Aluminum propshaft/driveshaft

[Wesley P.]

Has anyone done this with our 2 piece shaft, or converted to a 1-piece shaft? I had an aluminum driveshaft on my Mustang years ago and it made a tremendous difference on the way the car drove. Just wondering if it would be worth it to have one made for the Escort...

[Bergcup435]

I am also going to convert to a one piece prop.

Carbon Fiber is possible but the company in UK want to make big profits and so the cost is astronomical.

Titanium would be an alternative material.

There are several US companies who will biuld a one piece prop, but when they asked about torque figures on the Escos said that Alu would not work.

can anyone on here recommend a good propshaft service/repair centre in the UK.

[cosmagedon]

Ive got a leaflet at home from when I was at the autosport show. I spoke with a company there that can make a one piece prop no problem, they even had a cosworth rubber doughnut on display and showed a flange they have made to get rid of the doughnut. Ill try and digg the leaflet out when I'm back home

[Bergcup435]

Ive got a leaflet at home from when I was at the autosport show. I spoke with a company there that can make a one piece prop no problem, they even had a cosworth rubber doughnut on display and showed a flange they have made to get rid of the doughnut. Ill try and digg the leaflet out when I'm back home

thanks for the Info, not sure if Wesley P. is interested in this bit but getting rid of the doughnut is also a good weight saving job, especially for a track car. A bit rough on the linkages though.

[ian sibbert]

Ally WRC Escort Prop

Never dared to use it yet lol....

[Bergcup435]

Ally WRC Escort Prop

Never dared to use it yet lol....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/sibster/wrc9.jpg

Hi Ian

looks very nice, why did you not test it yet, do you have too much engine torque,

how heavy is it?

The wrc car in Dresden has original two piece prop, so never saw one of those before,

[Ginge]

Warren & Wenny both run single piece props, done buy a company in Durham.

[Bergcup435]

Warren & Wenny both run single piece props, done buy a company in Durham.

shit, I forgot about Wenny, I'm sure he sent me a PM about a year ago regards props.

thats what happens when one gets too old to own an Escos.

[SCS j1mbo]

Ally WRC Escort Prop

Never dared to use it yet lol....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/sibster/wrc9.jpg

is that a ford one or aftermarket done ian?

[Wesley P.]

Okay guys, so it is possible to run a one piece prop and not have any issue with pinion angles, alignment, etc. So since this is possible and will obviously be less expensive, I will look into doing a one piece rather than having the original prop duplicated.

If I can't find someplace local to do it then I will wait until the winter and send mine away. I wonder if it would be worth doing the front one also...?

[Bergcup435]

Okay guys, so it is possible to run a one piece prop and not have any issue with pinion angles, alignment, etc. So since this is possible and will obviously be less expensive, I will look into doing a one piece rather than having the original prop duplicated.

If I can't find someplace local to do it then I will wait until the winter and send mine away. I wonder if it would be worth doing the front one also...?

Hi Wesley,

The front prop is also repairable, Bara motorsport (Bromsgrove) can organise. (The UJ's are 27mm x 74.6mm)

The weight of the Front Prop is 4.15Kg
If made from Titan tube, you could prob save around 1Kg. The other parts (Flange etc) would also save weight but probably cost more to manufacture. would it be worth the extra investment?

[Wesley P.]

That's good to know... For the purpose and use of my car, just having the shaft tube made of a lighter material is worth it, not really looking for maximum weight savings, which would me a lighter bank account also, lol.

Any disadvantage of using a one piece shaft on our cars?

For anyone who has never driven a car with a prop shaft made of alloy or any reduced weight material, the feeling is that of a lighter, smoother driveline.

[ian sibbert]

is that a ford one or aftermarket done ian?

They are/were a 909 part Jim, Jeff Dewitt had a few left, I bought that one off an Osborne customer who sold his car....

Kenny...

I have never weighed it but it is very light in comparison to the steel item.......

[SCS j1mbo]

Yes I heard, also heard they broke so stuck with steel?

[Bergcup435]

Yes I heard, also heard they broke so stuck with steel?

Jim,
Alu is probably not strong enough to take the torque of a modified Escos motor. Either the dia needs to be greater or the wall thickness increased.

Thats why I would like to consider Titanium.
The Jolly Club Lancia Integrale here has a Titan prop (rear section) and it looks the business.

I once discussed with Mike R the possibility of a Carbon shaft but it would be way too expensive unless a large qty were manufactured. ( ie a group buy, but who would place an oder for 25k for just 15 drive shafts)