QA1 CF Driveshaft 1 Year Review

[zzrat]

Thinking about a QA1 install as the winter months have set in. Have spent the last hour reading again the great job that Epiphany illustrated with the install on his 350. Looks like it's a bit more than a year past & several spoke of making this mod. Would greatly appreciate any experiences of "Good" & "Bad" regarding this equipment. Everything that I came across on threads posted here @Mustang6g came across as being pretty positive. Thanks to all for any input!

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[Epiphany]

My vote? Do it!

 

[Gray Area GT350]

I second what Epiphany said...Do it!
What's not to like. Lighter weight, smoother drive train and top shelf craftsmanship.
The driveshaft coupled with a MGW shifter and it doesn't get much better.
I have about 2500 miles on this combination and could not be more impressed.
I followed the install from Epiphany step by step and it was spot on.

 

[Niz55]

I had mine for 3000 miles now and I love it. No vibration at all.

 

[Stang 19]

My vote? Do it!

How much did the parts cost? How much was the labor? Any complications at all?

 

[Niz55]

Part is around $1300 and labor shouldn't be more than $400.

 

[Stang 19]

Part is around $1300 and labor shouldn't be more than $400.

If you had a choice to do one project, and the cost was the same, would you do the driveshaft upgrade or a 4.09 ring/pinion swap, and why?

 

[Zeromaz]

I had mine for 3000 miles now and I love it. No vibration at all.

Can you tell us how it feels? What did it change.. how noticable?

 

[zzrat]

Well thanks guys. That is the info that is worth knowing. Have not heard of one negative about the QA1 except for their packaging for shipment & hopefully that has been cured. Might be a good idea to speak with them when ordering about that.

The product certainly looks top shelf & when the folks that have experienced it first hand speak highly of it helps the comfort level of replacing the OEM shaft. I'm purchasing this & the MGW shifter from what others have experienced with the improvement from the stock equipment. Hopefully will have the same results & enjoy many years of great driving!

 

[PP0001]

Thinking about a QA1 install as the winter months have set in. Have spent the last hour reading again the great job that Epiphany illustrated with the install on his 350. Looks like it's a bit more than a year past & several spoke of making this mod. Would greatly appreciate any experiences of "Good" & "Bad" regarding this equipment. Everything that I came across on threads posted here @Mustang6g came across as being pretty positive. Thanks to all for any input!

Rex, I do not have any experience with QA1 CF drive shafts but have heard that they make a very good product.

Having said that I do have experience with one piece drive shafts as I installed a one piece CF unit in one of my Pilot Production Boss 302's about 4 years ago and purchased that unit from the DSS in Salisbury, N.C.

I owned PP0004 for a couple of years and then relented to a great friend of mine in my same town who has now owned that car for 3 years and has not had any issues with his car todate.

I also installed a CF drive shaft in a GHIG Boss 302 (#333) and had a terrific time driving that car as well and regularly took that car to the 7500 RPM limit with no exceptions. That car is with another great friend of mine and sits across the river from me in Augusta.

I don't know the spec's for the stock steel 2 piece drive shafts in the GT350/R's but do know that the stock 2 piece steel drive shafts in the Boss cars weighed ~44 pounds with approximately 18 pounds of ballast being used for balance on that unit. I believe the CF units for these same cars weight around 18 pounds therefore a significant weight reduction in rotating mass.

Once installed I noticed a reduction in interior noise along with a much smoother transition through the gears especially when I got hard on the accelerator and maybe it was just my imagination but both of these cars seemed to pull a little stronger due to significant weight reduction on the 1 piece 3.25" CF units.

I say go for it and suggest that between installing a new CF drive shaft and MGW shifter in your R model you will experience some very noticeable improvements.

Good luck buddy!

 

[JR369]

If you had a choice to do one project, and the cost was the same, would you do the driveshaft upgrade or a 4.09 ring/pinion swap, and why?

Just to expand on PP0001's experience. I did the CF DS on a 12 Boss I owned. Hands down the #1 mod I did to the Boss. Motor spun up faster. The wieght savings overall and on the rotating mass. It's literally comparable to doing the gear change or tune imo. Seat of pants was noticeable right from the get go. Smoother driveline. Lower noise. I'd do it in heartbeat to my R if wasn't still so new. Just going to enjoy the R as is for awhile. I'm not sure it needs anything but tint. Lol. The Boss however benefitted greatly. I remember roll racing a Z06 in my Boss and I was actually ahead by a half length all the way from 40 to 130 mph. Only mod was the CF DS. No thing else.

 

[JR369]

Let's also not forget that Ford put in a stock CF DS in the 13-14 GT500. So anyone claiming that they won't hold up simply doesn't know what they're talking about. The DS is tucked up in there pretty good. You'd have to go off roading to damage it. And if that happens then the CF DS will be the least of your worries. Also, I forgot to add that I bought a QA1 CF DS for my HC A8. I never had it installed but I can tell you it's work of art and packaging was was just fine.

 

[Stang 19]

Let's also not forget that Ford put in a stock CF DS in the 13-14 GT500. So anyone claiming that they won't hold up simply doesn't know what they're talking about. The DS is tucked up in there pretty good. You'd have to go off roading to damage it. And if that happens then the CF DS will be the least of your worries. Also, I forgot to add that I bought a QA1 CF DS for my HC A8. I never had it installed but I can tell you it's work of art and packaging was was just fine.

How does the carbon fiber unit compare to aluminum in terms of cost and weight? Any real advantage one vs. another?

 

[galaxy]

Carbon fiber is lighter and more expensive than aluminum. Advantages are thus self explanatory.

 

[Niz55]

And you won't need a loop if you run carbon.

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