Drive shaft safety Loop Recommendation

[mlewis]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a drive shaft safety loop for a MKIV w/ a TKO-600.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[cnutting]

I went with the Metco loop. Good quality, bolt on, easy installation. I have the 600 as well. I think they run these in batches when there is enough interest.

[CDXXVII]

metco here as well. Quick easy install.

www.metcomotorsports.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MDL2500

[BEAR-AvHistory]

+3 Think you will find a lot of the guys are using them.

[mikeinatlanta]

IMO: pretty much all of the aftermarket loops are too large to properly contain the very short drive shaft on a cobra, especially an IRS car. I went custom fabricated for this reason.

[GoDadGo]

This is the kit that I have yet to install which will require a little fabrication work.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all69004

[phileas_fogg]

Metco here as well. Note that if you've got a spacer under the tail of the transmission it may require you to put spacers between the hoop and the frame. You'll also need longer bolts. The picture below is for my T5, but you get the idea.

Cheers,


John

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/36123030332_90be987c60_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/X34YpN)IMG_3369 (https://flic.kr/p/X34YpN) by jhsitton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/91016165@N07/), on Flickr

[mlewis]

Thanks all.

I thought about Metco, but assumed they no longer carry the item

I just left a message with them to see if they have any plans to re-stock.

Also have a message into Forte to see where he is at with his new loop.

[WarDamnEagle]

I see a lot of guys on here with the safety loops. Has anyone actually blown up a driveshaft, on one of these cars, and how much power did it take to do that?
At what point when I am turning up my boost should I be concerned about the driveshaft?

[glastron351]

I also need one for a TKO 600. Will contact them to see what availability is.....

[Al_C]

Another Metco recommendation here. I had the same question about availability. Apparently, they take orders and then do a production run to fill them all. If you're interested, I'd say call them and they'll let you know when they'll fill orders.

[DadofThree]

I see a lot of guys on here with the safety loops. Has anyone actually blown up a driveshaft, on one of these cars, and how much power did it take to do that?
At what point when I am turning up my boost should I be concerned about the driveshaft?

The pinion angle was set incorrectly between the differential and the drive shaft which blew up the transmission, the drive shaft. Blew a hole through the floor board. Overall it did a lot of damage. Here is how it looked (http://ohiotechhp07.blogspot.com/2013/02/factory-five-cobra.html)


I too have the Metco Safety Loop - Just because :) Like John, I found that I need to put a spacer under the hoop to provide more room.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/38239653765_3e2e162002_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/21g7dPg)20171217_211150 (https://flic.kr/p/21g7dPg) by D. R. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/annabellerose/), on Flickr

[Jacob McCrea]

"Has anyone actually blown up a driveshaft, on one of these cars, …"

I recall seeing photos of a driveshaft failure posted on this board, and different from the one linked above. It was a pretty grim sight. Thus, even at a modest 340 horsepower I run Forte's loops around both u-joints on my coupe. At some point I may take the next step and put some titanium plate in the tunnel to act as a scattershield. I watched a rear u-joint fail on a big old 4x4 a few years ago and it too was a pretty grim sight.

All that said, the Metco loops look like a really nice product, and I'd probably figure out how to run two of them if I were doing it now.

[Boydster]

Metco x whatever...

[NAZ]

Jacob, I've had two driveshafts explode on me and the damage they can do is impressive. No, not on one of these little cars but I'm sure even these short driveshafts can do significant damage. It's a smart idea to add driveshaft loops.

[glastron351]

I sent an email to Metco today Rick replied very quickly (nice to see) and said they have a batch in powder coat and should have them ready to ship next week at which time they will update their website....just thought I'd share the info.

[mlewis]

Had the same exchange from Rick.

Gonna jump in line to order one

Thanks again all for the input.

[AC Bill]

I used the Lakewood Universal hoop. Very easy to fit and install. I mounted it to the 4" tubes.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/dc/d6/8cdcd6f943bcc893c480de949a2118b2.jpg

[42Bfast]

I see a lot of guys on here with the safety loops. Has anyone actually blown up a driveshaft, on one of these cars, and how much power did it take to do that?
At what point when I am turning up my boost should I be concerned about the driveshaft?

My experience was with the rear u-joint on a 6cyl Jeep CJ7. By all accounts, not a high horsepower situation. The u-joint failed which allowed the driveshaft to fall free on one end and flail about wildly. Luckily, I was only doing about 30 mph and on the street, and was able to clutch and get stopped before any major damage. (I was in a turn through an intersection, the Jeep had an LSD, so there were stresses involved but nothing like what these cars produce)

Bottom line, it CAN happen, when it does, the damage can be significant, not to mention potentially life threatening. The driveshaft loops are cheap, installation is easy (from what I can determine) can’t come up with many reasons not to install one.

Purchased the Metco for my build, not yet installed.

[GoDadGo]

Having driven my old car, a 1995 Corvette, for over 20 years I had a 7 to 10 hour ritual that I performed every year.
It was replacing the U-Joints in the half shafts because the upper links of the C-2, C-3 & C-4 Corvettes are the half shafts.
It is why my car is a 3 Link rear and why it will soon have a driveshaft loop and side pipes if I can ever get home to work on it.
I recently sold that car to a friend of mine for a whopping $2,000.00 dollars because his wife absolutely hates me, but that's another story.

Shown Below Is That Car:

https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

A Driveshaft Loop Solves A Big Problem Before It Can Occur Plus It Can Save Your Life!

[mikeinatlanta]

Here is what mike looks like. Designed to limit shaft deflection angle if a ujoint fails.
89118

[Avalanche325]

The Metco loop was designed specifically for an FFR that they built in house. It is not one of the generic one size fits most pieces. Simple design, no drilling or welding.

[mikeinatlanta]

To each his own, but I wouldn't consider a loop with enough clearance to allow the shaft to droop beyond u-joint travel limits.