Need a Driveshaft

June 14, 2022, 03:50 PM

B KING

Need a Driveshaft

I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

June 14, 2022, 04:13 PM

Mike Rietow

quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

Mark Williams,there's an even better option than 1350 u-joint.

June 14, 2022, 04:19 PM

B KING

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

Mark Williams,there's an even better option than 1350 u-joint.

OK, I'll bite; link?

Is it needed? I'm not trying to set the world on fire. The Moser pinion yoke is set-up for the 1350.

June 15, 2022, 05:50 AM

inferno camaro

Maybe give strange engineering or precision shaft technology a try if you haven't.?

June 15, 2022, 06:11 AM

434 olds

When you think about how much a steel or aluminum driveshaft cost compared to a carbon fiber driveshaft, your best bet is carbon but not only for it`s strength but it`s safety factor.

June 15, 2022, 06:57 AM

Mike Rietow

quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

Mark Williams,there's an even better option than 1350 u-joint.

OK, I'll bite; link?

Is it needed? I'm not trying to set the world on fire. The Moser pinion yoke is set-up for the 1350.

In that case no. You can order a driveshaft though. It'll be delivered to your door.

There's several options. I've always wanted a Mark Williams driveshaft.

June 15, 2022, 07:09 AM

B KING

quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

Thanks for the opinions, would I like a carbon fiber driveshaft or even a name brand driveshaft, Yes! Do I need one, I don't think so. I have to check with the driveline shop this week anyway & I'll ask them about the steel driveshaft.

June 15, 2022, 07:16 AM

Mike Rietow

quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
I ordered a chromoly driveshaft locally from a driveline shop I've been using for about 30 years. They told me the hard part would be finding the chromoly tubing. It has been a month & they haven't found any tubing yet. I have no idea if they would even recommend standard steel tubing, I guess I could ask.

Anyway, the question is, would a regular steel 3.5" driveshaft be OK with proper wall thickness, upgraded ends, & 1350 u-joints? This is for our Bracket Camaro weighing 2950 with driver, 30 x 10.5 radial slicks, powerglide, ProCharged436 SBC.

Thanks for the opinions, would I like a carbon fiber driveshaft or even a name brand driveshaft, Yes! Do I need one, I don't think so. I have to check with the driveline shop this week anyway & I'll ask them about the steel driveshaft

You'd be surprised how reasonable a Mark Williams driveshaft is.

I paid $550 for the driveshaft in the BBC split bumper Camaro, I did have it made by a local shop with a Sonnax T400 billet yoke and it was a race caliber driveshaft. But, unless your place has 1970's prices, I'd suggest comparing.

June 15, 2022, 07:34 AM

Larry Woodfin

Driveshaft tubing, which is a uniform wall thickness, mild steel, is completely acceptable for the application you describe. I have many driveshafts in service built by a local shop at a reasonable cost. I think your trusted shop with a 30-year relationship will be a good choice

June 15, 2022, 08:32 AM

Brktracer

I tend to overspend on driveshafts. Every time I've seen a driveshaft failure in 20+ years of racing it broke the transmission case too.

June 15, 2022, 09:14 AM

1320racer

I wouldn’t run a mild steel driveshaft in any real race car and I haven’t run any steel driveshaft in over 2 decades in my door cars.

June 15, 2022, 09:14 AM

B KING

Mike,

I don't have a problem with Mark Williams & I've checked their pricing; very reasonable.

Larry,

I agree, the shop I've been dealing with does excellent work. I have a deposit down on the driveshaft. If they agree I will have one done in mild steel.

Thanks,
Bryan

June 15, 2022, 09:16 AM

1320racer

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
I've always wanted a Mark Williams driveshaft.

June 15, 2022, 09:18 AM

Mike Rietow

quote:
Originally posted by 1320racer:
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
I've always wanted a Mark Williams driveshaft.

Very nice.

June 15, 2022, 09:19 AM

B KING

ED,

Thanks for the civil reply!

June 15, 2022, 09:20 AM

Mike Rietow

quote:
Originally posted by B KING:
ED,

Thanks for the civil reply!

Nice fricken unit.

June 15, 2022, 12:08 PM

Al Alguire

Here is something you might want to consider, critical speed in material and lengths for drivesahft material. These numbers can change by adjusting the wall thickness and or diameter of the shaft. AS you can see even Mark Williams will make steel shafts and for many/most folks they are sufficient. I am getting ready to order a 68 1/2" shaft and will end up with carbon as there is no other choice.

MW used to have a video on their website of my old heads up car and what critical speed can be like as the shaft begins to "whip".

June 15, 2022, 12:17 PM

Al Alguire

Here is one of the videos that will show a driveshaft exceeding critical speed. This was a 4" aluminum shaft. had a better one but its gone..BTW this was semis against Gypsy Mike RIP...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31GufKGJ4vQ&t=3s

June 15, 2022, 01:09 PM

CURTIS REED

quote:
Originally posted by Al Alguire:
Here is something you might want to consider, critical speed in material and lengths for drivesahft material. These numbers can change by adjusting the wall thickness and or diameter of the shaft. AS you can see even Mark Williams will make steel shafts and for many/most folks they are sufficient.

And if you look at this mild steel has a higher critical speed than 4130 in the same diameter. I have no idea on the wall thickness listed though.

June 15, 2022, 06:17 PM

B KING

quote:
Originally posted by Al Alguire:
Here is one of the videos that will show a driveshaft exceeding critical speed. This was a 4" aluminum shaft. had a better one but its gone..BTW this was semis against Gypsy Mike RIP...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31GufKGJ4vQ&t=3s

Al,

Thanks for all the info & vid. Cool vid, sorry for the bad results & RIP Gypsy Mike.