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» Northern California Ford Owners     » Automotive   » Tech Talk   » FMS Aluminum-Driv. shaft

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Author Topic: FMS Aluminum-Driv. shaft
BlackNGold
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I'm thinking about getting an Aluminum driveshaft for my '94 5.0...The stock driveshaft has 100,000mi(stock-original)...At 100mph it vibrates like crazy(I think its hurting my ET)..The u joints are in great shape...Its out of balance because the parking brake cable bracket was slicing a nice groove in it...
--Is it worth the $159.00 for a new aluminum driveshaft?? [Confused] ..Will I see any gains in the 1/4 mile??? [burnout]

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Posts: 5132 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Dec 2001  |  :
JoeT
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you might see something like 0.02 or thereabouts, in otherwords impossible to track verify [Wink]

If you suspect a balance/u-joint problem, why not.

(I have one, heh)

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1984 Ford Tempo AOD--- RIP

Posts: 6785 | From: San Jose | Registered: Jun 2001  |  :
cobraman_1994
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youll see bigger gains (still not much) when you have gears and the rest of the driveline [burnout]

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86 GT

Posts: 4882 | From: eldorado hills | Registered: Sep 2001  |  :
StoplightWarrior
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If you want a used one for cheaper, PM me.

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couple bolt ons

Check out the website: peep it

Posts: 2952 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Mar 2001  |  :
darien87
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Any time you can shave rotating weight is a good thing. A lot of people bash on the FRPP unit though. I was told that the FRPP driveshaft is made out of cheap aluminum. I bought the Griggs one from Apex. It's worked out well for me.
Posts: 206 | From: South Bay Area, CA | Registered: Oct 2002  |  :
Stimson
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I disagree. I'm against aluminum drive shafts and flywheels for drag racing purposes.
Posts: 2373 | Registered: Jun 2000  |  :
Quick 88LX
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Can anyone put up some numbers to back up there opinions or what??!?! I need to know too... [patriot]

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"Men are Made, Not Born"
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Posts: 1785 | From: Fairfield, CA/Okinawa, Japan | Registered: Oct 2002  |  :
cobraman_1994
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dont be cheap. go get a carbon fiber one [worship]

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86 GT

Posts: 4882 | From: eldorado hills | Registered: Sep 2001  |  :
Stimson
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quote:
Originally posted by Quick 88LX:
Can anyone put up some numbers to back up there opinions or what??!?! I need to know too... [patriot]

Take my word for it [Wink]
Posts: 2373 | Registered: Jun 2000  |  :
BlackNGold
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quote:
Originally posted by st5150:
quote:
Originally posted by Quick 88LX:
Can anyone put up some numbers to back up there opinions or what??!?! I need to know too... [patriot]

Take my word for it [Wink]
**Sawson,....Do you have an Aluminum driveshaft???If NO, then why should we take your word for it??(no offense intended)....Please give me facts not opinions!!...If you know of any information(web-sites) on why not to get an alum. drv. shft.let me know. [Big Grin]

[ January 12, 2003, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: Black94 5.0 ]

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Posts: 5132 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Dec 2001  |  :
Hungry Hippo
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the fms aluminum d/s isnt even much lighter than stock. it is also a little thicker. all in all, if you have gears and a 5 speed, it'll smooth things out a little. also, some cars will make a funny harmonic sound on the freeway

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Posts: 2959 | From: east bay | Registered: Nov 2001  |  :
JoeT
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IMHO, if your U-joints are wasted you really can't argue against an aluminum driveshaft. They're what? $150?

Good luck getting a U-joint replaced for that, lol.

Anyways I weighed the two and there's 7 pounds difference between the two (yeah, big woop), and the aluminum driveshaft has a larger diameter.

My driveshaft loop just *barely* clears the FMS alum driveshaft given the bolts/nuts on either side of the loop.

Anyways the moment of inertia benefits from the aluminum driveshaft are going to be mitigated because of the larger diameter vs. the factory iron driveshaft.

I'd still say (given the 7 lbs.) that the power loss from the alum driveshaft is less than the iron one (from a net moment of inertia point of view).

I still will say it's worth ~ 0.02 on a 14.00 car [Big Grin]

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1984 Ford Tempo AOD--- RIP

Posts: 6785 | From: San Jose | Registered: Jun 2001  |  :
Drew B
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alot of my friends have Aluminum driveshaft's including myself, ive never had a problem don't do to much dragging but i have a few other friends with the same Aluminum driveshaft and they have anywhere from 5-800 hp in there car and they drag and they don't seem to have a problem. [patriot]

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AKA.GR40coupe

Posts: 1992 | From: Nor-cal | Registered: Jan 2002  |  :
Stimson
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Who says less rotating mass means more power? Not Ed Hohenberg. (Ed has more experience, passes down the track and trophies than all of us combined, not to mention a doctorate in physics [Wink] )

quote:

I would NOT recommend an Aluminium flywheel with a near stock engine, in a near stock weight Mustang. The car will not only give up significant launch potential, but it will also lose energy on the shifts.

