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Why an alum. driveshaft? #1079202 09/20/11 11:28 AM 09/20/11 11:28 AM
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 53 Neenah,Wi R rod440 OP member
rod440 OP member R Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 53 Neenah,Wi	I need to have a driveshaft made for a 440/4 speed Duster that I've been working on.What is the advantage of using aluminum instead of steel? Many newer cars & light trucks use aluminum shafts so there must something to it.I read about a dyno comparison between alum. & steel shafts & they claimed that with the alum shaft the car made 10 more HP at the wheels! I'm skeptical about this ,but if the OEM's use alum. then maybe there's something to it? Any opinions or experience on / with aluminum driveshafts?

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: rod440] #1079203 09/20/11 11:49 AM 09/20/11 11:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,046 Oregon A AndyF I Win
AndyF I Win A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 31,046 Oregon	Aluminum allows you to get a higher critical speed without adding any weight. If that doesn't make any then you probably don't need an aluminum driveshaft.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: AndyF] #1079204 09/20/11 12:16 PM 09/20/11 12:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,533 Indiana F Fury Fan master
Fury Fan master F Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,533 Indiana	I don't remember teh formulas, but weight savings from a rotating object is worth more than just the weight reduction. Meaning - 10 lbs saved on teh driveshaft removes 10 lbs from teh car, but it also is easier for the engien to spin it. As AndyF mentioned, the lighter weight allows you to make a larger-diameter/stronger shaft. By weight, aluminum is stronger than steel.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: rod440] #1079205 09/20/11 12:20 PM 09/20/11 12:20 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 893 Tustin, CA P pishta super stock
pishta super stock P Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 893 Tustin, CA	Weight and mass. Less mass equals less power to spin, less weight means the motor works less to keep the vehicle at the same speed , acceleration is also improved. Cost and manufacturing may be less with AL also. 95% of the time its the bottom line that is affected.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: rod440] #1079206 09/20/11 12:37 PM 09/20/11 12:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Good: Would save a fair amount of weight. Hype: wouldn't take 10 less horsepower to rotate it as opposed to a steel one live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: RapidRobert] #1079207 09/20/11 02:14 PM 09/20/11 02:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,074 detroit, mi POS Dakota super stock
POS Dakota super stock Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,074 detroit, mi	What about the ability to flex more before breakage? I had a driveshaft made for my truck...75.5 inch center to center between the front and rear joints. It's 5 inch diameter tube. All aluminum. it's definitely light for it's size and is supposed to be very strong. I was told it couldnt be made of chromoly, but I dont know what the reasoning was.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: POS Dakota] #1079208 09/20/11 02:32 PM 09/20/11 02:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,468 So Cal autoxcuda Too Many Posts
autoxcuda Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,468 So Cal	Quote: What about the ability to flex more before breakage? .. I remember hearing from someone on a Craftsman Truck Series team that they found their lightweight driveshafts were whipping/flexing on the chassis dyno. That flexing cost HP. So you can go too light, not cause breakage, but not gain the HP you 'think' you should.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: rod440] #1079209 09/20/11 02:57 PM 09/20/11 02:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,879 Ontario, Canada S Stanton Don't question me!
Stanton Don't question me! S Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,879 Ontario, Canada	There are loads of aluminum driveshafts kicking around in the wreckers. It would be nice to know if any use the same front and/or rear u-joints as a Mopar - then all that would be necessary would be to shorten it. Also, what diameter would be necessary to provide the same or more strength than a stocker?

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: Stanton] #1079210 09/20/11 04:01 PM 09/20/11 04:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,042 colorado S savoy64 top fuel
savoy64 top fuel S Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,042 colorado	i picked up an aluminum driveshaft from a 96? dodge van at the pickapart--had it shortened ($100) and run it under my 64---bob

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: savoy64] #1079211 09/20/11 04:29 PM 09/20/11 04:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 795 Glendale Az D Darryls-Demon super stock
Darryls-Demon super stock D Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 795 Glendale Az	The big reason I went with an alum drive shaft was cost, I found a brand new one out of a 3/4 ton ford van with new 1350 U joints on Craigslist for 50 dollars. 125.00 to have it shorted.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: rod440] #1079212 09/20/11 07:22 PM 09/20/11 07:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Why not? I called my local drive line shop and asked for prices both ways, steel and aluminum for my 71 challenger. Aluminum cost about the same as I remember or a little more. The new aluminum one does not turn down like a stocker does. Here's a picture of it. They had it ready to pickup the next day. It has fit and performed fine in my 440/6 challenger. The TTI mufflers clear too luckily.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: Challenger 1] #1079213 09/20/11 09:03 PM 09/20/11 09:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 432 Batavia,Ohio, M Moparmick mopar
Moparmick mopar M Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 432 Batavia,Ohio,	Challenger, Where did you have your aluminum shaft made? friend of mine is looking into it for his aspen

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: Challenger 1] #1079214 09/20/11 09:34 PM 09/20/11 09:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 22,696 Bitopia J jcc If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc If you can't dazzle em with diamonds.. J Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 22,696 Bitopia	Quote: The new aluminum one does not turn down like a stocker does. Here's a picture of it. It's not clear to me if you are suggesting the lack of "turn down' makes for a stronger driveshaft. i don't know, but if one used a high tech axle shaft as an example, that down turn might be an engineering plus, or just an OEM move to save money. Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: jcc] #1079215 09/20/11 09:46 PM 09/20/11 09:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: It's not clear to me if you are suggesting the lack of "turn down' makes for a stronger driveshaft. i don't know, but if one used a high tech axle shaft as an example, that down turn might be an engineering plus, or just an OEM move to save money. I was only pointing it out. I have no idea if it's best or not? When I first saw it I was worried about muffler clearance because of lack of turn down. Thinking about it I'm sure it's cheaper. I bet if I ordered steel I would have got the same thing? It fit's, it clears and don't vibrate for just 2-300 bucks in 2006 if I remember right? I would think a lighter drive shaft would be easier on trans tailshaft bushings and I'm always looking to save weight, always if I'm putting fuel in it. I bet it could handle quite a bit on the strip. Came from Cincinnat Driveline and Hydralics. Have known the owner for many years before he even started his own company from being in the truck repair business. He used to be in Northside working for someone else selling driveline stuff a long time ago. lol. Cinti driveline

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: Challenger 1] #1079216 09/20/11 11:10 PM 09/20/11 11:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 432 Batavia,Ohio, M Moparmick mopar
Moparmick mopar M Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 432 Batavia,Ohio,	Thanks for the link

Re: Why an alum. driveshaft? [Re: savoy64] #1079217 09/21/11 06:46 AM 09/21/11 06:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes... Pale_Roader Swears too much
Pale_Roader Swears too much Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,862 the frozen wastes...	Quote: i picked up an aluminum driveshaft from a 96? dodge van at the pickapart--had it shortened ($100) and run it under my 64---bob I dont suppose the yoke will just slide into my 833 no issues will it...??? Does that have the larger 7290 U-joints...??? This would make things too easy. My 70 Challenger needs a shaft...

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