drive shaft question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chris91 · 08-21-2009, 07:04 PM

When I bought my truck it had no engine or trans. It is a longbed stepside.
After I put the engine and trans in I had a 1 piece driveshaft made. I drive it only short distances.

Should I get a 2 piece driveshaft or will it be fine as is.

jason65 · 08-21-2009, 09:41 PM

I got a 65 shlong bed with a 1 peice shaft and it's fine. It's fine eather way.

Eagar1 · 08-21-2009, 10:12 PM

I think the only thing to worry about is suspension travel. As your axle moves up and down, the distance between the diff and trans changes, and if your slip joint isnt long enuff or short enuff it either binds or falls out. If it has done neither, then you are likely ok, just double check to see that your pinion angle isn't to steep, so the u-joints don't bind and wear excessively.
you may need to "point" the diff toward the trans, which can be done by installing angled shims where your axle mounts to the springs or something similar with trailing arms.
A simple way to check is to overload your bed, (or chain it down to the floor)then jack the rear frame up so the axle hangs freely. Check to see if your Shaft is close to falling out, if not, then jack the diff up until you raise the truck off of its suports, or it hits the snubbers, and see if your shaft binds or bottoms out in the back of the trans. if you see problems, all you have to do is take it to a driveline shop and have it shortened or lengthened, and then balanced. You can do this yourself if you have a big pipe cutter, or really good chop saw, and you are an expert welder, but you will still need to have it balanced.

jess66chevy · 08-22-2009, 01:02 AM

So I am in the same boat. Maybe you guys can help me out. So I am in the process of swapping out my 3 on the tree transmission for a TH350. I have a longbed with a 2 piece driveshaft. So my question is: Will I need a shortened the drive shaft? One piece maybe and ditch the carrier bearing? Someone told me that a 70's caprice car drive shaft is a good sway to go to a one piece? Have you guys ran into this problem?

Eagar1 · 08-22-2009, 01:16 AM

I am not up on the length of the 3speed vs the th350 but if its close, you can bolt it all together, take out the bolts that hold your trans mount crossmember to the frame and the bolts that hold the motor mount saddles to the frame, slide the whole thing fwd, or back if you have the clearance, then re-drill the mounting bolts or even weld em in.
Thats kinda ghetto, but if its close it may work out well.
I did it with my 66 Lemans when I changed it to a th350 from a 71 chevelle and a chevy 327 from a 50 ford a guy was racing ( spare parts off of cars my dad didn't need) cause that was the only parts I could afford at the time, free!

Joemomma1 · 08-22-2009, 04:04 AM

You can get a nice one piece at a wrecking yard for about $20. I picked up an aluminum for that.

chris91 · 08-22-2009, 09:57 AM

That is what I actully did. I put in the TH350 and used a caprice driveshaft. I want to drive on the interstate and afraid of breaking something. Should I check the drive angle.

502tripower · 08-23-2009, 12:34 PM

Here is some good information for you guys. http://jniolon.clubfte.com/driveline...nephasing.html

chris91 · 08-23-2009, 06:29 PM

Thanks everyone for the info. I will get a protractor and check angles.

Eagar1 · 08-23-2009, 11:12 PM

Awesome info, very simple and easy to understand.

jason65 · 08-24-2009, 07:52 AM

I went from a 4 on the floor to a th350"short nose" and had to shorten the front drive shaft. Then a few years later a th350 to a 700r and went to a 1 peice.

jess66chevy · 08-24-2009, 11:43 PM

Jason65,
was your truck a longbed? The ideal way would be to shorten the front driveshaft but dont you think a one piece would be better? Im trying to decide what to do with mine. Have the stock one shortened like you or find a one piece.

jason65 · 08-25-2009, 08:11 AM

Yes and it always will be. I switched to a 1 peice cause the driveshaft place said my front one was getting to short and would cause vibrations and I didn't want to change out carrier bearings for the rest of my life. But I still have my 2 peice stached away in case I ever get to bagg it or in case I need it.

Looking back and by what I've seen here. If your going bagged or real low, keep the 2 peice. If your staying where your at, do what ever fits your budget or what you want. Both work good.

08-21-2009, 07:04 PM	#1
chris91 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: summerville, sc Posts: 93	drive shaft question When I bought my truck it had no engine or trans. It is a longbed stepside. After I put the engine and trans in I had a 1 piece driveshaft made. I drive it only short distances. Should I get a 2 piece driveshaft or will it be fine as is.

08-21-2009, 09:41 PM	#2
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: drive shaft question I got a 65 shlong bed with a 1 peice shaft and it's fine. It's fine eather way.

