So there I was...............

this past weekend, the wife and I went to San Jose for a Camaro meet. While exiting the freeway, I heard a strange clicking noise from under the car. I origionally thought it was something wrapped around the driveshaft or possibly the wheel. As it gradually got worse, I realized that when I pushed the clutch in the noise went away. That made me think that my new SPEC clutch was going out. With that in mind, I decided to leave the meet and start the 100 mile drive home. I got 4 blocks from the meet and the car started shaking violently. I drifted into a Chevron station to look under the car. After not seeing anything, I needed to get the car out of the way so I drove around the parking lot and BOOM!!! no power transfer from the engine to the tranny. We ended up getting put on a flatbed for the drive to Vacaville which cost a pretty penny. The next day I put the car up on jack stands to discover the input shaft on the yoke side of the tranny was sticking out @ 4". I pushed up on the driveshaft and two bearings fell out on my chest. As most of you know, Camaros that were built in Canada came with a two piece driveshaft with a carrier bearing and support bushing. Basically, that entire assembly tore apart and was flopping around under the car. Luckily, the support kept the driveshaft from falling out and tearing everything around it apart. NOW......Trying to find a replacement.......the two piece driveshaft is not available from any parts dealer or online even. I'm guessing the only way to get one is from the junk yard. Just a little gee wizz info.......a one piece driveshaft will bolt in-place of the two piece origional part. I went round and round about whether or not the car required the "two piece" for alignment purposes. Apparently it's unnecessary. A one piece is actually better.....duh.....
Therefore, if anyone else has this problem..........now you know ahead of time.

SLP has one for $250.....heavy duty steel from american muscle motorsports www.ammperformance.com

just for future reference for everyone...

 

that should be one of your first mods....getting rid of that crappy 2-piece, I dont know whey you would even consider replacing it with another one. Check the boards and you can usually find a 1-piece steel d/s out of a t/a or z-28 for $10 plus shipping or less. Better yet, watch ebay for a 1 piece aluminum driveshaft. lighter and more than strong enough for v6's. Should be able to find one for a C-note. The only PITA about swapping is getting that top support bracket bolt out.... no room to get at it.

 

I'm going to sound like an idiot, but since when did our cars have a two piece driveshaft? I look under mine and it's one piece from the transmition to the rear axle.

 

they eventually switched to a one piece... im guessing in 98 it became standard just like 4 wheel disc brakes. before 98 the v6's got a crappy 2-piece. the funny part is that they would have problems and when you took it in under warranty the gm book solution was to replace it with a 1-piece. go figure!!
an aluminum driveshaft is still a great upgrade for you with the 1-piece steel. saves something like 20 lbs in weight and trnasfers more power due to less parasitic loss from the rotational mass of the steel shaft.

 

Like he said, just grab a 1 piece DS out of a Z-or Trans Am..... No mods required, and alot better. By the way, the LS1 DS is actually stronger than the LT1. Thats the first thing that went on my old 94M5

 

your's must not have been built in Canada eh?

 

ALL 4th gens were built in Canada

 

YEP

 

Hey kahouna23...

If you're still needing that aluminum driveshaft, let me know... I have one out of a '99 SS... Email me and let me know. I don't know for sure what they're going for, but I've seen them on e-bay anywhere from 125-200... I'm close to where you live too..