Driveshaft question.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**SactoJim** · 01-11-2009, 11:56 PM

Weather was beautiful this weekend and had my truck out for a bit and noticed a small vibration that progressively got worse....long story short, almost made it back to the shop before the front U joint gave out!

After getting trailer and going through all that BS, only had time to get it up in the air for a quick look. Think I'm gonna have to replace the drive shaft.....pretty beat up.

So the question.......guys with 700R4 / small block combos. Driveshafts from anything else out there close to the correct size? Be nice if I didn't have to have one made or buy a long one and have it shortened.

sleepertruck72 · 01-12-2009, 04:09 AM

I dont know about a shortbed, but my longbed C-20 has 350/700r4 and I took the stock driveshaft to get shortened at a shop. Mine is a 2 piece driveshaft and I had one cut and rebalanced(dont remember which one was cut, shorter or longer one) and they installed a new carrier bearing. The tranny was a TH350 and the splines are the same.
I am interested to see if any other years would work just to learn something today

**SactoJim** · 01-12-2009, 09:27 PM

TTT........FYI...

Driveshaft measure's 56 3/8" from centerline to centerline of U-joint.

Any help appreciated......just looking for info on what other drive shafts may be out there in other types of vehicles that would be either long enough or too long so I could start looking.

If that don't work, gonna have to have one made.....thx!

bobbo · 01-12-2009, 09:42 PM

I would be interested in this too, I am running a 700r4 with the stock 2 piece driveshaft. It works good, but I eat up carrier bearings like crazy. I bought an 85 chevy for the front brake stuff and pulled the driveshaft out but it is too long, I am considering having it shortened but what issues would there be with the crossmember, if any? I do have the truck lowered quite a bit front and back, how important is the angle of the shaft in relation to trans/diff? Not to steal your thread SactoJim, just curious as well.

EyeH8the24 · 01-12-2009, 09:57 PM

we used the front part of a lwb straight 6 3 speed .....and the rear part of another lwb shaft only because original rear shaft had been dropped and chewed up....it worked out great .so guess its a straight 6 3 speed shaft that worked for me ,the 350 is in the stock 350 location for motor mounts to

Painter D · 01-12-2009, 10:04 PM

I wish I knew of one, I would have gone that route.

I had to have one made.

71 super · 01-12-2009, 10:11 PM

Might check a shaft out of mid 70's caprice car, they are around the 56 measurement I believe. In yards around here they pull shafts and pile them in backs of trucks, I have taken a tape and pulled until I found the right length with a GM yoke- there are a ton of 350 shafts out there, so this may be an option. Check with the Caprice first, then if needed plan "B".

**LEEVON** · 01-12-2009, 10:25 PM

Sacto,

I swapped a 700R4 into my '87 and I recall when doing research that some folks said the 88-up pickups with 700R4/2wd have a driveshaft length of 56 3/4".

**SactoJim** · 01-12-2009, 10:36 PM

Good places to start looking......thanks guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71 super

Might check a shaft out of mid 70's caprice car, they are around the 56 measurement I believe. In yards around here they pull shafts and pile them in backs of trucks, I have taken a tape and pulled until I found the right length with a GM yoke- there are a ton of 350 shafts out there, so this may be an option. Check with the Caprice first, then if needed plan "B".

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Sacto,

I swapped a 700R4 into my '87 and I recall when doing research that some folks said the 88-up pickups with 700R4/2wd have a driveshaft length of 56 3/4".

70clone · 01-14-2009, 12:34 AM

i just did the conversion i used a 1993 chevrolet 1500 with the 7oor4 driveshaft. fit perfect the seal line on the yoke matched up like it was made for it the only thing you will need is a cross jointthat will go from the wider driveshaft the the smaller rearend yoke. your local driveshaft shop will have the crossjoint you will have to get rid of the carrier bearing mount if your truck is lowered going to a one piece driveshaft gets rid of the ****ty carrier bearing. the truck has to be a 1993 i tried just about everything else i know 1993 works perfect

01-11-2009, 11:56 PM	#1
SactoJim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,970	Driveshaft question.... Weather was beautiful this weekend and had my truck out for a bit and noticed a small vibration that progressively got worse....long story short, almost made it back to the shop before the front U joint gave out! After getting trailer and going through all that BS, only had time to get it up in the air for a quick look. Think I'm gonna have to replace the drive shaft.....pretty beat up. So the question.......guys with 700R4 / small block combos. Driveshafts from anything else out there close to the correct size? Be nice if I didn't have to have one made or buy a long one and have it shortened. __________________ 72 Cheyenne SWB Fleet Nut & bolt frame off in progress...99.9999% - supercharged 383 - 4 wheel discs - relocated fuel tank - My Build Thread

01-12-2009, 04:09 AM	#2
sleepertruck72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Turlock California 95380 Posts: 2,075	Re: Driveshaft question.... I dont know about a shortbed, but my longbed C-20 has 350/700r4 and I took the stock driveshaft to get shortened at a shop. Mine is a 2 piece driveshaft and I had one cut and rebalanced(dont remember which one was cut, shorter or longer one) and they installed a new carrier bearing. The tranny was a TH350 and the splines are the same. I am interested to see if any other years would work just to learn something today __________________ 72 C20 Longbed 05 1500 Z71

01-12-2009, 09:27 PM	#3
SactoJim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,970	Re: Driveshaft question.... TTT........FYI... Driveshaft measure's 56 3/8" from centerline to centerline of U-joint. Any help appreciated......just looking for info on what other drive shafts may be out there in other types of vehicles that would be either long enough or too long so I could start looking. If that don't work, gonna have to have one made.....thx! __________________ 72 Cheyenne SWB Fleet Nut & bolt frame off in progress...99.9999% - supercharged 383 - 4 wheel discs - relocated fuel tank - My Build Thread

01-12-2009, 09:42 PM	#4
bobbo Droppin' It Like It's Hot! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Battlefield, Missouri Posts: 2,934	Re: Driveshaft question.... I would be interested in this too, I am running a 700r4 with the stock 2 piece driveshaft. It works good, but I eat up carrier bearings like crazy. I bought an 85 chevy for the front brake stuff and pulled the driveshaft out but it is too long, I am considering having it shortened but what issues would there be with the crossmember, if any? I do have the truck lowered quite a bit front and back, how important is the angle of the shaft in relation to trans/diff? Not to steal your thread SactoJim, just curious as well. __________________ Robert Life Member RIP CAROL JANICE HARTMAN. BELOVED MOTHER. 01/04/53 - 03/05/09 1969 1500 Norwood, MO 2007 Big Sandy, TN 2008 Had nothing to do with the forklift! Kirkwood, MO (Midwest Meet 2009) Midwest All Truck Nationals, KCMO - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2012 - 2014 SUPPORT THE SITE HERE!

01-12-2009, 09:57 PM	#5
EyeH8the24 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: beulah,alabama Posts: 1,075	Re: Driveshaft question.... we used the front part of a lwb straight 6 3 speed .....and the rear part of another lwb shaft only because original rear shaft had been dropped and chewed up....it worked out great .so guess its a straight 6 3 speed shaft that worked for me ,the 350 is in the stock 350 location for motor mounts to

01-12-2009, 10:04 PM	#6
Painter D Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW (Forney) Posts: 1,529	Re: Driveshaft question.... I wish I knew of one, I would have gone that route. I had to have one made. __________________ '58 SWB Fleetside...Front & Rear Porterbuilt Dropmember, 6.0 LS /4L60E. Accuair E-level, 20 Billet Specialties (Vintecs) '63 Buick Riviera ... AccuAir E-level, 20" Billet Specialties (Vintecs) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=528853&page=5

01-12-2009, 10:11 PM	#7
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,080	Re: Driveshaft question.... Might check a shaft out of mid 70's caprice car, they are around the 56 measurement I believe. In yards around here they pull shafts and pile them in backs of trucks, I have taken a tape and pulled until I found the right length with a GM yoke- there are a ton of 350 shafts out there, so this may be an option. Check with the Caprice first, then if needed plan "B". __________________ 67 blue step side- bb 68 gold and white swb cst anniversary 68 custom swb hot rod Ls swap 69 swb cst 6 cylinder/ overdrive 69 black/black cst bb swb 70 orange and white cst Canada built truck swb bb 71 black and white super swb bb 71 red and white super swb 72 green and white super swb 4x4 62 nova wagon 400 series Ls swapped 68 Camaro 327/4 speed- 1 owner, original paint 66 Volkswagen bettle 69 auto stick Volkswagen Beetle

01-12-2009, 10:25 PM	#8
LEEVON Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ozark, MO Posts: 4,893	Re: Driveshaft question.... Sacto, I swapped a 700R4 into my '87 and I recall when doing research that some folks said the 88-up pickups with 700R4/2wd have a driveshaft length of 56 3/4". __________________ '86 GMC C30 Crew ~ '86 C20 Crew ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '74K10 ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids Last edited by LEEVON; 01-12-2009 at 10:25 PM.

01-14-2009, 12:34 AM	#10
70clone Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: JACKSONVILLE FL Posts: 200	Re: Driveshaft question.... i just did the conversion i used a 1993 chevrolet 1500 with the 7oor4 driveshaft. fit perfect the seal line on the yoke matched up like it was made for it the only thing you will need is a cross jointthat will go from the wider driveshaft the the smaller rearend yoke. your local driveshaft shop will have the crossjoint you will have to get rid of the carrier bearing mount if your truck is lowered going to a one piece driveshaft gets rid of the ****ty carrier bearing. the truck has to be a 1993 i tried just about everything else i know 1993 works perfect



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