BAWC Forums

Driveshaft is off to swap on the aluminum driveshaft. Ready to do some electrical/sensor work now. Have to pull off the fuel line tray under the car to upgrade the lines for some high-flow E85 happiness. Still considering doing the Fuelab fuel pump and controlling the speed with the AEM EMS, but I think my Walbro E85 pump is good enough to get pretty far. I do have a Boost-a-Pump that I can put back in (had removed it to put in the drag car).

Hans - are you waiting on parts for the front-mount oil cooler? I got all the other parts, but curious how long you think that'll take.

Did you have the aluminum one made? I’ve been tempted to do that as I know it would be a lot cheaper than 3sx and a good bit of weight off of stock even if it’s not CF.


Coop

No, it is the PST aluminum/steel one from 3SX. I've seen too many broken CF driveshafts, and wanted something with a little more "give" to it, so the aluminum made sense. We'll see how it works.

In fact, a carbon fiber driveshaft failure let me beat Matt Monett on a pass at the National Gathering one year. Unfortunately, I also broke my RPS Twin Carbon clutch on that very same pass - but I did make it down the track.

Why isn’t there a 1 piece aluminum option?


Coop

Angles most likely

I dunno... Vibration? Whip? Angles at the U-joints?

The other factor is that the longer the shaft, the lower the critical rotation speed. That's the point where the shaft becomes unstable and you get a lot of vibration and the shaft can fail. Our shafts are pretty long for a one-piece, so it is probably easier to control for that with a two-piece shaft. Shorter shafts can also get away with a smaller diameter shaft because of the shorter length.

So CF gets away with a 1 but aluminum can't? Is there a 2 piece aluminum? Seems like (bobby of all people) had the front made and it was 400, don't know what 3sx charges though. I just know getting a DS made isn't all that expensive.


Coop

[quote=""mjannusch""]Driveshaft is off to swap on the aluminum driveshaft. Ready to do some electrical/sensor work now. Have to pull off the fuel line tray under the car to upgrade the lines for some high-flow E85 happiness. Still considering doing the Fuelab fuel pump and controlling the speed with the AEM EMS, but I think my Walbro E85 pump is good enough to get pretty far. I do have a Boost-a-Pump that I can put back in (had removed it to put in the drag car).

Hans - are you waiting on parts for the front-mount oil cooler? I got all the other parts, but curious how long you think that'll take.[/quote]

Cooler will ship before the end of the week.

An aluminum shaft that long would have to be like 4.5" diameter. There is just no room for something like that under there.

So it’s a size thing! At least that makes sense. So what’s the help with just going with the front?


Coop

que? no speeky your engrish

The full aluminum shaft...it’s a size thing, that makes sense.

Why would someone go with just the front aluminum? That much savings?

Coop

Replacing 2 out of 3 sections of steel driveshaft with aluminum and removing a carrier bearing. Benefits are right there.

Do you sell them hanz? If so do all venders go through the same place?


Coop

[quote=""mjannusch""]No, it is the PST aluminum/steel one from 3SX. I've seen too many broken CF driveshafts, and wanted something with a little more "give" to it, so the aluminum made sense. We'll see how it works.

In fact, a carbon fiber driveshaft failure let me beat Matt Monett on a pass at the National Gathering one year. Unfortunately, I also broke my RPS Twin Carbon clutch on that very same pass - but I did make it down the track.[/quote]

I feel like the CF shafts on the 3s break often, havent heard of it that much with other cars. Actually cf would be better than alum in most cases, the cf shaft flexes somewhat and can absorb some of the shock of a hard launch. That said, seeing two get shredded one year i went to NG, id pass on running something like that in anything but a race car lol.

I guess I should’ve said that I was looking for a little more “give” than the stock full steel driveshaft. You are right, the carbon fiber is easier on the driveline as the fiber can absorb some of the shock. The aluminum shafts can absorb a little, but not as much as the carbon. At least that’s what I got out of various articles and discussions on the subject.

That’s part of my strategy to reduce my transfercase breakage. Front LSD will try to keep more traction on the front, lighter rear driveline to help get the car off the line a little easier, 3.5L with 16Gs that should spool pretty low in the revs so I don’t have to launch quite as hard to get low 60’ times, etc.

I don’t know why but I’ve always thought you were a TX person Matt. Just now seen WI, are you planning on tracking it this year or just want to be able to Incase that spyder 1/4 mike record gets taken.


Coop

I might take it out to the dragstrip once this year once I get the AEM tuned the way I like it. It'll probably take a while for the flex fuel stuff, but I'll get it working well on the street and then just take it to the strip to see what it can do. I'm pretty sure I'll get kicked out right away, but it'll be fun. If it can't run better than 11.5 then obviously I have no idea what I'm doing and should just give it up.

I doubt the Spyder record is in any sort of jeopardy. About once a year someone says they are doing a big Spyder build to set a new record and it never happens.

Imma go for FWD record.

The record I'm looking to break is breaking transmissions though.

[quote=""DCIV""]Do you sell them hanz? If so do all venders go through the same place?


Coop[/quote]

3SX has the rights to the hybrid shafts. I used to resell 3SX parts until they restructured my discounts and now it's no longer worth me selling them unless it's for a customer car at my shop.