front driveshaft measurment needed - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**MJN** · 04-19-2010, 10:04 PM

Need the length of a stock front driveshaft from a '73-'80 truck with Dana 44 front axle, SBC, 465/205 combo. Needs to be a CV joint at the transfer case and also have a front yoke output not the flange style.

**MJN** · 04-21-2010, 09:12 PM

even a weld to weld measurement of the tube would be helpful....anyone??? Just need to know what length I need if I find one at a swap meet.

msgross · 04-28-2010, 08:43 AM

anyone able to help? sorry...

84 400 · 05-01-2010, 04:57 AM

It will be the shortest one something like C-C Length: 24 5/8?????. If you find one that is 27 then that is for an automatic//203 combo and will be too big. Look on ebay for someone selling one and that should get you the measurements just remember the range is from 1973 to 1977. 1977 was the change over year. Also if possible look for one off a k20 as it will have the heavyer duty slip splines.

**MJN** · 05-01-2010, 11:25 PM

Well, after everything I had a brand new one made. 26" yoke to yoke. 13" tube weld to weld. I did find a stock one with a 13" tube but the slip joint was longer than the driveshaft I have with a 14" tube. The shaft with the 14" tube had a 6.25" slip joint and the 13" tube had a 7.5" slip joint, so side by side they were the same overall length and the slip yokes cannot be swapped. The 465/203 front shaft is the longest I've seen with a 16" tube.

I know when they changed to the saginaw (flange) style, my trucks are all too old for that. The only one I've owned new enough for the flange was my '79 Suburban and I swapped it out for an older trans and t-case. Not sure if others had run into this or not, no one seemed to know what length a stock driveshaft is supposed to be.

84 400 · 05-02-2010, 04:05 AM

I don't remember all the specs off hand but I know a th350 with a np203 in the Saginaw flange style is 27 inches center to center. When i swapped my np203 for an np205 i new i had to get a different drive shaft. So i bought one out of a 1979 k20 that was stock for a 465/205. however this was to short and strached out. I knew offroad it would pull apart. So i went to my local driveline shop and was happy to find i could buy a longer slip yoke from spicer at a 1/2 of the cost of a new longer shaft.

Also the 12 shafts are a finer spline but actually weaker then the 3/4 and 1 ton splines. If your on the hunt for a spline look for a 3/4 ton version as it will have the same 1310 u joints and the HD splkines

04-19-2010, 10:04 PM	#1
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,093	front driveshaft measurment needed Need the length of a stock front driveshaft from a '73-'80 truck with Dana 44 front axle, SBC, 465/205 combo. Needs to be a CV joint at the transfer case and also have a front yoke output not the flange style. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

04-21-2010, 09:12 PM	#2
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,093	Re: front driveshaft measurment needed even a weld to weld measurement of the tube would be helpful....anyone??? Just need to know what length I need if I find one at a swap meet. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

04-28-2010, 08:43 AM	#3
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: front driveshaft measurment needed anyone able to help? sorry... __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer"

05-01-2010, 04:57 AM	#4
84 400 Sb 400 club Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NH / MA Posts: 2,746	Re: front driveshaft measurment needed It will be the shortest one something like C-C Length: 24 5/8?????. If you find one that is 27 then that is for an automatic//203 combo and will be too big. Look on ebay for someone selling one and that should get you the measurements just remember the range is from 1973 to 1977. 1977 was the change over year. Also if possible look for one off a k20 as it will have the heavyer duty slip splines. __________________ 1984 chevy c10, built 400sb,.(SOLD) 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out Last edited by 84 400; 05-01-2010 at 05:04 AM.

05-01-2010, 11:25 PM	#5
MJN Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn Posts: 3,093	Re: front driveshaft measurment needed Well, after everything I had a brand new one made. 26" yoke to yoke. 13" tube weld to weld. I did find a stock one with a 13" tube but the slip joint was longer than the driveshaft I have with a 14" tube. The shaft with the 14" tube had a 6.25" slip joint and the 13" tube had a 7.5" slip joint, so side by side they were the same overall length and the slip yokes cannot be swapped. The 465/203 front shaft is the longest I've seen with a 16" tube. I know when they changed to the saginaw (flange) style, my trucks are all too old for that. The only one I've owned new enough for the flange was my '79 Suburban and I swapped it out for an older trans and t-case. Not sure if others had run into this or not, no one seemed to know what length a stock driveshaft is supposed to be. __________________ '51 South Bend Model "9A" '56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO '74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's '72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress '08 GMC Envoy Denali '12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali '17 GMC Yukon XL VCCA member #58596 http://www.nohrco.com

05-02-2010, 04:05 AM	#6
84 400 Sb 400 club Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NH / MA Posts: 2,746	Re: front driveshaft measurment needed I don't remember all the specs off hand but I know a th350 with a np203 in the Saginaw flange style is 27 inches center to center. When i swapped my np203 for an np205 i new i had to get a different drive shaft. So i bought one out of a 1979 k20 that was stock for a 465/205. however this was to short and strached out. I knew offroad it would pull apart. So i went to my local driveline shop and was happy to find i could buy a longer slip yoke from spicer at a 1/2 of the cost of a new longer shaft. Also the 12 shafts are a finer spline but actually weaker then the 3/4 and 1 ton splines. If your on the hunt for a spline look for a 3/4 ton version as it will have the same 1310 u joints and the HD splkines __________________ 1984 chevy c10, built 400sb,.(SOLD) 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out Last edited by 84 400; 05-02-2010 at 04:07 AM.

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