69

99/00 MN6 Torque Tube is up gradable!

Hello all,

I found out some interesting information regarding Torque Tube & Drive Shaft Assembly for cars model year 1999/2000. I contacted Unidrive asking the below question;

Hello Unidrive,

I am the proud owner of a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette 6 speed. I have a brand new torque tube assembly GM part number 12561082. As I understand, in 2001 manual equipped cars were delivered with larger-diameter drive shaft in the Torque Tube GM part number 12564457. The drive shaft is upgraded from a metal matrix composite to aluminum alloy 6061, and it is increased in diameter from 55mm to 63mm. Drive shaft couplings have also been upgraded on manual-equipped models for additional strength and durability.
Can you please provide me some information as to how I can upgrade my torque tube assembly GM part number 12561082 to have the improved drive shaft and couplings installed?
Thanks for your time in advance,
Kevin Monticello

Unidrives Response;

-----Original Message-----
From: Damien_Busby
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 5:50 PM
To: Monticello Kevin (LSL)
Subject: C5 Corvette driveshaft


Kevin
The propshaft you have in your vehicle is perfectly adequate for your use of the vehicle. Even in modified vehicles and race cars this shaft has excellent performance.
The later propshaft is stronger due to a material change and if you
want to change to it you can purchase as a spare part the later level
propshaft and it will install into your existing Torque Tube.
Contact your GM service center if this is what you want to do.


Cheers!
Kevin

SNW Vette

Hi,
That great news for those of us with early cars. Did you find a part number?
Thanks,
Steve

69

Hello Steve,
E-mail sent outlining parts

Kevin

Dope

Could you post the part #'s? I am interested!

Thanks,
Dope

69

E mail sent

Dope

Thanks dude. Looks to me that part # 88894025 (01+ M6 and M12) has everything (shaft, couplings, bolts, bearings/washers/rings).

Looks like $394.87 from gmpartsdirect. $78.97 shipping. Total $473.84. Not bad for brand new internals.

Looks like the torque tube itself has different part numbers, 99 and previous appears to be the same but a 2 piece design vs 2000+. Who wants to be the guinea pig? :)

Dope

66ImpalaLT1

I might be the guinea pig since 69 beat me to the assembly that valvegod had. ;)

According to my info, the prop shaft is 12456207 for 97-99, 88893995 for 00, 88894025 for 01-02.

So what exactly is different in 2000?

Eric


[Modified by 66ImpalaLT1, 12:07 AM 12/5/2003]

66ImpalaLT1

Do I need to buy 11 seperate?

I thought it was supposed to be all assembled so the can balance it?

VictorB5463

If i could get the upgrade part numbers that would be great!!!

thanks Victor

helga203

2003 thread, don't know it any of these guys are still on the forum.

69

yeah I'm still kicking and alive in the C5 world!

To the poster wanting the part numbers...
back in the day it was economically feasible to do the modification..
today, no chance...
Recommend you score a year 2002 or newer Torque Tube for a manual trans car...the Torque tube you want has a large snap ring, just search my screen name on the forum key word Torque Tube and you will see my postings with photos showing the difference between the original Torque Torque and the new improved Torque Tube.
the improved Torque Tube will bolt up with no mods or issues to a pre configuration car as I done this many times.
Score your Torque Tube complete from a bone yard and rebuild it will be much cheaper than trying to source the individual piece parts to convert your Torque Tube shaft.
cheers
Goose

VictorB5463

Thank you so much I just needed somebody that knew what the hell was going on so I'm not running around chasing my tail throwing good money after bad trying to get this thing fixed!


have a great day thanks Victor

69

Here ya go...my post number 11 in this thread below Difference in Torque Tubes... - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Correct, here are the technical details of the change in 2001 to support the Z06 which was rated at 385HP
• Torque Tube changed from metal-matrix composite to aluminum alloy 6061, increased in diameter from 55 to 63 mm.
• Driveshaft couplings have also been upgraded on manual-equipped models for additional strength and durability (prior to 2001 the coupling used 10mm bolts and 2001 the couplings use 12mm bolts).
The driveshaft is held in place by bearings inside the torque tube. In 2001, a stronger driveshaft was put into all C5s to cope with the higher performance of the Z06. The driveshaft was changed from a metal matrix composite to aluminum alloy 6061, and was increased in diameter from 55 mm to 63 mm. Driveshaft couplings also were upgraded on manual-equipped models for additional strength and durability.
Visual difference between the 10mm coupling TQ Tube Vs the 12mm coupling TQ Tube.
Note the 12mm coupling TQ Tube assembly is a direct replacement for the 10mm coupling TQ Tube and bolts right up with no issues as I have done this upgrade on a few 1999 C5's myself.
In the OP's case, if it was me and my money, I would get a 12mm coupling TQ Tube assembly off of "fleabay" and rebuild it and install it...

Side Note> the TQ for the Auto Trans will not work for a Manual Trans car due to a completely different configuration of the shaft and TQ Tube structure.


Cheers,
Goose

helga203

can't explain it better that.