Custom aluminum driveshafts

[djawahir]

Has anyone on the board used custom aluminum driveshafts on their 60 or 62? There are a few manufacturer's that can do this. What do you think the improvement in gas mileage would be? Probably would see a little more power to the axles too, huh? Is it worth it? Especially seeing how gas is $2.40 a gallon...

 

[Waggoner5]

I don't think that the lessened weight of the driveshaft will do anything.
The cost of building would make it prohibitive anyway.
Gary

 

[GLTHFJ60]

If there is any aid in the MPG area, I would think that it would be minimal. They would be lighter but would probably also break more easily.

 

[djawahir]

I agree that the lessened weight won't amount to much, but it's the rotational mass that can make a difference. Just like how you lose power spinning bigger tires than you do with smaller tires.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That is definately true but a significant weight loss would be necessary to be able to feel any power gain. It might be worth a try if you broke your steel shafts, but I don't think that I'd change the ones that I have now for a set of those.

What about the square shafts? Are those lighter?

 

[Waggoner5]

The cost of having them built alone could buy a huge amount of gas. And rotational weight? We are talikng about a minute amount of difference on a 135hp straight six that rarely sees RPM over 3k. It will be cheaper to by small tires and go slow.

 

[Tinker]

An aluminum flywheel would reduce rotational mass more, but it would be ridiculous: you want the inertia to supplement your bottom-end torque. Plus then you'd need a custom crank.

 

[WSUCruiser]

You should take the driveshaft money and use it to graft a big aerodynamic nose cone onto the truck, kinda like a super-bird. It may help with mpg.
If there's any left over, make the wing too (for better traction and cool)

Dave

 

[djawahir]

I'm just one of those overanalyzing engineers that likes to squeeze the most out of everything. I can't help it, my mind just does it on it's own!

I guess my motto is something like "If it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet."

The super-bird idea is a pretty good one...I'm just mad because I didn't think of it myself.

 

[sl33py]

what would they cost?

i like the big bird option as well. don't forget a tapered tail - for reduced drag... lol

 

[sandcruiser]

shaving ounces off of the driveshafts on a cruiser for better mpg would be about the same as having Roseanne Barr get a haircut.... sure.... its *better*, but c'mon, its still a pig.

 

[djawahir]

I am sure that it would be more like lbs saved. Why do you think they make aircrafts out of aluminum instead of steel? I attached an example of an aluminum hood vs. steel hood on a truck. The weight savings is substantial. The idea isn't for us to bash each other, but to learn more about our vehicles...and provoke deep thought while drinking beer.

 

[Mace]

Airplanes are not designed with rocks in mind..


REALLY bad idea..

 

[sl33py]

slow n puzzling - (fast n furious - LC style)

I am sure that it would be more like lbs saved. Why do you think they make aircrafts out of aluminum instead of steel? I attached an example of an aluminum hood vs. steel hood on a truck. The weight savings is substantial. The idea isn't for us to bash each other, but to learn more about our vehicles...and provoke deep thought while drinking beer.

i like the beer part at least. with that rational (and your hood example) - you should get a full carbon fiber hood. that must be a delta of at least 60%... lol. and a big exhaust - one that at least a large grapefruit would fit in. then maybe some neon under it... that would be dope-a-licious.

hehehe

rob

 

[djawahir]

Someone on this site is putting velvet on the interior of their rig! To each his own I guess. I just hope that the stuff I come up with isn't more strange than the next guy.

Carbon fiber doesn't have the resiliency of Aluminum or Steel. That thing would be ruined if any rocks fell on it. My mountain bike is carbon fiber...and that is the extent of carbon fiber in my offroading vehicles.

 

[sl33py]

I was just giving you a hard time. hehehe. i thought it was funny...

i figure it all adds up. if you can go aluminum on something without a loss of durability - i say go for it. Velvet - hey to each his own is right. not my cup of tea, but maybe his girl likes it?...

rob