Loops & Burgers

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 03/13/2019 at 21:35 • Filed to: '71Chevelle

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Finished installed the driveshaft loop on the Chevelle this evening (with help from a coworker to hold the wrench inside the car while I tightened underneath).

This is one of those things just about impossible to photograph, so that’s all you get - it’s the round thing around the driveshaft (so if I break the front u-joint, it doesn’t break my legs then kill anyone in the back seat).

I then fired up the grill for the first time this year, which I’m hoping to use a lot more than the one (1) time I used it last year. On track so far!

Urambo Tauro > MM54 03/13/2019 at 23:31

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So, I understand the concept behind driveshaft loops, but there are some things that I still don’t understand. Like , are two loops necessary, or is one joint more likely to fail than the other?

And that picture’s just a test fit, right? I can’t imagine trying to install the transmission with the driveshaft already in place . S eems like a huge pain in the butt.

MM54 > Urambo Tauro 03/14/2019 at 19:52

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If the rear joint breaks, it’ll bang around a little then stop (because I would imagine you’ve put the clutch in), or the slip yoke would come out of the trans, and it’s a non-issue. If the front joint breaks, the drive shaft:
1) Flails around in proportion to the speed of the car, since it’s still connected to the axle. This bends the crap out of the floor and very well breaks the legs of those in the front seat.
2) Drags on the ground, and can catch an edge, pothole, etc. and punch through the floor, going through whoever is in the back seat like a crumply spear.
Based on that, a loop is required around the front joint, but at the rear it would be very impractical at best (since the axle moves up and down). There are plenty of stories (especially from old-timers on the HAMB and such) from people who know people who have been killed by broken driveshafts.

I removed the transmission with the driveshaft in place, since it’s a slip yoke it just drops out the back when you pull the trans forward. Keep in mind I removed the engine before removing the transmission; there’s a good chance I’m going to install in the reverse, where I’ll slide the trans in (slipping the yoke into the back of it) prior to installing the engine, then set the engine in place and bolt them back together. Shouldn’t be too bad.

Urambo Tauro > MM54 03/14/2019 at 20:14

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Ok, so it’s more about reducing the risk ( significantly , I might add) on a practical level , than about trying to cage the whole driveshaft , then. That makes sense.

I trust that the loop is easily removable for servicing the driveshaft ? Hard to see what style you got in that pic.

Boxer_4 > MM54 03/14/2019 at 20:21

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Send burger, please!

On second thought, it probably doesn’t mail too well...

MM54 > Urambo Tauro 03/14/2019 at 20:55

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If you were to unbolt the rear u-joint from the axle, you could still remove the driveshaft as normal; if for some reason that can’t be done, it’s 4 bolts to remove the loop with the driveshaft still inside it.