LT1 Driveshaft history questions

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Dec 11, 2004 | 10:16 PM
  #1  
Did any LT1 cars come with an aluminum shaft or were they all the dreaded vibrating steel dissasters. I am well aware of the upgrade options but I wanted to know a little history on what LT1 cars (if any?) recieved an aluminum shaft. I have a fully optioned '95 M6 with a steel shaft and was under the assumption that no balanced aluminum shaft was avaialble until the LS1 switch in '98. Dissregaurding the 1LE option (which I know was aluminum for 3rd and 4th gens alike) am I right? All my book/internet research and board searches come up with every LT1 car getting a steel shaft but recently I have been notifed that some did indeed come with an aluminum shaft.
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Dec 11, 2004 | 10:50 PM
  #2  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
Quote: Dissregaurding the 1LE option (which I know was aluminum for 3rd and 4th gens alike) am I right? All my book/internet research and board searches come up with every LT1 car getting a steel shaft but recently I have been notifed that some did indeed come with an aluminum shaft.
To my understanding, all 4th gen LT1 cars came with steel driveshafts. 1LE cars included.

Dave
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Dec 12, 2004 | 08:19 AM
  #3  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
I believe they were all steel units for LT1 cars, I don't know about the 1LE though.

I will let you know that the LSX DS did nothing to fix the vibration problem I was having. I ended up getting a Denny's (Which is balanced to over 8000rpms) and now my car is like glass up to 145, whereas with the vibration I maxed out ~80 before I didn't feel safe in the car and the fillings began falling out of my teeth.
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Dec 12, 2004 | 10:13 AM
  #4  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
I was under the same assumption. I needed some varificiation for a disscussion that i recently had with someone who said aluminum shafts were common. My previsous thinking may be inccorect but everything i dig up tells me otherwise. I have yet to find a non 1LE aluminum DS LT1 car.
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Dec 12, 2004 | 02:31 PM
  #5  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
Reg. LT1s received a 2.5"? steel driveshaft
1LE LT1s received a 2.75" alum. driveshaft
LS1s received a 3" alum. driveshaft
V6s received a 1 or 2 piece steel driveshaft, depending on year?

Are you trying to figure out if yours came stock like that? I don't think any non-1LE LT1s came with them. You can always get down there and see which one you've got- get a string and a ruler, measure the circumference, divide by pi...

I'm not sure it's that big of a deal though, some aftermarket place sells 3.5" ones for a little over 300 I think.
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Dec 12, 2004 | 02:42 PM
  #6  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
Quote: I was under the same assumption. I needed some varificiation for a disscussion that i recently had with someone who said aluminum shafts were common. My previsous thinking may be inccorect but everything i dig up tells me otherwise. I have yet to find a non 1LE aluminum DS LT1 car.
I have one, 1995 Z28 LT1 Group II MN6.

I had the factory steel shaft and 3.42 gears. There was a TSB about vibration with the steel shaft. I think the lower gear ratio made things worse, A4 had 3.23 gears I think.

If you knew about it and took the car in, the dealer would install an aluminum drive shaft.

I think the shaft is the same as the 3rd gen 1LE shaft.

As far as I know that was the only way aluminum shafts were installed on LT1 from the factory.

I think the LS1 cars all had aluminum, but I really haven't done much research.
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Dec 13, 2004 | 05:04 PM
  #7  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
Quote:
Are you trying to figure out if yours came stock like that? I don't think any non-1LE LT1s came with them. You can always get down there and see which one you've got- get a string and a ruler, measure the circumference, divide by pi...
I know I have a steel shaft but was wondering if you could get an aluminum shaft via option or standard OEM. I have yet to find any LT1 with an aluminum shaft that is not a 1LE but I have had some people say that is was quit common. I don't want to beleive him yet because everyone says the stockers were steel.
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Dec 13, 2004 | 05:36 PM
  #8  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
I don't think 4th gen 1LE's got the aluminum driveshaft. Mine is a 94 1LE and it has the steel driveshaft.
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Dec 13, 2004 | 05:49 PM
  #9  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
The people who complained under warranty got the alum replacement, I have a steel one in my car, isnt bad at all.
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Dec 13, 2004 | 07:09 PM
  #10  
Re: LT1 Driveshaft history questions
Quote: The people who complained under warranty got the alum replacement, I have a steel one in my car, isnt bad at all.
This seems to be the conesensus.
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