Custom Jag IRS strength? (Pics inside)

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by Mdman352

I would say the tubing is much stronger than the original "chicken bone" half shafts

I'd have to see the specs of the tubing. A quick calculation comparing the solid shaft to a 2.5" x .075"W tube shows their (theoretical) strength to be nearly identical. Any imperfection in a thin-wall tube can reduce its ideal strength by a whole bunch too. Failures will almost always start where there are non-uniform anomalies in the structure.

The smaller-diameter shaft has another advantage: It is more torsionally flexible, reducing the maximum stress on all the components in the path.

[adricar1]

I have asked the same question on the tubing for the rear drive shafts. A collegue of mine designs the shafts for gkn here in the uk. He has told me that 3 inch tube is no stronger then the old dog bone steel shafts. Its the uj that will go first, on the dogbone.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by adricar1

I have asked the same question on the tubing for the rear drive shafts. A collegue of mine designs the shafts for gkn here in the uk. He has told me that 3 inch tube is no stronger then the old dog bone steel shafts. Its the uj that will go first, on the dogbone.

You know, from just eyeballing them, the solid shafts seem stronger. I don't remember seeing any pics of these twisted or broken. It's always the stubs, or the u-joints, which I believe are Spicer 1410 here on mine, that go.

[strictlypersonl]

That axle looks solid, but it is actually tubular, although made from very heavy tubing. It's about 25% stronger than the solid shaft.

Shortening the Jaguar pieces

[DanEC]

It's odd that I don't ever remember anyone fabricating small diameter, heavy tube half shafts for old, high HP 63-82 Corvettes. They are know for suffering their share of half shaft and U-joint failures over the years, especially with sticky tires. When I tore down my 66 427 Vette to restore, I found one of the half shafts on it had started to twist - fortunately it had only gone about 5 to 10 degress however. Usually the racers or big HP guys migrate from the original 2-1/2 dia shafts to the later 3 inch half shafts, or spend some money on some custom, large diameter tubular ones.