Folks, I'm hoping that this will turn into a sticky, because I think it's important enough to relay what I found out, so others in this window, won't have to go through an extended waiting process, like I'm experiencing right now...

Back in January, I ordered from Driveshaft Shop, an aluminum upgraded version, because it was time to replace the clutch, and while the driveshaft has to come out anyway, why not upgrade it....

Low and behold, I was informed by Chad Barton (CBI streetcars) who is doing the work on my car that the propshaft is 3/4" too long.....After waiting 3 weeks for it to be built and shipped...Fock!!

Lord knows how long it will take for the replacement but, I'm not holding my breath....

Anyhoo, sometime in the MY 2000 run....GM decided to switch over the driveshaft to the 2001-2004 version....Now, my car was built in the first week of April, so that would be considered a "late" year build....The caveat is, I don't know when the "early" stops and the "late" begins....Nowhere in the DSS website indicates that option other than ordering between 1997-2000 and 2001-2004.....Ok, I have a 2000, no need to waste my time measuring it, before I order right? Wrong...Hindsight is 20/20.....My peeve is, with the volume of driveshafts ordered from them, and considering how long the C5 has been out of production, surely I'm not unique in discovery?....I'm hoping someone can come forward with anything that sheds light on when GM decided to change it....In conclusion, save yourself a lot of time and measure it, if you have a 2000 and are unsure. Driveshaft Shop is built to order, and they aren't what you would call combat speed efficient....Chad told me this, after the fact, that's why he stopped using them...So, the product is good, don't get me wrong but, just plan on waiting for it a few weeks....

 

I got a reply back from Driveshaft Shop, and it confirms what I already knew...Hence, my annoyance with this not being available on the website ordering table....I firmly believe, they have a better idea of the window between early and late...

 

Received a reply back from Driveshaft Shop and I'll share the information I received as well as their updated website information... Hope this helps anyone else in the future, and do the simple thing of having it measured....

 

Sorry to hear about your aggravation. But thanks for the information. Chad does good will work and will have you up and running.

 

Thank you...I've known Chad for years, through my next door neighbor, who's had nothing but, praise for him....I've had other Corvettes and an Aston Martin that had more pressing issues before I could take the C5 down there, and you know how busy he is....

Anyhoo, at least now I've got this situation rectified....Everything else went off perfectly, according to Chad.
New clutch, all the wheel bearings have been replaced with Timken ones, the left front was noted as bad so, I said replace them all...I had a list of other things he was doing but, I'll be damned if I can find it at the moment...

I'm getting carried away, with irrelevant information....Bottom line is, hopefully what I found out, will spare anyone the hassle of what I'm going through.....99% of the time, a C5 falls into the 97-00 or 01-04 category...The driveshaft....Just do yourself the huge favor and measure it before you commit....

 

Sorry you went through all this trouble. This was good info to share. At least it seems like driveshaft shop has pretty good customer service, and it definitely seems like they made the situation right for you despite the fact that they probably lost money in the process.

 

I'm not singing any praises about them until the other driveshaft arrives....I just know that the guy working on my car, has dealt with Driveshaft shop for years, and stopped using them because of their turnaround time, which is slow...I don't believe they will lose money on the returned driveshaft, because they can turn it around and sell it for full price for a C5 that it will work on. Getting a hold of customer service is one thing but, good luck on getting a hold of anyone in the shop area, because customer service and the shop are not on the same sheet of music...The email reply is evident of that.

My problem was obviously not unique but, I bitched about it to them, why they didn't already have that information posted to begin with, to avoid what we like to call in Star Wars 'let's just say we'd like to avoid any Imperial entanglements"

I do take full responsibility for not being proactive enough to measure it but, when you deal with a specialized shop, they should corner the market on knowledge of the application, and share that information in detail. You know as well as I do, the last C5 rolled off the assembly line 22 years ago....Driveshaft Shop or anyone else that makes those parts, have had a generation of time to post their experiences, and findings.

Thanks for your post!!

 

I know the situation is frustrating. The reality is though that even though their turn around time is slow, they're still making you a new drive shaft for no charge. They easily could have said, you didn't measure before ordering, it's your fault, tough ****. However, they didn't do that. I'd say that's good customer service.

I'll admit, I know absolutely nothing about driveshaft shop. However, I'm guessing they make driveshafts for more than just C5 Corvettes. If they're custom making everything to order, there's a reason for that. You're correct that they can probably resell the driveshaft you're sending back eventually, but how long will it take for them to actually get an order for that exact driveshaft? As you pointed out C5s are pretty old, and the vast majority of C5 owners will never get an aftermarket driveshaft. They probably don't sell a ton of that specific driveshaft. Meanwhile, they have to store the thing in what is no doubt limited shop space.

Again, I'm sorry this happened. I know it's super frustrating. I hope that it gets resolved as quickly as possible. However, try to look at things from their perspective. Given the way their business runs, they're doing their absolute best to make things right for you. They didn't have to do that. Even if they don't take a loss, I can all but guarantee replacing your driveshaft is costing them money. If nothing else, it is taking time that could have been used making someone else's order. I really hope everything turns out well for you. Good luck

 

Apparently, the front office wants to talk to me, because they want to call me tomorrow....I never blew up their phone, used vulgarity, or rushed their production time....So, something is going on, I'll let you know how it goes....

 

Folks...Had a really nice conversation this morning with a gentleman by the name of Tad.....We went over everything, and happy to announce that my new driveshaft is being shipped today....After having a lengthy discussion about the C5 era cars, and to reconfirm that my 2000 is considered a late edition of that MY, and it falls into the 01-04 range only because of the driveshaft...I don't have any information to relay as to when the changeover happened but, my advice is, if you have a 2000, measure it first.....One reason I didn't measure it beforehand, is because the OEM unit was still on the car, and I just try to be proactive...Especially knowing that these are built to order, so you already know your car is going to be sitting a few weeks...Tad relayed to me that they will update the website to reflect 97-99 then MY 2000 will be split (with emphasis to measure beforehand) and then 01-04...

Tad relayed to me, that he and the staff will be going over the website and make improvements and add more information....He also mentioned to me about how many discrepancies they were finding with the C7....They've come across so many different driveshaft lengths, that it drives them crazy...So, if you know someone or own a C7 yourself, by all means, measure it first....

Again....If anyone has solid information about when the C5 driveshaft changeover happened during the 2000 MY, by all means post it here, or contact DSS and pass it along....

 

Glad it's all worked out, Tom.

Great talking to you, last might.

 

Clint, it was a pleasure, and we could spend hours on the phone talking about everything.....Lot of history dating back to the old ZR-1 Owners Registry/Net days.....We'll have to do that more often....

 

Super glad everything turned out well for you. Sounds like DSS really stepped up.

 

Sorry for the question(s), but does this involve change involve the torque tube changing from metal-matrix composite to 6061 aluminum and the increase in outside diameter from 55mm to 63 mm ? Also were all the later drive shaft coupler bolts upgraded from 10mm to 12mm or was that just on the 6-spd cars ? TIA

 

18662683729....DSS .... They're in North Carolina, so it's Eastern time....9-5 hours

I'm sure they'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have....

 

My dad was one of those old time mechanics that would never order parts in advance for anything - even the smallest thing. He always liked to walk into the parts store with the old part in his hand. That way he could put it up against the new part that the parts man gave him. More often than not they didn't match - wrong part number, wrong part in right box, redesigned part during production run, ect.... He was on the clock and couldn't waste all day driving back and forth to the parts store due to unforeseen (except by him) problems.

I know, I know, I order the parts I need in advance. But I'm doing it less and less.