[Tigers] Clutch-Driveshaft U-joints

[Smit, Theo]

The hard part about doing a driveshaft loop is that you need to leave enough clearance around the driveshaft, so that you have some allowance for engine/trans and suspension movement. The pragmatic solution is to reroute the fuel and brake lines so theybre away from the immediate destruction zone, and then put in the loop to contain the driveshaft.

Alternatively, you can put in the loop the way Larry did, and then add a secondary shield (possibly made of thinner material) right at the U-joint location to keep the lines protected. If you were to add a shield of say 1/8b plate by about 3 inches wide to extend from the top of the tunnel down to a few inches below the fuel and brake lines, then that would likely protect the lines for the amount of time it took you to come to a stop.

When I re-plumbed the fuel system for 3/8b lines (feed and return) for the EFI system, I initially ran both fuel lines and the brake line through the tunnel. It turned out that the lines were just way too close to the U-jointb& even a slight amount of sideways movement of the transmission would have caused the lines to get hit by the U-joint. When I re-did the lines again, I moved the feed line so it runs about a foot inboard of the passenger rocker panel. Given the overall clearances in the tunnel for the brake line and the fuel return line I should have moved everything out there. Maybe the next time I have that part of the car substantially in pieces Ibll do that.

Back on the scattershield thing, Quicktime has probably the best parts out there right now, from a Tiger perspective. They have multiple units to fit various engine/transmission combinations, and they fit closely around the clutch so that you have more header and transmission tunnel clearance. Havenbt got one myself, yet, but it looks like a very worthwhile upgrade.

Theo



From: CoolVT at aol.com [mailto:CoolVT at aol.com]
Sent: April 15, 2010 10:05 AM
To: Smit, Theo; tigers at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Clutch-Driveshaft U-joints

>From the picture on the first page it seems the universal could still hit the gas/brake lines in event of failure.  Maybe the picture is misleading?  At 1/4" it's certainly strong enough to prevent it dropping to the ground.  I know of a new car that had that happen within the first few hundred miles.
M

In a message dated 4/15/2010 11:53:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Theo.Smit at dynastream.com writes:
Larry Paulick , Ibm sure among others, has installed a driveshaft safety loop.
http://www.tigersunited.com/techtips/PaulickShaftLoop/pt-PaulickShaftLoop1.asp

Theo

From: CoolVT at aol.com [mailto:CoolVT at aol.com]
Sent: April 15, 2010 8:51 AM
To: Smit, Theo; m_dangelo at verizon.net; tgrrr at peoplepc.com; tigers at autox.team.net
Subject: Clutch-Driveshaft U-joints

There has been lots of chatter on exploding flywheels, but almost nothing on failed driveshaft u-joints. Some time back a lister was explaining the dangers of the front u-joint letting go. If you look at that location you can see that a loose, rattling driveshaft will have a very good chance of tearing out the brake and fuel line.  It's something I'd like to address this summer.  So, what have people used for solutions?
Mark



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