One piece driveshaft? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

slammmin72 · 02-25-2005, 11:21 PM

would i need to go to a one piece drive shaft if i lower my gmc 4/6? its a 1/2 ton, with leaf springs in the rear (gonna re-arch them and put a 1 1/2" shackle....let me know what u guys have to say, cause my dad wont let me order the kit until i know it will work out perfectly. and also if there is anyone who has already lowered their truck 4/6 by themselves, please..let me know how it went, i want mine to go as smooth as possible.
thanks,
Kevin

smbrouss70 · 02-25-2005, 11:33 PM

I've lowered mine 4.5/6 with ECE's kit, only my truck has coils in the rear. I have lowered trucks with leaf springs in the back and as long as you take your time it shouldn't be anything you can't handle, just keep safety first and remember that springs have pent up energy that can be dangerous.

I haven't ever owned a truck of this body style with leafs in the rear, but if you're looking for a 6" drop, I THINK that a flip kit will get you there and keep your load capacity the same. Maybe someone else will chime in on this and confirm.

Lastly, with the 6" rear drop on my truck I didn't HAVE to go to a one-piece due to lowering. I put the one-piece because I wanted to get rid of the vibration that mine had in it due to the carrier bearing, plus it's a weak point in your driveshaft if you're going for big power.

Good luck

slammmin72 · 02-25-2005, 11:37 PM

did the vibration in the carrier bearing come after the lowering of the truck? or was always a constant problem. thats what my dad wants to know, caus ehe doesnt want to have to help me replace the carrier bearing every weekend. whats it take to put the one piece drive shaft in it? and where did u get it?
thanks for u help

Kevin

smbrouss70 · 02-26-2005, 12:07 AM

The vibration was there before the lowering. On a leaf spring truck, the axle should only go up and down as you lower it, the coil spring trucks tend to push the axle forward as you go lower which could be a problem for the carrier bearing if your driveshaft doesn't have the slip yoke on the rear portion.

To put a one-piece driveshaft you have to drill out the rivets the hold the carrier bearing bracket to the center crossmember (see pics below, both are from front of x-member), other than that it;s a simple remove and replace deal. I ordered my driveshaft from Denny's Driveshafts , it wasn't cheap but I'm going for a powerful engine & I didn't want to take any chances. If you're looking for a less expensive route, you could measure straight-line from the U-joint on the Yoke of your rearend to the U-joint on your tranny yoke and take that measurement to the junkyard and look for a suitable replacement.

Longhorn Man · 02-26-2005, 12:22 AM

you can put power through a multiple piece shaft...had a bud running 12's on his street driven 67 LWB...never had a problem.

slammmin72 · 02-26-2005, 01:06 AM

so a 4/6 drop with leaf springs in the rear doesnt require a single piece drive shaft? dang...12's?.....what did he have in that thing. then again i did see a 68' chevy running 11.33 at Infineon Drag strip

Longhorn Man · 02-26-2005, 01:34 AM

350/th400
a huge cam, some seriouse porting on 882 heads, about 9 1/2 to 1 compresson, 3000 stall, 4.10 gears....one slick on the right rear.
Don't know what carb it was, but the intake was darn near a tunnel ram intake.

slammmin72 · 02-26-2005, 01:42 AM

sounds sweet....makes my motor sound so stock...lol

the block is Chevy orange, Edelbrock preformer intake manifold,Edelbrock 1406 carb, chrome valve covers and chrome air cleaner, a cam outta a 327 corvette motor (has a nice noticable lump to it...) and some long tube Headman headers (black)

What i really want is either a new corvette motor, or.... a crate 572c.i. BBC with a 14-71 Weiland Blower. that would be sweet.

bigjimzlll · 02-26-2005, 09:41 AM

I went 10.98 with a 2 piece driveshaft....I only did this once though...went with a one piece this year

stelth2002 · 02-26-2005, 12:59 PM

Tell more jim, your down in the 10's now. You gonna make the 9? Thats a BIG difference though. Good luck

bigjimzlll · 02-26-2005, 08:53 PM

I think that will be my only pass into the 10s for a while(did it just to do it)Not going to be running N20 this year...well maybe ...lol. I should be running 11.50s on engine alone once I get it tuned..same engine just advanced the cam...took 150lbs off the nose and added a trans brake with a th400..oh yea..some big ol headers

02-25-2005, 11:21 PM	#1
slammmin72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 23	One piece driveshaft? would i need to go to a one piece drive shaft if i lower my gmc 4/6? its a 1/2 ton, with leaf springs in the rear (gonna re-arch them and put a 1 1/2" shackle....let me know what u guys have to say, cause my dad wont let me order the kit until i know it will work out perfectly. and also if there is anyone who has already lowered their truck 4/6 by themselves, please..let me know how it went, i want mine to go as smooth as possible. thanks, Kevin

