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Old Mar 24, 2018 | 01:04 AM
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Default Torque Tubes

Hey guys. First, background:

97
stock ls1
rebuilt 10mm torque tube
rebuilt T56

Ok, so heres what's goin on. When I replaced my transmission, I replaced the clutch, pilot bearing, slave cylinder, everything all at once. I also replaced torque tube couplers at the same time. I did not however replace all the bearings, I only replaced the one bearing (oem bearing) on the input shaft (I did not press it on, but gently tapped all the way around in a circular motion not to press too far on one side to try to maintain evenness all the way down).

Anyways, so torque tube couplers were replaced with dorman rubber couplers due to budget restraints. Anyways, everything has been great since the reinstall. However, there is still a noise that is coming from the firewall area it sounds like. Almost like a grinding noise under hard acceleration in higher rpm. It only does if the car is in a gear. If I'm on the freeway going 80, I can go to neutral, rev it high, no noise. Or if I'm sitting at home in neutral, rev it high, no noise. But if I'm accelerating and I have my foot in it, there's a grinding noise. I'm not sure what it is but it's driving me nuts.

So here's my real question. I have a base 97. I'm looking to upgrade to as strong of a factory torque tube as I can to keep costs low. From what I read, 02-04 manual c5 (non z06) are what will bolt in to my car? I thought I read that the z06's have a different spline count? Anyone know if this is accurate or not? Thanks.
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Old Mar 24, 2018 | 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Scholioso
Hey guys. First, background:

97
stock ls1
rebuilt 10mm torque tube
rebuilt T56

Ok, so heres what's goin on. When I replaced my transmission, I replaced the clutch, pilot bearing, slave cylinder, everything all at once. I also replaced torque tube couplers at the same time. I did not however replace all the bearings, I only replaced the one bearing (oem bearing) on the input shaft (I did not press it on, but gently tapped all the way around in a circular motion not to press too far on one side to try to maintain evenness all the way down).

Anyways, so torque tube couplers were replaced with dorman rubber couplers due to budget restraints. Anyways, everything has been great since the reinstall. However, there is still a noise that is coming from the firewall area it sounds like. Almost like a grinding noise under hard acceleration in higher rpm. It only does if the car is in a gear. If I'm on the freeway going 80, I can go to neutral, rev it high, no noise. Or if I'm sitting at home in neutral, rev it high, no noise. But if I'm accelerating and I have my foot in it, there's a grinding noise. I'm not sure what it is but it's driving me nuts.

So here's my real question. I have a base 97. I'm looking to upgrade to as strong of a factory torque tube as I can to keep costs low. From what I read, 02-04 manual c5 (non z06) are what will bolt in to my car? I thought I read that the z06's have a different spline count? Anyone know if this is accurate or not? Thanks.
The TQ Tube was changed with the 12MM couplers with the intro of the 2001 Z06 and is the standard TQ Tube on all manual corvettes goring forward through the model years (manual trans only).
• Torque Tube changed from metal-matrix composite to aluminum alloy 6061, increased in dia from 55 to 63 mm.
• Driveshaft couplings have also been upgraded on manual-equipped models for additional strength and durability

Interchangeability> The post 2001 TQ Tube is fully interchangeable with manual cars 1997 through 2000.

Identification>
For the 10MM TQ Tube drive shaft installation showing the bolts, go here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html

For the 12MM TQ Tube drive shaft installation showing the snap ring, go here> https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ld-saga-3.html

If you are going to search the Corvette recyclers for a 12MM TQ, make sure you do the following!
FLOOD CARS, just had an experience where the Corvette Z06 I was "picking" was envolved in a flood, (runaway fast!)
Make sure you get the Uni-Drive part number (photo) of the Uni-Drive tag to verify the part number and it actually is a 12mm coupling unit.


Cheers,
Goose

Last edited by 69; Mar 24, 2018 at 09:30 AM.
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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 06:43 PM
  #3  
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Ok, so just to confirm, 2001 & newer z06 or not, as long as it's a manual transmission car, the torque tube will work in my 97?
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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Scholioso
Ok, so just to confirm, 2001 & newer z06 or not, as long as it's a manual transmission car, the torque tube will work in my 97?
I did the swap in a '00
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Old Mar 26, 2018 | 11:23 PM
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The PO updated my '99 FRC with the '01-04 torque tube.
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Old Mar 27, 2018 | 01:07 AM
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Originally Posted by 93Polo
I did the swap in a '00
Did you notice a change in the power delivery at all? Or maybe less drivetrain noise perhaps? Or any difference at all?
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Old Mar 27, 2018 | 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Scholioso
Did you notice a change in the power delivery at all? Or maybe less drivetrain noise perhaps? Or any difference at all?
Considering I had lost drive due to frayed couplers yes

I could not tell any difference between a functioning early or late tq tube.
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