I've had this driveshaft loop for 5 or 6 years and never installed it on my White GS I just sold. I'm considering putting it on my '70 GS, maybe. So, is this the one that Steve Caruso used to make? Is he making them any longer? If I decide to sell it, what would be a decent but fair price to ask? And, if decide to install it in my '70 do I have to drill the floor pan from inside the car or is it installed completely from the underside?
That's not the Caruso loop and when I last contacted him about 6 months ago, he told me he wasn't making them anymore. There is a place I've found that makes similar. https://www.ramairrestoration.com/buick.html?cat=30
Both Ames Performance and OPGI sell the same kind as the one in your link. I'm helping a good friend of mine restore his '67 GTO and he purchased the loop from Ames and it bolted up just fine but we had an issue when we married the body to frame..... the loop was hitting the floor of the car! The shop doing the resto came up with this as a solution..... Before............ After....... It bolts to the floor brace without drilling thru the floor of the car, Really slick fit! Lord knows what they charged him to fab that up!
The one that bolts to the tranny mount looks to be the easiest one to install. Question remains, does the one in my OP install on the floor pan brace without drilling into the floor pan from above?
Thanks. I think I'll let it go in the parts for sale forum. My car is too original for me to want to start drilling into it.
Made mine before they had them for sale...lol. Same reason, I did not want to drill holes in a floorboard that was unmolested. All I had was the round loop. Made my own stick and t plate to go under the trans mount Just be careful to recheck your drive line angle again...If you get a harmonic oscillation you may have to re adjust with upper adjustable control arms or a shorter transmission mount block Jim
Here is a pic of the "homemade" loop installed on the car. We don't have any idea on drive line angles yet until we get it down on the ground at ride height, that should be happening soon. This car has the adjustable upper control arms so we should be alright.
Ok trouble with that is that it does not surround the drive shaft. you want it to suspend the drive shaft true as possible to do the least amount of damage (being round ) The point of the 3/16" steel loop is to contain the driveshaft front components from ripping through your floor board when and if they break...lol. AND IT WILL we have seen it. Also so you do not pole vault the car to keep it from falling to the ground...lol For the street car that should be fine.... likely would not pass a NHRA IHRA inspection Jim JD
Or do I see the round loop inside the frame work? I think I do now. Sorry...everything is BLACk...could not see the true round loop. MY FAULT.... oops. You are all good... Crappy OLD MAN EYE...Next the brain will go. .....pooh. Oh that is next then the brain...lol
LOL! Yeah Jim, check out post #6 to see a better pic of the loop. That pic of it installed on the car came out too dark for some reason. I'm going to take a better pic next time i'm by the shop.
Jim, wasn't that disproved long ago? Have you ever actually heard of or seen that? I think it might make the back of the car come off the ground some, but I think the more likely result would be the rear ripping loose, and being shoved back. Maybe like this?
The one I had drop in a 72 convertible on a tow dolly back in the day dropped from the front to the road and the impact ripped the driveshaft in 2 raggedy pieces and blew o e half completely through the drivers side rear floor pan (probably didn’t HELP the rear end either though but never found out).
Here's a couple better shots Brett....... BTW......Here's the car it's attached to. We picked it up yesterday....... it turned out awesome!
