Donuts/Geeebos

["Dave M." <doc1590@domain.elided>]

These things fall victim to two things.  Time and
shock.  Time will vary with climate but shock is a
product of driving style.  When they blow, it's from
loads imposed by high RPM, but that isn't really what
damages them.  It's drag race starts and slam shifts. 
If you engage the clutch smoothly, you can put as much
HP on them as you want.
Someone was selling Ford GT40 donuts that would fit a
Spider.  The GT40 was a mid engined car and had NO
driveshaft.  The donuts in question were used on the
half shafts on the early models that used a Colombo
gearbox.  Half shafts turn at wheel RPM, not engine
RPM or even at transmission RPM.  I believe they went
to regular metal U joints when they went to the ZF.  I
DO know that you could hear the difference.  You could
hear the flex during shifting.  Certain Porsches and
sports racers had rubber half shaft joints too.  It
had a unique bouncing sound that was wonderful.  The
116 cars will do it, if you shift just so.  It's
probably not good on the joints, but the sound is
neat.

Shift smooth, don't overload by dumping the clutch and
these things will last for a long time.  When they go,
it is usually at high RPM and you'll know it. 
Fortunately, it usually isn't disabling and I've
always been able to limp home keeping revs low.

Dave Miller
Deltona, Florida
84 GTV6
83 GTV6 Organ Donor

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