Logically, you might expect the MPH to go up with the Aluminium wheel (less rotating inertia) even if the ET suffers from a softer launch, but my testing showed the Aluminium wheel to give up BOTH ET and MPH. This clearly showed how the steel wheel holds RPM through the powershifts significantly better, in addition to the harder launch.

And just FYI, with around 290 rwhp, my car 60 foots in the low 1.5's, with a steel flywheel.

He ran 11's with a stock spec NHRA 5.O LX. An aluminum drive shaft (and flywheel) slowed him down. But....... hey, if a company advertises something in Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, then it _must_ do something and make your car go faster right???

Don't shoot me guys, I'm just the messanger [Big Grin] If you want to have every single mod in the book only to run a tenth faster than a guy with half the mods as you... be my guest [burnout]

[ January 12, 2003, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: st5150 ]

Posts: 2373 | Registered: Jun 2000  |  :
Black88GT
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I got one when my u joints went out. It would have cost 120. to have mine rebuilt, so for 40 more bucks , for a brand new fms one. I have heard that the griggs one is better.

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2000 Griggs Racing GT
2012 Kona GT500

Posts: 991 | From: Alameda | Registered: Aug 2001  |  :
Stimson
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gR40coupe- Take your car to the track, you have much more mods than I do on my 5.O, not to mention a lighter car. Lets see how you stack up against my tired LX with all the usefull mods you have [Wink]
Posts: 2373 | Registered: Jun 2000  |  :
BlackNGold
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quote:
Originally posted by st5150:
Who says less rotating mass means more power? Not Ed Hohenberg. (Ed has more experience, passes down the track and trophies than all of us combined, not to mention a doctorate in physics [Wink] )

quote:

I would NOT recommend an Aluminium flywheel with a near stock engine, in a near stock weight Mustang. The car will not only give up significant launch potential, but it will also lose energy on the shifts.

Logically, you might expect the MPH to go up with the Aluminium wheel (less rotating inertia) even if the ET suffers from a softer launch, but my testing showed the Aluminium wheel to give up BOTH ET and MPH. This clearly showed how the steel wheel holds RPM through the powershifts significantly better, in addition to the harder launch.

And just FYI, with around 290 rwhp, my car 60 foots in the low 1.5's, with a steel flywheel.

He ran 11's with a stock spec NHRA 5.O LX. An aluminum drive shaft (and flywheel) slowed him down. But....... hey, if a company advertises something in Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, then it _must_ do something and make your car go faster right???

Don't shoot me guys, I'm just the messanger [Big Grin] If you want to have every single mod in the book only to run a tenth faster than a guy with half the mods as you... be my guest [burnout]

....Hey thats great!!, but I'm not putting on an "aluminum flywheel",and I said noting about putting on an "aluminum flywheel"!!!!!!!!!...I'm putting on a "aluminum driveshaft"!!...

[ January 12, 2003, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Black94 5.0 ]

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Posts: 5132 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Dec 2001  |  :
Stimson
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Rotating mass is rotating mass. I can't find the post he made about the drive shaft, but trust me, he was against the drive shaft as well. Same principle/reasoning.

[ January 12, 2003, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: st5150 ]

Posts: 2373 | Registered: Jun 2000  |  :
CobramanPhil
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I think it all depends on how much you want to spend. If your need new ujoints or if your stock DS is out of balance...why not? Get a replacement and don't worry about it. There is mimimal gains in either (griggs or ford).

The most important for me (driveshaft wise) would be if it is balanced or not. How much are the griggs shafts anyway???? Some people I know have rebalanced their stock ones with no problems...

Phil

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2013 Shelby GT500
2011 Porsche 911 TurboS/AWD
2014 GSXR750
2002 GSXR750 Track Beater Bike
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Posts: 1016 | From: California, Bay Area | Registered: Dec 2002  |  :
BlackNGold
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Oh yes, the stock D/S is 22.5 lbs...
The aluminum D/S is 14.lbs....
Thats around 8.5 lbs difference..

I know that its 3.5 inch in diameter is much more mass away from the center of the D/S requiring more force to change speed....Oh well...

Thanks guys, [patriot] [Big Grin] looks like I'm going to get the FMS driveshaft(dont know the price on the Griggs but its probably more than $159)... [burnout]

[ January 12, 2003, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Black94 5.0 ]

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Posts: 5132 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Dec 2001  |  :
TRY2PAZ
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I like the look of the carbon finer one. [burnout]

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Posts: 4033 | From: Bay Area, CA | Registered: Dec 2000  |  :


 
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