02-25-2005, 11:33 PM	#2
smbrouss70 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rayne, LA Posts: 2,782	I've lowered mine 4.5/6 with ECE's kit, only my truck has coils in the rear. I have lowered trucks with leaf springs in the back and as long as you take your time it shouldn't be anything you can't handle, just keep safety first and remember that springs have pent up energy that can be dangerous. I haven't ever owned a truck of this body style with leafs in the rear, but if you're looking for a 6" drop, I THINK that a flip kit will get you there and keep your load capacity the same. Maybe someone else will chime in on this and confirm. Lastly, with the 6" rear drop on my truck I didn't HAVE to go to a one-piece due to lowering. I put the one-piece because I wanted to get rid of the vibration that mine had in it due to the carrier bearing, plus it's a weak point in your driveshaft if you're going for big power. Good luck __________________ Steven "If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go wherever they went." -- Will Rogers R.I.P. Oscar R.I.P. Ratchet 1967 Pontiac GTO - Dad was the Original Owner 1970 Chevy 2wd SWB "Oscar's Truck" 1970 Chevy 2wd Blazer "Ratchet's Blazer" 2013 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax/Allison Z71 LTZ "Brown Sugar" 2017 Chevy Suburban "BDB" 2020 Chevy Blazer Premier "Foxy" Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Shop Build

02-26-2005, 12:07 AM	#4
smbrouss70 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rayne, LA Posts: 2,782	The vibration was there before the lowering. On a leaf spring truck, the axle should only go up and down as you lower it, the coil spring trucks tend to push the axle forward as you go lower which could be a problem for the carrier bearing if your driveshaft doesn't have the slip yoke on the rear portion. To put a one-piece driveshaft you have to drill out the rivets the hold the carrier bearing bracket to the center crossmember (see pics below, both are from front of x-member), other than that it;s a simple remove and replace deal. I ordered my driveshaft from Denny's Driveshafts , it wasn't cheap but I'm going for a powerful engine & I didn't want to take any chances. If you're looking for a less expensive route, you could measure straight-line from the U-joint on the Yoke of your rearend to the U-joint on your tranny yoke and take that measurement to the junkyard and look for a suitable replacement. Attached Images __________________ Steven "If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go wherever they went." -- Will Rogers R.I.P. Oscar R.I.P. Ratchet 1967 Pontiac GTO - Dad was the Original Owner 1970 Chevy 2wd SWB "Oscar's Truck" 1970 Chevy 2wd Blazer "Ratchet's Blazer" 2013 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax/Allison Z71 LTZ "Brown Sugar" 2017 Chevy Suburban "BDB" 2020 Chevy Blazer Premier "Foxy" Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Shop Build

02-26-2005, 09:41 AM	#9
bigjimzlll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding,CA...USA Posts: 4,736	I went 10.98 with a 2 piece driveshaft....I only did this once though...went with a one piece this year __________________ It's called "drag racing" if they called it "tic..tic..WHAM!..BANG! F*&K!!!", they'd have to keep the magazines under the counter with the other men's publications click the clicky to join the site.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php 67 lwb..first hotrod in 25 years..540 best ET is 9.45 @ 141.44 Anderson,CA

02-26-2005, 12:59 PM	#10
stelth2002 Young Gun wth Fast Inline Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,475	Tell more jim, your down in the 10's now. You gonna make the 9? Thats a BIG difference though. Good luck __________________ 1967 Chevrolet LWB with built 292! 415 ft. lbs of torque, 4 speed :O with 27% overdrive too, 3.73 Posi. Frame and body done... getting painted!!!

02-25-2005, 11:37 PM	#3
slammmin72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 23	did the vibration in the carrier bearing come after the lowering of the truck? or was always a constant problem. thats what my dad wants to know, caus ehe doesnt want to have to help me replace the carrier bearing every weekend. whats it take to put the one piece drive shaft in it? and where did u get it? thanks for u help Kevin

02-26-2005, 12:22 AM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	you can put power through a multiple piece shaft...had a bud running 12's on his street driven 67 LWB...never had a problem.

02-26-2005, 01:06 AM	#6
slammmin72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 23	so a 4/6 drop with leaf springs in the rear doesnt require a single piece drive shaft? dang...12's?.....what did he have in that thing. then again i did see a 68' chevy running 11.33 at Infineon Drag strip

02-26-2005, 01:34 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	350/th400 a huge cam, some seriouse porting on 882 heads, about 9 1/2 to 1 compresson, 3000 stall, 4.10 gears....one slick on the right rear. Don't know what carb it was, but the intake was darn near a tunnel ram intake.

02-26-2005, 01:42 AM	#8
slammmin72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 23	sounds sweet....makes my motor sound so stock...lol the block is Chevy orange, Edelbrock preformer intake manifold,Edelbrock 1406 carb, chrome valve covers and chrome air cleaner, a cam outta a 327 corvette motor (has a nice noticable lump to it...) and some long tube Headman headers (black) What i really want is either a new corvette motor, or.... a crate 572c.i. BBC with a 14-71 Weiland Blower. that would be sweet.

02-26-2005, 08:53 PM	#11
bigjimzlll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding,CA...USA Posts: 4,736	I think that will be my only pass into the 10s for a while(did it just to do it)Not going to be running N20 this year...well maybe ...lol. I should be running 11.50s on engine alone once I get it tuned..same engine just advanced the cam...took 150lbs off the nose and added a trans brake with a th400..oh yea..some big ol headers __________________ It's called "drag racing" if they called it "tic..tic..WHAM!..BANG! F*&K!!!", they'd have to keep the magazines under the counter with the other men's publications click the clicky to join the site.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php 67 lwb..first hotrod in 25 years..540 best ET is 9.45 @ 141.44 Anderson,CA

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