Aluminum Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

[Oldstech]

The Aluminum Drive-Shaft was removed from an 1999 Chevy S-10 ZR2 (4.3L engine, 4x4, and ext cab). I pick up the AL drive-shaft for $40. I purchased 2 universal joints ($8 each, with my military discount). The Universal joints for both drive-shafts are the same p/n, according to the Oreilly's parts guy.

Stock Steel Drive-shaft stats: Length 54 inches, Weight 12lbs/without yoke, 2.5 inch dia. (my car is a plain-jane, 1981 Cutlass Original 350 Diesel, Th-200, 7.5 rear)

S-10 Aluminum Drive-shaft stats: Length 53.5 inches, Weight 10.5 lbs/without yoke ( -1.5 lbs less), 4 inch dia.

The only thing you need to do, is use our yoke off your steel drive-shaft. The S-10 yoke is huge compared to the G-body's yoke.

Being it is 4 inches in dia my Stock exhaust is really close to hitting the drive-shaft. Its was hitting where the exhaust pipe crosses under the drive-shaft too switch from the passenger side to the driver side. No biggie really.

Now being, all I saved was 1.5 lbs. Was it worth it. NO!!!...But, I think this drive-shaft is a lot stronger being 4 inches in dia. So looking at it in Weight and Strength, its worth it for what I have into it. IMHO

EDIT: Altho I was excepting less weight. Doing a little bit more research. The 4th gen f-body aluminum drive-shafts are only 3 inch dia. And they have problems in the racing world for twisting. So maybe this 4 inch is actually a really nice upgrade for strength to weight for aluminum.

You decide!!!!

Steel is .5 inches longer

Steel 2.5 inches dia, AL 4 inches dia

 

[79loserbluebu]

Re: Aluminium Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

Not bad. Easy pounding the joints out of the aluminum ones, they can bend very easily

 

[85GPLef41]

Re: Aluminium Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

Nice!! Was always wanting one for my GP but didn't know that one actually swapped in..

 

[RockSS]

Re: Aluminium Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

Thats good info to know ... so everything works well? there are a ton of S-10's around here I assume it was a long bed S-10.
yhanks for the info 8)

 

[Oldstech]

Re: Aluminium Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

Not bad. Easy pounding the joints out of the aluminum ones, they can bend very easily

I used an hydraulic press and a torch too melt the plastic, that the factory uses to secure the u-joints.

 

[Oldstech]

Re: Aluminium Drive-Shaft in G-body installed!!!!

Thats good info to know ... so everything works well? there are a ton of S-10's around here I assume it was a long bed S-10.
yhanks for the info 8)

I believe, only the ZR2 models (GM's Off-road package for the S-10 also with 8.5, 3.73/3.42, 30 spline axles, and LSD. We grabbed the 8.5 for my cousin's drag truck. Its 8 inches wider then his stock 80's 2wd S-10 rear end) comes with the Aluminum drive-shaft. This S-10 ZR2 was Ext-cab.

Also my cousins S-10 driveshaft for the 85? S-10 Std Cab long bed. Is the same lenght as my Cutlass driveshaft

 

[RITTER]

I believe the ZR2 8.5" rear-end is the same width as our gBody rear-ends :idea:

 

[Oldstech]

I believe the ZR2 8.5" rear-end is the same width as our gBody rear-ends :idea:

IDK about that. BUT it is leaf springs an a Pan-Hard bar

 

[RITTER]

Yeah, but you could pick one up from a salvage yard and have the brackets welded to it and still spend less than you would if you bought a GN or 442 8.5"

 

[Randy_W]

And a lot of them also have 4.10 gears!

Edit; Let me re-phrase, SOME of them had 4.10 gears. :wink: