Does anyone make an aluminum torque tube?
01-04-2011, 01:42 AM
#1
Race Car
Thread Starter
Does anyone make an aluminum torque tube?
There was a member here long ago who made them but I haven't been able to contact him. Does anyone here know of another aluminum or other light weight torque tube alternative? Thanks.
01-05-2011, 09:12 PM
#4
Rainman
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
i would be interested in a CF torque tube but would it work in a 944 application? the 944 engine trans mounting arrangement seems like the whole assembly supports itself. like when you take the 944 torque tube out, the engine wiggles a bit back and forth. it is rigid with the tube installed.
01-05-2011, 09:36 PM
#5
Race Car
Thread Starter
Yeah I've considered a CF tube that could mate to both bell housings but one fabricator estimated $5k to do that for me which is a lot of dough for saving less than 50 lbs.
01-05-2011, 10:07 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Why are you looking for a lightweight TT? The TT is good weight, ie its low in the car and close to the center of the car. There are lots of other, better weight savings first.
01-05-2011, 10:32 PM
#7
Race Car
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My car doesnt need that strength anymore though.
I've done some math... That tube doesn't truly need much strength in a solid mount motor and transmission with reinforced bars. Which is what i am doing of course. So I am making one, but it wont really be for anyone else.
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01-05-2011, 10:49 PM
#8
Race Car
Thread Starter
I have found a suitable tube itself for around $1000. Thats just the tube that would be made by a custom Sailboat Mast maker. So many Carbon tube makers did not have the Torsional strength I thought I was looking for. This one was able to solve the problem. I was fortunate to find them actually.
My car doesnt need that strength anymore though.
I've done some math... That tube doesn't truly need much strength in a solid mount motor and transmission with reinforced bars. Which is what i am doing of course. So I am making one, but it wont really be for anyone else.
My car doesnt need that strength anymore though.
I've done some math... That tube doesn't truly need much strength in a solid mount motor and transmission with reinforced bars. Which is what i am doing of course. So I am making one, but it wont really be for anyone else.
01-05-2011, 11:44 PM
#9
I've been half tempted to just cut a ton of holes in the stock tube.
Te driveshaft and sealed bearings would live just fine exposed to the light water they might see. Most of the tube is hidden out fo harms way anyway.
Te driveshaft and sealed bearings would live just fine exposed to the light water they might see. Most of the tube is hidden out fo harms way anyway.
01-06-2011, 01:20 AM
#10
Rainman
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
also consider that the driveshaft itself is pretty hefty - i have mine out of the tube presently and it has got to be 30lbs or more by itself.
a nissan GTR has a CF driveshaft to its transaxle..that i bet could be done rather than the tube itself which needs torsional strength. cutting holes in the current tube with existing motor mounts i think could lead to tube damage...mounts would need to be beefed up like 95ONE.
what if someone made a supplementary motor brace, say from the bellhousing bolts to the caster block mounts? that would support the rear of the engine, those are sturdy spots on the block and the car, and would take weight off the torque tube...that could mess with handling though
as for the trans again i think itd be better off by modifying the trans crossmember to somehow accept the early 944 trans mounts as they are very stout and the 944 v8 guys now offer a billet solid version. you could still use your trans brace to the LR corner to keep the back of the trans supported
a nissan GTR has a CF driveshaft to its transaxle..that i bet could be done rather than the tube itself which needs torsional strength. cutting holes in the current tube with existing motor mounts i think could lead to tube damage...mounts would need to be beefed up like 95ONE.
what if someone made a supplementary motor brace, say from the bellhousing bolts to the caster block mounts? that would support the rear of the engine, those are sturdy spots on the block and the car, and would take weight off the torque tube...that could mess with handling though
as for the trans again i think itd be better off by modifying the trans crossmember to somehow accept the early 944 trans mounts as they are very stout and the 944 v8 guys now offer a billet solid version. you could still use your trans brace to the LR corner to keep the back of the trans supported
01-06-2011, 01:37 AM
#11
Three Wheelin'
I have personally been tempted by the Corvette C5 CF driveshafts, which I'm sure you all know is a torque tube design with a transaxle at that the back. Granted, that torque tube is a good 2" or so wider overall. Perhaps an option for those that switch to LSx blocks?
Edit: For clarification I have a C5 as well, I have no idea how you'd go about adapting it to a 944.
Edit: For clarification I have a C5 as well, I have no idea how you'd go about adapting it to a 944.
01-06-2011, 05:27 AM
#12
Three Wheelin'
that was Dave951M circa 2003:
development
OT&E
selling a couple
Well guys, the aluminum torque tube is now being tested in a 400hp street car. So far, it looks like it runs very smoothly. It weighs about 24lbs less than the stock unit and can use off the shelf bearings. If all continues as has to this point, they'll be available in about a week or so while I make up a couple more.
It's made from 1/4 wall 6061T6. The aluminum driveshafts for 1000hp drag cars are made from 1/8 wall and a smaller diameter and those guys develop over 1100ft/lbs of torque, so I seriously doubt that any of us will break one of my tubes. Part is milled, part is turned, one part is CNC. In order to rebuild this tube, all that is necessary is to cut the safety wires, unbolt the bearing carriers and withdraw the driveshaft. The carriers are then removed from the driveshaft and new bearings installed. As the manuals say, assembly is the reverse.
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24lbs lighter than stock, uses off the shelf bearings, user rebuildable, $1100 exchange. What you're getting is an all aluminum torque tube made from 6061T6 1/4 wall aluminum. That's twice as thick as the aluminum used in Pro Stock driveshafts, and those guys can really make some torque. The only steel left in mine is the original driveshaft, bearings, and locater screws. There are some pictures in a gallery over on the Rennlist. Just do a search on the 944/951/968 board.
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It's made from 1/4 wall 6061T6. The aluminum driveshafts for 1000hp drag cars are made from 1/8 wall and a smaller diameter and those guys develop over 1100ft/lbs of torque, so I seriously doubt that any of us will break one of my tubes. Part is milled, part is turned, one part is CNC. In order to rebuild this tube, all that is necessary is to cut the safety wires, unbolt the bearing carriers and withdraw the driveshaft. The carriers are then removed from the driveshaft and new bearings installed. As the manuals say, assembly is the reverse.
--------
24lbs lighter than stock, uses off the shelf bearings, user rebuildable, $1100 exchange. What you're getting is an all aluminum torque tube made from 6061T6 1/4 wall aluminum. That's twice as thick as the aluminum used in Pro Stock driveshafts, and those guys can really make some torque. The only steel left in mine is the original driveshaft, bearings, and locater screws. There are some pictures in a gallery over on the Rennlist. Just do a search on the 944/951/968 board.
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01-06-2011, 05:53 AM
#15
Three Wheelin'
looks like he hasn't been on RL in some time
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* Last Activity: 12-03-2007 11:35 PM
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