Drive shaft extention

[79gmcsierragrande]

I want to extend the cab around 6”-8” on my 79 SWB. I was thinking I could cut the frame and weld in spacers the only problem is the drive shaft. Is there a way to extend the drive shaft only 6”-8”? The other thought I had was get a long bed frame and drop my short bed and extended cab on it I just don’t want it too long, I like the shorter wheel base. Well how much longer is the wheel base on a long bed?

[BACKYARD88]

I'm not sure about the wheelbase length but don't try to lenghten your driveshaft. The thing to do would be to have the driveshaft re-tubed. They just remove the yokes, weld on a longer tube and balance it.

[JMurray]

A longbed frame is 12" longer between the axles and 8" longer on the tail end. It would be easy enough to cut the 8" of the end and remove only 6" or so from the center section under the cab. There are lots of post on making a lwb a swb it would be same process just not same amount taken out. i'm new to this just my 2cents

[BACKYARD88]

That sounds like the way to go to me

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by JMurray

A longbed frame is 12" longer between the axles and 8" longer on the tail end. It would be easy enough to cut the 8" of the end and remove only 6" or so from the center section under the cab. There are lots of post on making a lwb a swb it would be same process just not same amount taken out. i'm new to this just my 2cents

100% Or extend yours. It really could be done either way as long as it's done right. The shortening would be a little cleaner than extending due to the single joint rather than two when adding. Either way you will need to have a new shaft made.

[LONGHAIR]

If you can get ahold of a drive shaft out of a LWB truck at a good enough price, you can get it shortened. It is far cheaper to shorten one that to lengthen one. As posted above, lengthening requires re-tubing. This means buying a new piece of tubing....shortening is labor only. They cut one end off and weld it back on, re-balancing of course.

[79gmcsierragrande]

All Good points thank you. I’m not sure I could find a long bed frame cheaper then I could lengthen mine. And it sounds like I could extend my cab 12” and then just get a long bed drive shaft and not have to modify it; that would be ok too. I just need more room in the cab, I’m tall and feel like these trucks a built for shorter people, besides the seat I got for the truck is out of a 98 extra cab and it reclines so that would give me more room to recline. Thank's guys.