Eh, personally, I put one in my car to try and fix the vibration issue.... didn't do a thing for it... sold it for what I paid for it, and put the $$ twords a Denny's NR shaft... works great now with no vibes.

 

A 1LE DS is 2 3/4" and I broke one right in half on the dyno. I went with a good, balanced 3" steel one from A-1 Driveline in Baltimore, MD. Its one that F-Body Central uses in their 9 second cars...Imho its worth a little extra weight for the piece of mind...

--Alan

 

I'm running a M6 with a street twin with 410s and 12bolt moser and MT's.
I've already split a 1LE. By the way they are paper thin dont waste any time with them unless you're running an auto .

Anyway I really want to use something around 12 -14#s but want to be sure I'm not going to snap. The lingenfelter is 12.2# and it has been my intent to order one shortly. But after seeing Injuneer say he's seen one break I'm a little hesitant.

Injun - what was the situation with the car if you remember? & whats the weigth on the Mark Williams unit you're using. I live about 15 min. from the Mark Williams shop so definately familiar with there quality and price!

Thanks

 

The LPE 3.5" aluminum shaft was in George Baxter's 30th Anniversary SS convertible. At the time the LPE broke, the SS was close to 4,000# and only making about 750 flywheelHP on a 383 with Vortec S/C, a T56 tranny and a Street Twin. It was only running in the 10's. The car eventually ran 8.60@160+MPH with 1.30 60-ft, with a Mark Williams DS.

My Mark Williams 3" chrome moly was 19# compared to 17# for the stock DS. That was when the MW replaced the stocker and I was running the original T56 with a Street Twin. Currently running a TH400 with a Gear Vendor, so the DS is a lot shorter than is used to be, and closer to 14#.

Most manufacturers seem to rate their aluminum DS's for 800HP max. There is a "metal matrix" that is good for more than that, and I'm not sure how the weight compares.

I just don't think that looking for a few HP out of the DS is worth the risk.

 

I'm not planning on going anywhere near 800hp but I was thinking more in terms of shockload being a concern. I keep seeing these ratings in hp and when I see them I just assume that they tested w. an auto vs a m6.

After reading many of your posts I have confidence in your opinion. If I were to run in the 400-450 hp range I would liklely be safe with an aluminum.

 

I think the LPE 3.5 aluminum would be fine at that HP level. Mark Williams also makes aluminum, carbon fiber and other types of driveshafts. You want solid 1350 u-joints, and forged yokes.

 

where can i buy a 1LE DS? I cant find any sites that carry em

 

From GM.. p/n 10085375
Try Jason or Dal..

 

Aluminum is nice for low power cars that do not run sticky tires. If it's making good power, especially if it's used at the track, the stock steel shaft is better than either of the aluminum shafts. If it's a hi-po setup, get a good CM shaft (see the sticky in DS Tech).

Rich