<VV> Corvair half shafts...

[RoboMan91324@aol.com]

Hi Cash,

The physics is what it is all about.  The VAST amount of the torque is 
transmitted along the outside of any shaft.  The center of a solid shaft transmits 
zero torque.  This is why driveshafts have been hollow tubes since the early 
days of automobiles. You save material, you save weight and there are cost 
savings.  Someone asked about the size of the half shafts of Corvettes of the same 
era thinking that the Vair half shafts owed their large size to Chevy using 
common materials.  I would have thought the same thing.  I went out to my garage 
and took measurements of both my '66 Corsa and spare half shafts from my '65 
Vette and was very surprised to see that the Vair shafts were almost 0.25 Inch 
larger diameter than the Vette units.  I would have thought either the same 
or the Vair would be smaller diameter.  Imagine that.

Doc
~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 10/30/2004 7:20:28 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
virtualvairs-request@corvair.org writes:
Message: 5
To: VirtualVairs <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
Cc: Cash Case <cash.case@sbcglobal.net>
From: cash case <cash.case@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 08:21:11 -0500
Subject: <VV> Corvair half shafts...

Anyone have any idea why the corvair half shafts were as big as they are? Why 
didn't they use a single small solid shaft like what is use now and in Bugs 
and porsches back then. Wouldn't a smaller shaft spin easier or am I just a 
physics retard?