I got a v6 camaro,02. I can get a stock aluminum driveshaft for 100 dollars. Worth the swap?I've read it drops 6 pounds and 5 hp at rear wheel. I'm good on weight drop but hp? I'm not sure.
I'd want it for the fact I'm on thruway doing 70-75, and might get me a few hp just by swapping driveshaft.

 

Where are you getting 5 hp from? That sure does not sound right. 5 HP would be substantial fuel mileage improvement. The original V6 drive shaft was 3 times heavier then your current steel shaft. Reducing the weight of any of the spinning parts of your drive line will help with throttle response but I serious doubt it takes much more then a 1/4" hp to spin a 6 pound heavier drive shaft.

When I swapped from 30 plus pound, two piece drive shaft to a single shaft I could not feel any difference.

 

The horsepower figure is what I've read thru searches. I think it's a little much also. Did you go aluminum or steel?,that is a bigger drop and if you didn't notice any difference I'll pass

 

for that price i would do it. then you can do away with the two piece setup.

 

Mine is one piece,everything steel.

 

well easier yet,,, still that is a good price. i see one on ebay for 99 bucks but add shipping and its over 100. the rest are 150 and up.

 

I'm undecided still,I think I good upgrade for a v6. I found old post on here,aluminum is 11.5 pounds,steel is 16.

 

I did not notice the difference going from the very heavy (30 lb+) 2 pc unit to the single steel one. That was easily 15 lbs lighter, I doubt you are going to feel a 5 lb difference. For the money the GM SS 32mm sway bar is a much better upgrade.

I own a aluminum driveshaft, I pulled out the steel shaft off my Z28 to put it on my V6 when the center bearing went bad. I figured since I had to buy one anyway get the aluminum one. Don't forget you will most likely need 2 new U-joints.

The main reason for aluminum flywheels and drive shafts is to improve acceleration. Since a V6 struggles with low end torque it seems to me that a drive line weight reduction would be felt more in a V6 then in a V8. I still call complete BS on the 5hp gain. I am sure you understand that a drive shaft can not make power. It can only reduce hp absorbed by the drive line. On a manual transmission there is only a 10-12% HP lose on a 3800. That is about 20 hp total lost in the drive line. IMO 70% of that is lost in the friction in the trans gears and the friction in the rear gears with another 20%(4 hp) lost in the tires. The spinning drive shaft, axles and wheels probably weigh around 70lbs and make up the last 10% of the energy lose. Dropping 70lbs to 65lbs is a 8% reduction of weight in a 2 hp drain.

 

When I had mine, I weighed both driveshafts. Steel one was 16 lbs., aluminum one was 12. I kept the aluminum shaft when I sold the 96. But a 5 hp "gain" (less of a loss), no friggin way!!! I'd be surprised if it was even one horse.
Now, if your current driveshaft is in need of u-joint replacement, and that aluminum one doesn't have a lot of miles, changing them out would be a good deal. But if doing this is for the purpose of gaining that internet fantasy h.p., it's a waste of money.

 

Gald I posted this,I wasn't sure and wanted some actual I've done this responses. The horse power I free up by adding aluminum driveshaft isn't that much, I'll stick with the steel one.