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Topic: Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/13/08 7:12pm Message 1 of 15
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Has anyone had any experences with Vansteel's carbon fiber half shafts? Here is a link to them:   http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=shop.showItem&subgroup=1918&ID=2462 


corvette440hp
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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/13/08 7:14pm Message 2 of 15
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What I don't get is that they can handle up to 1000hp......they mention that they shouldn't be used for drag racing, hmmmm? corvette440hp2008-11-14 10:04:23


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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/14/08 7:38am Message 3 of 15
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I would guess the bond between the carbon tube and the yokes is not strong enough to handle a 6500rpm clutch drop with a 700+ hp engine, 5.88 gears, and 15" wide slicks...just a guess...

For a smooth power apply, with no abrupt "shocks" to the driveline, I'm sure they'd be fine...if ya got an extra $1000 laying around...


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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/14/08 10:17am Message 4 of 15
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[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]I would guess the bond between the carbon tube and the yokes is not strong enough to handle a 6500rpm clutch drop with a 700+ hp engine, 5.88 gears, and 15" wide slicks...just a guess...

For a smooth power apply, with no abrupt "shocks" to the driveline, I'm sure they'd be fine...if ya got an extra $1000 laying around...[/QUOTE] Sooo, how about 500 HP, 3,500 RPM, 3.70 gearing and 10.5 BFG TA's??? Thanx Joel for respondingThumbs%20Up.............$1,000 cost........there is the "BIG" problem.............


corvette440hp

Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/14/08 5:43pm Message 5 of 15
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Wow...$1000. I can think of a dozen different things I'll buy before these things. They definitely look trick, but not that trick. IMHO.

Scott

ranger32008-12-16 19:18:00


Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/20/08 2:22pm Message 6 of 15
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I spoke with Dan Dorsett at Van Steel. With a little arm wrestling I got him to lower the newer style much stronger carbon fiber half shafts. The price I got them for was $800.00.  He says that with street radials you can't break them. Christmas is coming early to my house. I need to finish getting the body off to completely redo everything from the bottom up. Fun this winter for me...YES! 


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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/20/08 9:01pm Message 7 of 15
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Vette(s): 1980 with a Banks Twin Turbo 1969 Convert Big Block 1996 Grand Sport Convert
  I see that they are not for the 80 to 82 Dana 44 Rear. I would think that as small as they are they wouldn't be much of an advantage over Aluminum. I'm still wondering what it would take to use C4 Half Shafts.


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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/21/08 5:57am Message 8 of 15
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So how much punishment can stock half shafts take? I have heard that they were used on many drag racing set ups and the real concern is the strength of the u joints, not the shafts...




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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/21/08 7:34am Message 9 of 15
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When I spoke with Dan at Van Steel, he said that the original carbon fiber half shafts were breaking at the welds on the aluminum ends for the u-joints. That is when they fixed the problem by CNC fabricating the better grade aluminum that is now being epoxied to the carbon fiber. To destroy these, you would need 1000+ RWHP and super sticky slicks. The price jumped up with the CNC/aluminum changes. 


corvette440hp

Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

Posted: 11/21/08 7:42am Message 10 of 15
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[QUOTE=LukesVette]

So how much punishment can stock half shafts take? I have heard that they were used on many drag racing set ups and the real concern is the strength of the u joints, not the shafts...

[/QUOTE] The u-joint needs to be Spicer solid 1350. corvette440hp2008-11-21 08:16:15


corvette440hp

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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