Torque Tube Question
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 179
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From: Savage, Minnesota
Torque Tube Question
Here's my question. I am installing a new clutch in my 99 FRC this spring. I have a cousin who does auto salvage and he came across an 02 ZO6 that had a carbon fiber driveshaft in it, he has offered me the driveshaft which would be good to do during the clutch install. What I can't find is if this driveshaft will fit in my 99 Torque Tube. The driveshaft does not have rubber couplers like the stock driveshafts. I know the older cars had 10mm couplers and the newer cars had 12mm but is this just bolt size? Any help is appreciated, I have just never removed my torque tube/driveshaft so I don't know a lot about it.
Last edited by JagTech; Jan 4, 2017 at 06:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
I hesitate to offer advice when better is available from most here, but I would think that unless you are building a race car, you might miss the rubber couplers, the grubbers, if I recall correctly. The word seldom comes up in my conversation.
In researching my C5, I found a lot of design time was spent on taming the harshness that almost killed the line when the C4 first came out and was a flaming dud. In my reading here, even the hard core racers often keep at least one flexible coupler, to lessen shock to other parts. Most use two, I would guess running without the couplers would require a real race car budget.
All I knew about my clutch replacement was how to write the check, so you are ahead of me . One thing I missed was the reverse lockout solenoid, which is easily available when the stuff is apart, but needs ET type fingers to reach the thing when assembled.
I didn't even know I had a reverse lockout , but it did strike me as odd the way the gears were laid out, rear was ordered just like another forward drive, and seemed open for driver error, until I found the answer in the electric lockout. Now I worry my lockout is old and will fail, although I read on one post that the design has a failsafe approach So I mention it to you.
In researching my C5, I found a lot of design time was spent on taming the harshness that almost killed the line when the C4 first came out and was a flaming dud. In my reading here, even the hard core racers often keep at least one flexible coupler, to lessen shock to other parts. Most use two, I would guess running without the couplers would require a real race car budget.
All I knew about my clutch replacement was how to write the check, so you are ahead of me . One thing I missed was the reverse lockout solenoid, which is easily available when the stuff is apart, but needs ET type fingers to reach the thing when assembled.
I didn't even know I had a reverse lockout , but it did strike me as odd the way the gears were laid out, rear was ordered just like another forward drive, and seemed open for driver error, until I found the answer in the electric lockout. Now I worry my lockout is old and will fail, although I read on one post that the design has a failsafe approach So I mention it to you.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The rubber couplers were installed in the TT for a reason. YES, It will work. BUT! Not having some sort of isolation between the engine and the trans, will put a lot of strain on the drivetrain and a LOT of Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) in the cabin. Some people put a solid coupler between one end of the TT but keep some sort of compliant coupler at the other end just for the reasons stated above.If your goal is all out 700 RWHP drive train punishment, go ahead and install it.
I have a stock 02 Z TT and the 12mm rubber couplers are handling 450 RWHP without fail.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lt-on-ls1.html
I do not think it will work swapping just the driveshaft into your torque tube.
The Pfadt Carbon fiber driveshaft did not use the OEM style couplers.
http://www.pfadtracing.com/blog/wp-c...structions.pdf
I have had to rebuild a 10mm tq tube behind 436rwhp and have helped rebuild a 12mm behind 440rwhp that was not abused. At stock power levels I would not be concerned about the torque tube failing but, I would pull the driveshaft out to check the bearings and couplers if you need to replace the clutch. The Pfadt link details how to disassemble the tq tube.
I do not think it will work swapping just the driveshaft into your torque tube.
The Pfadt Carbon fiber driveshaft did not use the OEM style couplers.
http://www.pfadtracing.com/blog/wp-c...structions.pdf
I have had to rebuild a 10mm tq tube behind 436rwhp and have helped rebuild a 12mm behind 440rwhp that was not abused. At stock power levels I would not be concerned about the torque tube failing but, I would pull the driveshaft out to check the bearings and couplers if you need to replace the clutch. The Pfadt link details how to disassemble the tq tube.
Last edited by 93Polo; Jan 5, 2017 at 08:28 PM.
