Board logo

Modifying Pro-Shaft! HHHHEEEEELLLLPPP
judgejarvis2000 - 3/2/06 at 08:44 PM

Hello, as a relatively newcomer to this whole locost car building scene, i have decided to build my own car. Now as a rather tall bloke i will be modifying the chassis to fit, this will include widening slightly and lengthening quite alot, Now here is my problem, will this modification effect the propshaft and will be neccesary and possible to lengthen it???
Help would be great as i will be commencing the build shortly!
thanks everyone?

JoelP - 3/2/06 at 09:15 PM

your propshaft will probably be custom made anyway, as it will be shorter than the donor one. Hence, just get it made whatever length you need! There is no shortage of places that can make and guarantee them

caber - 3/2/06 at 09:18 PM

I suggest you find McSorley 442 drawings they are for a 4"longer 4"wider and 2" taller locost chassis it is easier to build from these than from the book particularly if you are changing size. You probably will need a longer prop however I have built the chassis for mine to book modified for a Capri axle using the McSorely drawings and set the engine and axle where they fit then measured for the propshaft luckily the back section of the Capri prop is exactly the right length. It is easy to get a prop made to whatever length you need if you don't fancy doing it yourself.

Good luck with the build

Caber

James - 4/2/06 at 03:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by caber
I suggest you find McSorley 442 drawings they are for a 4"longer 4"wider and 2" taller locost chassis


Well I suggest you keep the chassis standard!

Unless you are an absolute giant you will fit ok in a standard Locost. If you do anything other than this you will suddenly come across problems that make the whole project more complex.
For example, what will you do about bodywork? The only manufacturer making +4" stuff I know of is GTS.

I've made my chassis bigger by 10% so it's 4" wider but longer too. I *really* regret this early decision as it's made quite a lot of things harder.

I highly recommend you sit in a few Locosts and double check before you go down this route.

All the best,
James

JB - 4/2/06 at 10:11 PM

Lengthening a prop is very easy and is done by putting in a whole new length of tube. Any propshaft co. will be able to do this for you.

I would not recommend doing the prop yourself.......one of those cases....if you have to ask then you probably best leave it to the experts.

However if you have a large lathe, a DTI and good MIG then you can do it yourself. You can even do it with a hacksaw, grinder and DTI and clock it straight on the car.

John