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Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? #214349 02/04/09 10:16 PM 02/04/09 10:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,144 Arkansas 340727dart OP master
340727dart OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 8,144 Arkansas	I am just about done with the automatic to four-speed conversion in my Dart. I called a local driveshaft shop today to check on costs. A steel driveshaft with new solid U-joints, and balanced, runs $225. An aluminum driveshaft costs $325. I understand that for racing purposes an aluminum driveshaft is more desirable because of the lower rotating weight. But, is the added cost really worth it on a 100% street driven car? Your life is not my fault. My life is none of your business. Speech is free only if you agree with those in control.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214350 02/04/09 10:19 PM 02/04/09 10:19 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	my dodge dakota has an aluminum shaft from the factory. it's definitly a street driven vehicle! 4.7L quad cab, 2wd pick-up truck. fast, this truck is not! Photobucket sucks

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 70Cuda383] #214351 02/04/09 10:33 PM 02/04/09 10:33 PM
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 12,395 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY Dragula I Live Here
Dragula I Live Here Joined: May 2004 Posts: 12,395 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY	Remember that an aluminum shaft for the same HP is BIGGER in diameter. You can't stay at the same diameter alum vs steel...By the way, mine was over $800 '70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9) '66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage '71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214352 02/04/09 11:01 PM 02/04/09 11:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,184 Park Forest, IL slantzilla Too Many Posts
slantzilla Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,184 Park Forest, IL	Quote: But, is the added cost really worth it on a 100% street driven car? Not unless you really, really, don't need the extra $100 for anything else. "Everybody funny, now you funny too."

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: slantzilla] #214353 02/05/09 01:31 AM 02/05/09 01:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md 3 383man Too Many Posts
383man Too Many Posts 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md	On my budget it was not worth it as I went with a mild steel shaft in my 63. So far i'ts been fine. Ron

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214354 02/05/09 02:38 AM 02/05/09 02:38 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: But, is the added cost really worth it on a 100% street driven car? I think it'd be similar to the weight reduction by going from an iron water pump or master cyl to an aluminum one(but more). It all adds up. With the compact mass of a driveshaft I dont think you would feel any gain from the decrease in rotating weight though live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214355 02/05/09 08:56 AM 02/05/09 08:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,840 The Swamp S Sixpak master
Sixpak master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,840 The Swamp	Quote: I am just about done with the automatic to four-speed conversion in my Dart. I called a local driveshaft shop today to check on costs. A steel driveshaft with new solid U-joints, and balanced, runs $225. An aluminum driveshaft costs $325. I understand that for racing purposes an aluminum driveshaft is more desirable because of the lower rotating weight. But, is the added cost really worth it on a 100% street driven car? Nope...someone on the race board just did this swap. I think they lost 1 - 2 pounds, tops.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: Sixpak] #214356 02/05/09 10:45 AM 02/05/09 10:45 AM
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 12,395 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY Dragula I Live Here
Dragula I Live Here Joined: May 2004 Posts: 12,395 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY	Mine was 6lbs lighter, but again, so was my wallet! I purchased the stainless yoke as well, and I put a forged one on the dana. I wanted it all bullet proof because when a drive shaft goes kaboom, so does your trans, floor boards, and sometimes the rear yoke and pinion... '70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9) '66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage '71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: Dragula] #214357 02/05/09 11:13 AM 02/05/09 11:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,791 Hamilton, Ontario Canada Magnum master
Magnum master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,791 Hamilton, Ontario Canada	There are many different levels of steel driveshaft and aluminum driveshaft in terms of quality. For example the top level of driveshaft for nitrous racing from Denny's driveshafts is a steel shaft. On the street the quality is of less importance and but if can get an aluminum shaft for an extra $100 over a new steel. I'd do it, even for a driver. If I already had perfectly good, functioning steel shaft. I would never bother to change it. 69 Super Bee, 93 Mustang LX, 04 Allure Super

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: Magnum] #214358 02/05/09 08:59 PM 02/05/09 08:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA BSB67 master
BSB67 master Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA	Quote: On the street the quality is of less importance and but if can get an aluminum shaft for an extra $100 over a new steel. I'd do it, even for a driver. If I already had perfectly good, functioning steel shaft. I would never bother to change it.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214359 02/05/09 09:08 PM 02/05/09 09:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL G goldmember master
goldmember master G Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL	While you can measure the performance loss with a heavy shaft on the track(I have),the long term reliability of steel is the way to go for most apps. Strange Engineering has some good pricing on cromoly shafts if you want a potential upgrade.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost?? [Re: goldmember] #214360 02/06/09 08:23 AM 02/06/09 08:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394 Q Quicktree I Win
Quicktree I Win Q Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,394	there is 3-4#s difference in weight. anytime you can loose that much of rotating mass it's a plus imo. more than just the weight itself. call dynotech the 3.5" aluminum is very reasonable compared to the steel shafts. and it's only 1/4" bigger on each side.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost?? [Re: Quicktree] #214361 02/06/09 08:09 PM 02/06/09 08:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL G goldmember master
goldmember master G Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 4,501 Gainesville,FL	I don't need a new shaft Qtree,mine is just fine.I also stated that yes you can measure the on track difference and I have.

Re: Aluminum driveshaft on the street, worth the cost??? [Re: 340727dart] #214362 02/08/09 10:26 PM 02/08/09 10:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,488 Annapolis, MD, USA V Vert master
Vert master V Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,488 Annapolis, MD, USA	There are lots of oem driveshafts on Ebay. How bout a bargain unit with new ends welded on. Vert > [img]http://i.imgur.com/JHXmM.jpg[/img]71 Barracuda vert[/url] \| Hemi idling on dyno \| Hemi Dyno pull

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