need help with drive shaft???
 

I want to go with a 1 piece shaft. I have a 69 GMC swb with 350 an S-10 T-5 and a 12 bolt rearend dose anyone know wht I can get a shaft off of that will fit. Its approximately 59 in from trans to axle I haven't had time to go hunt and measure anything. Any help to get me in the rite direction would help a lot.

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

59" is maybe to long for a single piece shaft depending on the diameter.

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

i'd suggest for best results to go into a local driveshaft shop and talk to them

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

6 feet is the magic number that should not be exceeded by the typical driveshaft shop. Once they get longer than that, (72 inches) they start whipping and causing problems. Your 59 inches is very doable.
You need to measure center of U-joint cap, to canter of u-joint cap, with the slip yoke at 50% in, and the suspention loaded to normal ride height. That is the correct way to get the length.

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

You can run a 10 foot shaft if you want but you need a 6 inch diameter shaft to do it. 59 inches is at the edge of a safe shaft at the stock diameter. This is what I was told by Denny at Denny's driveshaft who made my 59 inch shaft. Its 4 inches in diameter. You will also have to machine the slip yoke so it doesn't slide in against the bolt on yoke stop.

read this to make an informed decision
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/...ech/index.html

and this by Dana, look in the shaft length section on page 18

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/J3311-1-HVTSS.PDF

Remember the trans in drive turns the drive shaft at engine speed and faster than engine speed in OD

then call a drive shaft shop.

But to answer your question I don't think you will find a bolt in shaft that length out of a pickup

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

I just picked up a driveshaft from a 97 Chevy pickup that is 59 3/8" long as measured from center of trunion to center of trunion. I installled it on my son's 69 SWB and the fit is great!

Jim

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

There you go,, what trans do you have in it? What diameter is it?

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

Dave,

The drive shaft is 3 1/2" and the transmission is a 2004R which uses the same driveshaft as a TH 350.

Jim

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

Actually just picked one up from pullapart today for my bb,th400 swb. The one I picked up is 59 3/4 from end to end, (not counting yoke, just the driveshaft). It came out of a mid 80's 4dr caprice. Now just need to figure out my u-joints.

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

My T-5 swap needed a shaft about 58" center to center. I had no trouble finding one at my friendly local salvage yard, but I don't know what it came out of. My suggestion: don't pay to have one made until you see what you can find first.

Re: need help with drive shaft???
 

Thanks, thats good to know. We have plenty of junk chevy trucks here. It would save a few hundred not having to make a shaft for a street swap. Did you run into any problems with the rear housing being offset? The shaft to close to the center cross member?