I am at the point of considering making my propshaft. I am using an Escort back axle and a Type 9 gearbox. I would appreciate views on the best wall thickness for the prop tubing.

I have noticed that the original Ford tubing is thin walled - approx 1-2mm (from memory).

I have come across some 48mm inner diameter, 1.5 wall galvanised tubing - could this be used? It seems to be an awkward size of ID to pick up from the local engineering companies around my area.

Thanks

0.2mm of your tube will be zinc so it leaves you with 1.3 (probably 18g tube - 1.2mm). You are going to have to remove all the zinc before you weld, so even if you are really careful you are going to loose another 0.25mm, now at 0.95 wall thickness.

Possible but dodgy! Best bet is to use the existing tube cut down. I did this but put an internal sleeve into the prop and plug welded it along the length
Rescued attachment PropSml.JPG

My mate had a prop made for his 300zx....

in carbon fibre!!

It cost £1400 and came from a company in the states that makes carbon props for all the Indy cars!

Not bad for a bespoke carbon part i thought

quote:

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Originally posted by garage19
It cost £1400

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indy cars dont have props ----- they are rear engined - do you mean drive shafts, or perhaps nascar?


atb

steve

quote:

---

Originally posted by garage19
My mate had a prop made for his 300zx....

in carbon fibre!!

It cost £1400 and came from a company in the states that makes carbon props for all the Indy cars!

Not bad for a bespoke carbon part i thought

---

The 4x4 version of the Renault Espace had Kevlar and Glass propshaft . Kevlar is more suitable than CF the construction is farly simple rovings machine wound round a mandril at + & - 45 degrees to the axis. The stress calcs are also quite simple by composite standards.

The main problem is design of the ends --- it would be simpler to use rotoflex couplings than hookes joints.

[Edited on 29/4/04 by britishtrident]