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02-05-2008, 09:14 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Lodge Montana
Posts: 240
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Anybody shorten a driveline?
I am in the process of shortning my frame from LWB to SWB. I want to run a straight driveline with no slip yoke. Can I buy a piece of round tubing the correct diameter and thickness and center up the ends I cut off my long drive shaft and weld them on? Any suggestions, balancing, which way to allign the u-joints? I know having one made would be the way to go but im on a budget.
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02-05-2008, 09:16 AM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hillsboro Oregon
Posts: 6,449
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
This is one place you don't want to skimp on. Either find one the right length at a yard (good luck) or get one that's slightly too long and have is shortened and balanced by a shop.
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02-05-2008, 09:22 AM | #3 |
Old Skool Club
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas"
Posts: 10,880
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
I'm sure it's been done many, many times. Balancing is key to the life of anything in the driveline...u-joints, transmission and rear end, to be sure. The yokes of the driveshaft have to be "phased" properly. Look at the driveshaft you take out and see how the yokes are positioned. The driveshaft you build should be done the same way. After you get it all together, I'd take it to a machine shop, maybe a NAPA shop, and have it spun to check it for balance. If that is the only thing you have done by someone else, assuming you have the talent you need to cut and weld, you'll still save $$. As an aside, here in Central Arkansas, it runs about $75 to have done what you want done, at a business that is in business to do just that.
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Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. |
02-05-2008, 09:36 AM | #4 |
CAN'T FIX NOTHIN
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SOUTHRUST VIRGINIA !!!
Posts: 2,112
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
I have done this MANY times without any problem ,
it is hard to describe without a picture but I will try #1 the key to the success is getting the end's plumb (STRAIGHT) (SQAURE) #2 get a long piece of something straight and clamp it to the end's once you get the length right TEST FIT then TEST FIT IT AGAIN then TEST FIT IT !!! you will want to use the straight edge ? piece of angle iron ? 2x4 ? just something straight to hold the end's in a nice even form while welding , give me a minute and I will make a drawing ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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1967 C10 Shortbed Fleetside Small back glass 6 cyl 3spd on the tree 3.08 gears underdash AC |
02-05-2008, 09:46 AM | #5 |
CAN'T FIX NOTHIN
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SOUTHRUST VIRGINIA !!!
Posts: 2,112
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
here is a drawing of how to do it , if you do it like this it will not shake , I have done many like this without a problem ,
and just to be saying if you were doing this for a 200 mph race car yes you would need to have it balanced ! for a 1967 to 1972 chevy pickup NO!
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1967 C10 Shortbed Fleetside Small back glass 6 cyl 3spd on the tree 3.08 gears underdash AC |
02-05-2008, 10:00 AM | #6 |
Fabricate till you "puke"
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ill
Posts: 9,402
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
I have cut & welded a couple shafts......but i dont reccomend you do it on a shaft That long crazyL
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69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears.... |
02-05-2008, 11:02 AM | #7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Lodge Montana
Posts: 240
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
Thanks guys, Ill give "er" a shot and take it to be balanced. I can run a welder and a sawzall. If it wont balance, Ill have them build one.
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02-05-2008, 01:28 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: plymouth,ca.
Posts: 6
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
your rear diff. moves forward and backwards as you roll down the road. you need a slip yoke. or your brgs. will go by,by, and you will hammer your running gear.
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02-05-2008, 01:33 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Lodge Montana
Posts: 240
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
I have a 67 camaro that doesnt have a slip yoke and everything is OK. I dont plan on hauling anything with the truck nor pulling any trailers. Still have to have a slip yoke?
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02-05-2008, 01:50 PM | #10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: plymouth,ca.
Posts: 6
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
yep. even with very small movement going on, it is still happening. your parts wont last very long, and your running gear will not be happy.
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02-05-2008, 02:01 PM | #11 |
I have a radical idea!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sweet Home Alabama!
Posts: 6,513
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
You mean it doesn't have a 2 piece shaft with center slip yoke, but it does have the normal slip yoke going into the tranny right? As long as you have the slip yoke going into tranny you don't need the center yoke on a SWB.
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'67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! Last edited by 67_C-30; 02-05-2008 at 09:21 PM. |
02-05-2008, 05:12 PM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Lodge Montana
Posts: 240
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
Gotcha,
Thanks guys |
02-05-2008, 07:57 PM | #13 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,690
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
i would still never build a shaft.
The junk yard has about eleventy billion driveshafts just laying around. |
02-06-2008, 10:15 AM | #14 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Anybody shorten a driveline?
i shorten drivelines everyday, its what i do. believe me save the time effort and money by having a shop that specializes in drivelines build your driveshaft or shorten one that is longer (cheapest route). buy the good u-joints check your pinion angle, and you should have no problems.
even using a lathe, our setups, and making our shafts with about 50% of oem tolerances the shafts can still take quite a bit of weight when in the ballancer. welding your driveshaft is fine to get your truck out of the field, but not to take down the highway. |
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