Scottie-GNZ Posted July 1, 2002 Share Posted July 1, 2002 Please, make these never-ending modifications STOP!! IRS is back together after replacing aluminum halfshafts with steel ones and replacing poly bushings in the trailing arms with stock bushings. I started to hear a light clunk on easy take-offs and when coming to a stop. Was little mystified that the Spicer u-joints were already shot. Turned out that one of the holes in the yoke (also aluminum) got out of round and the joint cap was moving around in there. Once that happens, the soft aluminum just gives in. Couple of Vette racers told me they experienced this with smallblocks that drop the hammer hard with manuals and with the massive torque of the bigblocks. I decided to go with 3" steel axles and yokes, only an aditional $140+ for the pair over narrowing and balancing a spare stocker. Chances are it would happen again. I went poly bushings wherever I could, but the ones in the trailings arms, combined with 275s with short, stiff sidewalls, were loosening up my dentures whenever I hit a square edge in the road. Just getting old, I guess. Getting? Now waiting for my esteemed CRAFTSMAN to complete the hub mod and adaptor to fit the 5-lugs and 12" brakes. Amazing puny the 3" od axle looks next to the 3.5" od stocker. They are heavier, but being only 16.5" on-center and such a narrow rotating mass, I am not concerned. I am more concerned about that 45lb converter hanging on the back of the crank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted July 1, 2002 Share Posted July 1, 2002 That's the big weak point in aluminum drive/half-shafts. The tube itself is plenty strong, but the yokes wear and fail over time. There are some pretty hard aluminim alloys but they are almost impossible to weld. Here's a shot from the OTC of a shattered driveshaft from a World Challenge GT Mustang. It failed due to a whipping problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 2, 2002 Share Posted July 2, 2002 Holy crap, thats one tore up driveshaft. Yeah, alloys are a bitch to weld with any degree of success due to cracking and the heartier hard alloys as you say are all but impossible because of the heat changing its structure and making it brittle. I have an aluminum driveline in mine, but don't hammer on it super hard. I did have the shop tell me they use epoxy on the balance weights as per Spicers instruction, the bit of welding sometimes done on that thin tube (as opposed to having the yokes heat sink some of the heat out of the joint) screws them up according to my driveline guy. Good move going steel Scottie, I'm still blown away that GN motor lays down big block torque, unreal for a motor of its size without question. I almost spit coffee out my nose reading that bit about bumps loosening your dentures haha... Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted July 9, 2002 Author Share Posted July 9, 2002 Step 2 completed! Thanks to 240Z Turbo for machining up my 5-lug adaptor which I received this evening . I was so excited to get going, in no time I had the caliper bracket mockup done and ready for the machine shop. Hopefully the machinist will understand how difficult it is to drive without my right arm . Might be easier giving up a nut Like most everything else I do on my car, this is unconventional and probably not to be duplicated The huge C4 caliper bracket interfered with the mounting tabs on the spindle, so I whacked them off and fabbed up an adaptor that will be welded to the spindle. No going back! Like everything else I make, it is mocked up out of cardboard, so no snickering (you thought that was the bracket???). The pieces of paper front and rear is to get the proper clearances before the final mockup. Hey James, thanks buddy. I will really need these when I spot you 5 car lengths and have to slam on the brakes to avoid running over your crank, trying to beat me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperZ Posted July 9, 2002 Share Posted July 9, 2002 Scottie - that is way cool. What material did you end up using for the adapter? Will it need balancing? I am always amazed at your energy and ingenuity for fabrication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted July 10, 2002 Author Share Posted July 10, 2002 won't know if I beat a 240Z...Grand National....or a Corvette!!!! What is that car again????? Its called a Hybrid! Yea, yea, make fun of my baby turbo, but it is enough to whip ya, at least in a brag race anyway. and more than enough to get me in the 10s with room to spare . No need no stinking twin turbo. One of these days 2 folks on these forums are actually going to race each other. Andy, Scotty? BTW, you did a masterful job on the machining and came up with ingenious ways to get it done, but refer to the post below, dated 5/20. http://www.hybridz.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001343 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240Z Turbo Posted July 11, 2002 Share Posted July 11, 2002 Next Post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240Z Turbo Posted July 11, 2002 Share Posted July 11, 2002 Yes, wonderful job Scottie...How ever did you come up with such a clever design? HEHE! Running over my crank HUH? Well, torque converter has been sent to Protorque to be lowered and as soon as I solve my fuel shortage issue you can consider the GNZ old news. Maybe if you had a real turbo???????? HEHE! Hell, when I win I won't know if I beat a 240Z...Grand National....or a Corvette!!!! What is that car again????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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