08-21-2009, 10:12 PM	#3
Eagar1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 169	Re: drive shaft question I think the only thing to worry about is suspension travel. As your axle moves up and down, the distance between the diff and trans changes, and if your slip joint isnt long enuff or short enuff it either binds or falls out. If it has done neither, then you are likely ok, just double check to see that your pinion angle isn't to steep, so the u-joints don't bind and wear excessively. you may need to "point" the diff toward the trans, which can be done by installing angled shims where your axle mounts to the springs or something similar with trailing arms. A simple way to check is to overload your bed, (or chain it down to the floor)then jack the rear frame up so the axle hangs freely. Check to see if your Shaft is close to falling out, if not, then jack the diff up until you raise the truck off of its suports, or it hits the snubbers, and see if your shaft binds or bottoms out in the back of the trans. if you see problems, all you have to do is take it to a driveline shop and have it shortened or lengthened, and then balanced. You can do this yourself if you have a big pipe cutter, or really good chop saw, and you are an expert welder, but you will still need to have it balanced.

08-22-2009, 01:02 AM	#4
jess66chevy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: glendale, az Posts: 192	Re: drive shaft question So I am in the same boat. Maybe you guys can help me out. So I am in the process of swapping out my 3 on the tree transmission for a TH350. I have a longbed with a 2 piece driveshaft. So my question is: Will I need a shortened the drive shaft? One piece maybe and ditch the carrier bearing? Someone told me that a 70's caprice car drive shaft is a good sway to go to a one piece? Have you guys ran into this problem?

08-22-2009, 01:16 AM	#5
Eagar1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 169	Re: drive shaft question I am not up on the length of the 3speed vs the th350 but if its close, you can bolt it all together, take out the bolts that hold your trans mount crossmember to the frame and the bolts that hold the motor mount saddles to the frame, slide the whole thing fwd, or back if you have the clearance, then re-drill the mounting bolts or even weld em in. Thats kinda ghetto, but if its close it may work out well. I did it with my 66 Lemans when I changed it to a th350 from a 71 chevelle and a chevy 327 from a 50 ford a guy was racing ( spare parts off of cars my dad didn't need) cause that was the only parts I could afford at the time, free!

08-22-2009, 04:04 AM	#6
Joemomma1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 814	Re: drive shaft question You can get a nice one piece at a wrecking yard for about $20. I picked up an aluminum for that. Last edited by Joemomma1; 08-22-2009 at 04:05 AM.

08-22-2009, 09:57 AM	#7
chris91 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: summerville, sc Posts: 93	Re: drive shaft question That is what I actully did. I put in the TH350 and used a caprice driveshaft. I want to drive on the interstate and afraid of breaking something. Should I check the drive angle.

08-23-2009, 12:34 PM	#8
502tripower Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Satsop, WA Posts: 606	Re: drive shaft question Here is some good information for you guys. http://jniolon.clubfte.com/driveline...nephasing.html __________________ 1963' Chev Custom Cab 502, 67' 435hp 3X2 intake, 9" 4:30 Posi 1961 Impala SS 348/350 4-speed 3:70 Posi 1961 Bel-Air Bubble Top 283 Turboglide soon to have a 348 3X2 4-speed 1950 17' Fairliner twin cockpit barrel stern 312 Y block 1X1 intake Borg Warner 1:1 gear 1957 Fleetform 14' twin cockpit barrel stern 1969 BP-125 Merc 1949 Transitier 3-wheel forklift Crosley 4-Banger 98' FXD 2002 2500HD

08-23-2009, 06:29 PM	#9
chris91 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: summerville, sc Posts: 93	Re: drive shaft question Thanks everyone for the info. I will get a protractor and check angles.

08-23-2009, 11:12 PM	#10
Eagar1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 169	Re: drive shaft question Awesome info, very simple and easy to understand.

08-24-2009, 07:52 AM	#11
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: drive shaft question I went from a 4 on the floor to a th350"short nose" and had to shorten the front drive shaft. Then a few years later a th350 to a 700r and went to a 1 peice.

08-24-2009, 11:43 PM	#12
jess66chevy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: glendale, az Posts: 192	Re: drive shaft question Jason65, was your truck a longbed? The ideal way would be to shorten the front driveshaft but dont you think a one piece would be better? Im trying to decide what to do with mine. Have the stock one shortened like you or find a one piece.

08-25-2009, 08:11 AM	#13
jason65 Registerd User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,118	Re: drive shaft question Yes and it always will be. I switched to a 1 peice cause the driveshaft place said my front one was getting to short and would cause vibrations and I didn't want to change out carrier bearings for the rest of my life. But I still have my 2 peice stached away in case I ever get to bagg it or in case I need it. Looking back and by what I've seen here. If your going bagged or real low, keep the 2 peice. If your staying where your at, do what ever fits your budget or what you want. Both work good.



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