Aluminum prop shaft?

[h20hamelan]

Working on a T5 conversion for the +2, considering what needs to be done.
If I need to change the propellor shaft, would I not use aluminium. (Ford Aerostar fits my Volvos nicely)

https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c3_alu ... hafts.html

I am sure there are others, MG owners seem use these people.

[msd1107]

You can also get carbon fiber drive shafts. Circle track racers use them.

[h20hamelan]

The carbons are a bit more money, actually, about 4x more.

Pirated info

What's the Difference Between Carbon Fiber and Aluminum?

When it comes to building strong and light parts inexpensively, aluminum is a great choice. It’s an economic and stiff material that many performance parts are made of. With recent developments, however, more and more parts are being made out of an even lighter material: carbon fiber. While carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum, it’s also much more expensive.

Steel driveshafts are stock for noise and vibration dampening
Light weight alternatives “free up horsepower” by letting the engine rev faster
Aluminum driveshafts can drop about ten pounds from your “Lotus”
Aluminum driveshafts are significantly cheaper than their carbon cousins
Carbon fiber driveshafts are stronger than aluminum and produce less noise
Carbon fiber is also safer to run because when aluminum fails it shatters whereas carbon fiber shears

[2cams70]

I think some cars mainly use Aluminium driveshafts in order to change the natural frequency of vibration so that it occurs outside the operating speed range of the shaft for improved NVH.

[benymazz]

Bumping this thread as I was thinking about having a custom aluminum driveshaft (propshaft) made for my S2, in the pursuit of adding lightness of course. Has anyone done it? I assume space could be a concern as I would guess an Al shaft will be a larger diameter but I think there should be enough room in the tunnel for it.

-Ben

[h20hamelan]

I could measure one from an Aerostar, i am sure it will fit.

[bitsobrits]

While there is plenty of room in the tunnel itself for a larger diameter driveshaft, because the front flange of the differential is not centered along the tunnel centerline (it's offset a bit toward vehicle right) and therefore the driveshaft runs at a slight angle through the tunnel, you could run into interference with the rearmost bulkhead in the tunnel.

[h20hamelan]

wonder if carbon is the way forward

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Carbon-F ... 71359.html

[nmauduit]

wonder if carbon is the way forward

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Carbon-F ... 71359.html

this certainly looks interesting, though I suppose they quote their minimum length U-joint (Spicer 1310) center to center: would their minimum length of 28" allow for accomodating an elan (4 speed gearbox)?

In any case, I would be interested in finding out the first hand experience of anyone having gone that route (carbon or alloy)

[gherlt]

Me too. Looks very interesting

[redhatman]

I have a new custom made steel propshaft from a cancelled project for a T5 gearbox to a Elan diff if interested,

Regards

Redhatman

[gherlt]

I am interested more in the weight reduction than the strength.

[h20hamelan]

I have a new custom made steel propshaft from a cancelled project for a T5 gearbox to a Elan diff if interested,

Regards

Redhatman

Question, what happened, did you have an extra driveshaft made? Or liked the 4speed better, speedo? Do tell more please!