I have a 2000 gt and I have 4.10 gears ready to put in. Dads stuck in the old muscle car era and says that when I go to launch this thing, I have a chance of breaking the driveshaft. Is this true or what? Should I get a safty loop?

 

you're only required to run a safety loop if you're running slicks... dont worry about breaking the drive shaft, it wont happen. not unless you're making serious power and running slicks, but even then your rear end would break before the drive shaft.

 

The driveshaft on My 85 SVO went bad at 175k miles so you have nothing to worry about. When it does go bad you will feel a very bad vibration on the drivetrain. If you have many miles I would replace it before it goes bad but I doubt you have that many miles on it. Checking the driveshaft is simple just check where the joints are and there should be no play in it and like floppy said you will not snap it unless you have serious hp.

 

I wouldn't worry about it man....

 

:stupid:

 

It would take alot for the driveshaft itself to snap. If anything, the U joints would fail, but I doubt it with street tires. The older fellas (I gotta watch myself, I'm no spring chicken) look back to the big block days quite often, and they have to realize that technology has progressed. Parts are, for the most part, much better now then they were way back when. I have been running a 4.10 gear in my pony for over 2 years now, with an aluminum shaft, and no problems (well, I can't get traction) so far.

 

Having shat two driveshafts in my younger days, I am compelled to agree that the u-joints should go first on the weakest link theory. If you can barber pole your drive shaft, FRAME IT!!

 

I think the 40 or 50 dollars for the loop, is a safe and wise choice.

 

The driveshaft would take alot to break, the U joints would go first. Even with slicks you are most likley to shred your axles or U joints before breaking the driveshaft. You can go to the local parts store and buy forged HP u joints for around 15 bucks apeice if your car has some miles on it, there easy to change, just need a vise and some sockets, and needle noses to get the snap rings out. Your axles will take alot of beating as long as you use street tires or drag radials, slicks put alot more stress on them, i would go to 31 spline axles and POSI before doing slicks. Well....maybe if you try slicks a few times to get a sweet run, it won't hurt.