Vettefied

I have been looking through some corvette catalogues to see what parts are interchangable throughout the C3 years just out of curiosity.

What I am wondering is how much torque/HP can a stock driveline take? I have heard of people upgrading driveshafts and half shafts, but at what point do you need to take it into consideration?

I am just curious, my L48 will be no where near that "limit" whatever it is.

Thanks guys.

72SLEEPER

Sorry, don't have the answer but would like to know too. I am positve this will start a good discussion

gcusmano74

The short answer is, plenty. But.
If you drive your car in an adult fashion, and start and shift smoothly, the C2/C3 drivetrain will easily handle a lot of power.
If you want to dump the clutch at 5000 RPM all the time, and bang your way through the gears, you will very quickly begin driving over some parts. Guaranteed.
Basically, if you treat your car as a sports car, it will last a good long while. As a dragster, not so much.

Vettefied

How much is pleanty? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?!?!?!
What is considered the weekest link in the driveline?

gkull

The stock driveline is very strong. Years of drag slicks and shifting my 427 at 7500 rpm with racing 700R4 tranny. It never had a problem and was 25 years old

The weak links are: the posi unit case, The yokes, early smaller diameter half shafts and u-joints, outer spindles. Once my originals went bad or broke I replaced them with some of the best parts made.

I changed to a 5 speed and a driveshaft with 1330 u-joints and I put a cage around it for safety.

Now I only destroy the $800 posi units from Tom's Differentials and the HD outer spindles about every 4 years

Vettefied

So 400hp is not at all a concern for a stock driveline, even the 75 (lowest hp of all)?

What is the difference in half shafts between these?
68-74
75-79
80-82

Corvette America has them listed as seperate parts for each of those groups. Is one stronger than the others?

Also what components are you guys using as upgraded versions of each part?

Van Steel

63-74 - 2.5" Shafts
75-79 - 3" Shafts
80-82 - 3" Shafts but there is a diff between auto & 4 spd and all 82's take the same u-joint. These are also shorter and will not work on a 63-79 car.

Stick with the 3" shafts you have and throw some Spicer U-joints in and call it good.

Easy Mike

The driver.