Half Shaft Mystery

[FU]

Originally Posted by vandornjim

I think I have a set upstairs.

You have enough stuff upstairs to build more cars than the Corvette Factory.

[FNG90-195]

Thanks guys! I'll keep poking around and see what else I can dig up. I do know that the car was delivered to Courtesy Chev/Olds in Toronto and registered to them on Nov. 16, 1989. Anyone know when the first 1990s for sale actually came off the line?

The car remained in their name for two and a half years, so I'm not sure if that means it was leased out, or if someone at the dealership used it during that time. I didn't get any records with the car, so I've been in touch with the NCM to get a build sheet. If I find out anything else, I'll let you know.

Mark

[phrogs]

Im going to guess that someone along the line took out the steel halfshafts and installed aluminum.

My 90 #354 had steel half shafts.

it was around #600 they dropped the half shafts from what I recall.

[ZR1Vette]

1990 #622 was the switch over from steel to aluminum. Maybe prior owner switched from steel to aluminum (some have done that for "weight savings" and looks (no rust)

[WVZR-1]

my question is : is there a chance these alum. half shafts were intalled at the factory on such an early car, or have they been replaced? It seems very strange that they would be replaced with such low mileage. I found the following part numbers on stickers on the shafts: right side 14041925 - AR8??3, left side 14041925 - AR5033.

The part # is/was a "production" shaft used for very early C4's. It has "service/replacement" applications in early parts catalogs for '84 MY only. I would have guessed the AR5033 to be a date code and my thought would have been '85 33'd day of year. The AR8??3 though would seem to disprove that. It's I believe though very safe to assume they're "replacements" and not '90 MY production parts.

Here's a thought for you! The car left on a "test drive" with the "steel" and returned with the "aluminum"!! More difficult "swaps" have been accomplished!!

[FNG90-195]

I appreciate everyone's input. The test drive/swap theory has got me thinking. So now my question is, are the aluminun half shafts I have now, that are from an early C-4, strong enough to stand a beating from a ZR-1? And if someone had an earlier C-4 with these aluminum shafts in it, would there be any reason for them to prefer the steel half shafts?

Also, anyone out there have a set of used steel half shafts for sale? If there are some around, what kind of $ do they usually sell for?

Won't sleep well tonight thinking about this one. All opinions welcome and appreciated.

Mark

[tccrab]

Jim VanDorn said in post #7 that he might have a set upstairs at his Pirate Lair.
Drop him an email, see if he's interested in parting with them.

TomC
"Crabs"

[FNG90-195]

Thanks Tom. I'll give Jim a shout.

Mark