- Joined
- Apr 27, 2012
- Messages
- 4,765
- Reaction score
- 103
- Location
- Nashville, Tennessee
- My Car
- 1973 Q code Mach 1
Most of us know that with upgraded engines and tires etc, that we should be running a drive shaft safety loop.
Many people, myself included buy the universal style and bolt them to our floor pans.
I'm here to encourage you to invest in something more substantial!
I recently sheared the ears off a u joint on a 1-2 shift.
My safety loop worked, but just barely! One of the four mounting bolts was pulled through the seat riser. Two more bolts were almost pulled through, washers and all. Two of the four bolts that hold the lower half in place were stretched badly and one was gone.
If this had happened on a 2-3 shift I am certain that the driveshaft would have torn out my exhaust system rather than just partially flattening my H pipe. It might well have dug into the pavement and caused a loss of control, or come through the floorboards and caused serious injury.
a driveshaft safety loop should be strong enough to prevent all of this and should be mounted to something more substantial such as the subframe connectors that many of us have added.
I've gone to great expense to upgrade my slip joint, my driveshaft my pinion yoke and pinion support to try and avoid a failure of this type in the future.
Stock driveshafts aren't meant to handle 500 ft pounds of torque. They aren't really meant to handle 400 ft pounds of torque.
If you are going to build a hot engine, please remember that the weak links will show up. 1330 U joints aren't up to the task for some of you. It will cost you close to a grand to put a top quality shaft u joints and yokes in your car, plus labor if you don't do it yourself.
Invest the money to be safe and don't trust a 20.00 universal strap to protect you and your investment from serious injury or even death.
I got lucky this time-are you feeling lucky?
Many people, myself included buy the universal style and bolt them to our floor pans.
I'm here to encourage you to invest in something more substantial!
I recently sheared the ears off a u joint on a 1-2 shift.
My safety loop worked, but just barely! One of the four mounting bolts was pulled through the seat riser. Two more bolts were almost pulled through, washers and all. Two of the four bolts that hold the lower half in place were stretched badly and one was gone.
If this had happened on a 2-3 shift I am certain that the driveshaft would have torn out my exhaust system rather than just partially flattening my H pipe. It might well have dug into the pavement and caused a loss of control, or come through the floorboards and caused serious injury.
a driveshaft safety loop should be strong enough to prevent all of this and should be mounted to something more substantial such as the subframe connectors that many of us have added.
I've gone to great expense to upgrade my slip joint, my driveshaft my pinion yoke and pinion support to try and avoid a failure of this type in the future.
Stock driveshafts aren't meant to handle 500 ft pounds of torque. They aren't really meant to handle 400 ft pounds of torque.
If you are going to build a hot engine, please remember that the weak links will show up. 1330 U joints aren't up to the task for some of you. It will cost you close to a grand to put a top quality shaft u joints and yokes in your car, plus labor if you don't do it yourself.
Invest the money to be safe and don't trust a 20.00 universal strap to protect you and your investment from serious injury or even death.
I got lucky this time-are you feeling lucky?