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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: TimeWarpF100 on September 06, 2014, 05:22:50 PM

Title: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 06, 2014, 05:22:50 PM
I need to order a driveshaft for my '66 F100 482

Who do the members here use?

Thinking on a aluminum one
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: afret on September 06, 2014, 06:17:06 PM
If you like aluminum, MW makes nice ones:

http://markwilliams.com/driveshafts.aspx

If steel, Strange is good.

http://www.strangeengineering.net/high-performance-street/driveshafts-components/driveshafts.html
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Drew Pojedinec on September 06, 2014, 06:31:21 PM
I used inland empire
4inch aluminum, 1350 yokes, etc.
Freakin love it.  Nice folks there too, i told them what I needed, they had helpful suggestions, etc.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: troublemaker427 on September 06, 2014, 08:46:10 PM
Dynotech is in all of our cars.  Good price too...
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: chilly460 on September 08, 2014, 09:53:57 AM
http://shaftmasters.com/

Much cheaper than others, use Alcoa aluminum and Spicer yokes so they don't cheap out on materials.  Mine arrived in under two weeks from time of ordering.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Joe-JDC on September 08, 2014, 12:26:51 PM
Where are you located?  That would determine my answer.  Joe-JDC
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 08, 2014, 01:30:10 PM
Thanks to all for reply's so far.

I am in Phoenix AZ Metro area, far north side
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Barry_R on September 08, 2014, 01:43:42 PM
Dynatech here too

Local to me here
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: fe66comet on September 08, 2014, 04:11:16 PM
On the aluminum shafts, how much hp is supported? It appears there are 3",3.5" and 4" in diameter. I wonder at what point a 4130 steel shaft becomes necessary.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 08, 2014, 04:29:35 PM
On the aluminum shafts, how much hp is supported? It appears there are 3",3.5" and 4" in diameter. I wonder at what point a 4130 steel shaft becomes necessary.

I have made some calls to different places suggested.

I was told at my HP level a 3" chromemoly would be fine

If I went to a aluminum it would need to be a 3.5". the weight savings to 3.5 Alum from 3" steel would be approx 20%

I did not ask at what level the Steel would need to be used. By the sounds of it the larger aluminum will hold a lot of HP. Way over and above of what my 482 will produce.

I was also told I should step up to a 1350 pinion yoke.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 08, 2014, 04:37:55 PM
DynoTech was closed when I called or at least no answer.

So far:

Inland Empire is 324.00 for a 3" Steel & 415.00 for a 3.5 ALum

That is using my 1350 trans yoke

MW quoted  429.00 for the 3" chromoly & 559.00 for the 3.5" Aluminum

Both for estimated length of 49"

When I started this build I re-used my stock 28 spline axles and yoke in the 9"
I did add a Yukon posi

So looks like the next week link will be the center section.

MW quoted me 606.00 for a pair of axles and 1890.00 for a "N" case unit complete.
I flat out do not have the $$ for either.

Once I am doing the driveshaft I have to make sure it will hold the power and then plan on doing center once I see how many hidden $$ are required to get truck on road. At least I can drive it with current axle if I take it easy..

I have another '66 F100 416 FE project waiting (back burner) I can use the current center and axles for.

Looks like its time I start to unload some not needed parts . . .

Edit add:

Spoke with Strange

They quoted 319.00 for a Chromoly 3"  They do not do Aluminum shafts

They did say the 3" shaft they do there are people running 2000 HP with that shaft

So far all 3 places have been very helpful. I would give them all a A+

I will call DynoTech in morning or wait for a return call before I bite the bullet and order one.

Wait times have been from 48hrs to a week & 1/2
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Richard F on September 08, 2014, 04:40:43 PM
What is the advantage of alum vs steel?
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 08, 2014, 04:43:17 PM
weight

Some may have a preference for "looks"  Kinda like I do

A lot of OEM stuff is going aluminum
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Richard F on September 08, 2014, 04:51:07 PM
Is it just static weight or spinning weight? 
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: fe66comet on September 08, 2014, 04:55:11 PM
It also saves weight at the most critical point, that is rotating mass. A lighter shaft is easier to accelerate and decelerate.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Richard F on September 08, 2014, 05:00:03 PM
Thanks for the info...always willing to learn something new.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: Joe-JDC on September 08, 2014, 05:18:38 PM
Steel is quieter, and less prone to damage from scrapes from mufflers/exhaust pipes, etc.  By using a smaller diameter the balance seems to be better long term, and less harmonic vibration, especially for a truck.  I had lots of problems with my aluminum driveshaft in my F-150.  It wanted to flex as hit different rpms.  It was huge, also at 4".  Unless you alsolutely need to save the weight, I would suggest a steel driveshaft for long term usage.  Joe-JDC
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: fe66comet on September 08, 2014, 05:36:37 PM
Vibration is caused by the loading and unloading of the shaft. In extreme cases the shaft will twist or bow, this makes uncontrolled harmonics at different speeds and can happen in doth aluminum and steel shafts. I have actually twisted a steel shaft into a screw where the tube is convoluted and the yokes made a full turn out of phase. Just plain too much torsional load for the tube in question.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 10, 2014, 12:53:20 PM
DynoTech returned call

These are all for Chromoly shafts

DynoTech                                400.00  They said a 3.5" shaft vs 3.0" of the 3 others

Inland Empire                           324.00 vs 415.00 For 3.5" ALum

Mark Williams                           429.00 vs 559.00 for 3.5" Alum

Strange                                    319.00  they do not do Alum

Thanks to all who gave input!

I just need to figure out which place to go with and get it ordered.
Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: TimeWarpF100 on September 10, 2014, 03:30:52 PM
Wondering why there was such a large diff in pricing I called each one back. Gave same specifics

Even though I asked for Chromoly to each vendor the only one who gave pricing for Chromoly was MW. The reason they were higher cost.

Turns out the others gave pricing for a replacement mild steel shaft.

So back to the drawing board to which one I chose.

A few years back when I was going to order the place said since I was planning on going to a 1350 yoke they would ship me that so I could get exact measurments.

Of course the yoke is now a 145.00 item and I cannot find it! Go figure . . .

About the time I thought I had a decision made its time to start all over .

I had planned on going with the 3" Chromoly but now not sure.

Title: Re: Best place to buy custom driveshaft for my 66 482 Truck project
Post by: afret on September 11, 2014, 06:57:09 PM
You might consider the length of the driveshaft and the material and diameter of shaft required for that length.  Read the part about critical speed by MW:

http://markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx