Driveline clearance

[CJ2A]

1963 GMC long bed converted to a short bed LS1 lq4 6.0 with a Muncie 4speed 3” drop spindals up front with 4” lower leaf springs in the rear

The truck had two drivelines when it was a long bed. One drive line now that it is a short bed. The original cross member for the carrier bearing is still on the truck. The clearance between the driveline and the carrier bearing cross member is only 1/4”. Do I need more clearance ? If so how much clearance should l create ?

[mongocanfly]

welcome
you absolutely need more than a 1/4"...either take that crossmember out or add a driveshaft loop in it ..
the amount of clearance you need will be determined by how far your suspension can travel...
after you shortened the truck how far apart were your crossmembers ?...any pics?

[CJ2A]

The cross member at the front of the rear leaf springs is 24” & the cross member that the embarked mounts on is 17.5”

[mongocanfly]

not sure what you mean... are you saying the 2 crossmembers are only 6-1/2'' apart?
what is embarked?

[CJ2A]

Each cross member distance from the carrier bearing cross member

[mongocanfly]

what you can do is cut the top part of the crossmember out (red marks)..
and weld a piece of flat bar across the top of the crossmember ( blue marks)
but you need to make certain that it wont contact as the suspension cycles

[mongocanfly]

you could even give it a little more room by making to flat bar with a hump in it

[CJ2A]

I like it
Thanks