit is lighter so if you are a proponent of movable ballast, that is a plus.
And I'll bet a 'Vette has a pretty short length drive shaft w/ a 97" WB so it's hard to compare to the average 108"-112" WB.
__________________
Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX
Jeff Lee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 09:37 PM   #8
Tom Turner
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lake Tapps, Washington
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

Jeff; Not wishing to appear ignorant in the eyes of a guy who claims to be able to make a Rambler aproach warp speed in 1320ft I will admit to having a "short shaft". That being said; I ran an aluminum unit it my 90 Camaro as well with the same end result. I have heard ET gains of up to a tenth with aluminum driveshafts so perhaps you are correct to say that it probably has a lot to do with combinations: a clutch, manual trans and a "short stroke" It makes sense to me that all these guys didnt imagine the performance gains. Any component that reduces rotational mass or unsprung weight is worth consideration in my book and dont feel like the Lone Ranger if you have lost your "budget"; most of us suffer from the very same affliction. Agreeing with Jeff Lee??? Not bad, I do feel.............well.........a little slutty, but a shower will probably help. TT
Tom Turner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 10:52 PM   #9
b.guggenmos
Junior Member
 
b.guggenmos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 68
Likes: 9
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

I am just a bracket racer but this subject has always interested me. I have a 65 Comet with a 351C and a 4 speed with a 5:14 gear and a M/T 28x9 tire. I used a 3 1/2" .065 mild steel shaft for over 20 years with no problems. I accidently damaged by denting it so it was time for a replacement. It is 57" center to center.

I called Mark Williams first and they said that according to there critical speed chart I needed a 4" aluminum or carbon fiber shaft. This is a mid 11 second car.
I then called Inland Empire, PST, and several others and I had no two shops agree and what is required. I looked at several critical speed charts online and Mark Williams seemed the most conservative.

I ended up with a 3" Strange chrome moly but I still like the idea of an aluminum shaft. It seems like a good place to loose some rotational weight.

I really enjoy your site and I am anxious to see the results of this thread. Brian
b.guggenmos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2010, 11:52 PM   #10
Mike Graham
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 385
Likes: 1
Liked 299 Times in 56 Posts
Default Re: Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft

I tested steel vs al in my SS big block ford. Same day back to back. A-B-A
I gained zip. zero ,nada
Mike Graham is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.