Wow that's big (that's what she said).

My 3'' diameter Explorer driveshaft already looks freaking huge. Other than the exhaust, I can't think of any other possible clearance issues.

4'' steel pipe is going to weigh quite a bit though.

"Sporting a 4 Inch Round Pipe" makes for a good license plate frame though!

 

Wow that's big (that's what she said).

"Sporting a 4 Inch Round Pipe" makes for a good license plate frame though!

That's pretty short!

 

I never measured but I think my aluminum DS is 4".

It's definitely bigger than the stock DS.

 

I wonder what the wall thickness of the stock steel driveshafts were or the thickness of the aftermarket aluminum 3.5" driveshafts like StreetorTrack sells? This one is 0.067", which ends up being about 15 gauge. The driveshaft came from a NASCAR vehicle, so I'm sure its not only stronger but pretty light weight compared to the stock one. It may end up being a thinner wall thickness so the rotational mass may end up being about the same or less. You can decrease the wall thickness while increasing the diameter and get the same or greater strength than the smaller diameter one. 4" is pretty large though, thats for sure! Just curious if I'm overlooking something or if anyone is actually using one this large.

Thanks Paul! I've read that you have to increase the aluminum diameter by 1/2" over steel to get the proper strength, which is why you typically see larger diameter aluminum units.

 

Well I bought the darn thing DYNOTECH DRIVE SHAFT 46.5 X 4 X .065 NO SLIP YOKE : eBay Motors (item 120532999545 end time Feb-25-10 17:53:00 PST)

For $38 shipped I really can't go wrong. I didn't have time to check the exhaust clearance since everything has been removed, but I figure I should be able to get my money back if it doesn't end up working.

 

Dynotech makes the best driveshafts on the planet. I've got a 3.5" metal matrix(aluminum composite) that was in our race car that has withstood over 2000hp being thrown at it at times. I've had tire shake so bad it cracked the windshield at the 1000ft mark. Itll be going in the 65 now. I like parts that I can keep for years and carry over from car to car.

 

Sweet! Can't imagine being behind 2000hp, thats gotta be one helluva rush!!

 

Even on a 315/60-15 MT drag radial, it feels like you've been rear ended by fully loaded freight train.

 

Mines a 4" alum and it has tons of space all the way around it in my 67.

 

I've got a 4" that I just installed...seems to have plenty of room. You should be fine. Its a big mama-jama!

 

I'm sure its not only stronger but pretty light weight compared to the stock one.

Nope, much heavier. Mines an old NASCAR part too.

 

Thanks fellas.

Ryan do you know what wall thickness yours is? They come in different thickness from what I've found. 0.083 is common too. Oh well, not too worried about the weight. Since I'm running a lightweight aluminum flywheel the driveshaft may tame it down a bit.

 

I tried looking up the auction info on ebay but it has been too long since I bought it. I believe that the wall thickness was in the .06ish range though. The heavy part isnt the tube, its the yoke ends...I'm sure that they will take a beating!

 

My aluminum drive staft is from a Police Interceptor Crown Vic. It's either 3.5" or 4.0", not sure. But if it's a 3.5" dia., there is plenty of room around it for another 0.5". The closest interference is the parking brake cables.

Z. Ray