Drive Shaft Loop.

[TooManyFords]

I searched all the forums for the words "drive shaft loop" and there were a couple good threads, but nothing about anyone actually putting one on their MM.

I just looked over the rules for the local 1320 here in Cedar Falls, and they are requiring drive shaft loops on any car that has slicks, even street drag radials. If they can be considered a drag radial, I gotta have one.

Now, that isn't going to be an issue for the opening test and tunes since I don't have drag radials yet, but I'm guessing that after the first few weekends I'll sure want them!

So, the question is, has anyone purchased a loop?

If so, where and do you have pictures of the install?

Thanks in advance.

John

[Ross]

OK, I'll take the hit on this one...what the heck is a drive shaft loop? :confused:

[greyghost]

OK, I'll take the hit on this one...what the heck is a drive shaft loop? :confused:
DS Loop goes around the front of the drive shaft so in case the front universal breaks you don't end up poll vaulting on the drive shaft and flipping the car over doing an endo.

Try Summit or Jegs they usually carry as the primary focus is drag racing mods.

[SergntMac]

Looks like this...

[Ross]

Sarge, is that your car? You have an H pipe rather than an X pipe?

[TooManyFords]

Mac, was that a kit installed? If so, where did you get it?


John

[Ross]

Actually, something like that might be a good idea whether you run on the track or not. I've seen cars on the side of the road with driveshafts out. I'd hate for that to happen to me at highway speeds. :down:

[CRUZTAKER]

I would like to know a little more about this as well. Looks very...how do I say...safe?

[FordNut]

For a street car, I really don't think there is much chance of a pole-vault with the H pipe to hold it up. But if the front u-joint were to let go the driveshaft could flop around and beat the hell out of the floor pans and everything else in its reach, so the loop would be a great safety factor in that regard. And it is a requirement for some drag strips too.

[SergntMac]

Sarge, is that your car? You have an H pipe rather than an X pipe?
old pic Ross.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=LAK%2D1800 0&view=257#largerimage

[Ross]

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=LAK%2D1800 0&view=257#largerimage[/QUOTE]


Dang, for 26 bucks, I think I'm in! It might help to have a lift to help put the thing on. Thanks, Sarge.

[martyo]

Dang, for 26 bucks, I think I'm in! It might help to have a lift to help put the thing on.
I believe that you will also have to lift the carpeting to do a proper job of bolting this compenent in. When I was last under Mac's car, I took a good look at his drive shaft loop and it was a nice install and it definitely looked like it was thru-bloted and was a quality install.

[jrzygrl]

Do you guys suggest this with the new drive shaft we ordered from Dennis?
We're figuring the Stage one upgrade & gears in the near future. Will try a run at Indy if it's completed by then.

[schuvwj]

Ford Motor sports has a FMS-M5478C driveshaft loop $39.95

[TAF]

If you can find someone who builds roll cages, they can make up a custom one for you. :up:

[martyo]

If you can find someone who builds roll cages, they can make up a custom one for you. :up:
Hmmmm.....

[Logan]

Eh? Feel free to discuss roll cages... Only would break the rules if you're explicitly advertising on behalf of said provider or said provider was posting here in order to make a profit.

[TAF]

Bill,

I was just passing on a recent discussion I had with the boys up at Team Ford. It seems that one of the best guys in the country that builds custom roll cages is in the Atlanta area, and when I recently asked them about a driveshaft loop in another conversation...they brought him up and said he can build custom ones. Apparently, goes along with the capabilities of proper, custom bending of tubing.

That's all.

[BillyGman]

Sorry to be the one swimming against the tide here, but personaly I'd rather spend the money for heavier U-joints instead of a driveshaft loop, since it's like Fordnut has said: even if the stock U-joint lets loose and the driveshaft drops, it's only gonna drop on the H-pipe, or the X-pipe. And the only other way for the it to go is off to one side which will NOT result in catapulting the car nor going through the floor.

So IMO that mod would be overkill for our cars. Just my .02

[FordNut]

So IMO that mod would be overkill for our cars. Just my .02
Unless you're going to a track that requires it!!

[TooManyFords]

Unless you're going to a track that requires it!!Exactly! I know my track will require it if I want to race in any IHRA sanctioned points events [read: for money] so I think the $20-$30 is a good investment. As long as the u-joints are operated within specs, I don't see the need to swap them out for beefier ones.

John

[BillyGman]

I concede....if you have to install the loop because of track rules, then you have no choice. The two tracks that I have run at haven't said anything about that and didn't require a loop. But is that merely because I'm running in the 13's and NOT in the 12's???

I've also heard that most tracks will not require you to have a loop unless you're running slicks, or you have a standard shift transmission. Is that true? maybe MAC can shed some light on this. If not, then perhaps someone else can.