need measurements of drive shafts

[mcmlxix]

I am looking for the length and diameter of some one piece drive shafts. Also if they step down at the ends?
1. On a SWB with TH350/v8:
...a. Length from center of U-joint to center of U-joint
...b. Length from weld at front of shaft to where it gets wider
2. On a LWB with TH350/v8?
...a. Length from center of U-joint to center of U-joint
...b. Length from weld at front of shaft to where it gets wider

[MylilBowTie]

What are you trying to do? I have a stock LWB driveshaft that I can measure but its kinda hard with only one person trying to measure it. I have done a th350 to th400 swap.

[mcmlxix]

I have a 71 SWB stepside w/ 307/th350. I want a one pices drive shaft. I need to know what will fit as a cheap swap. I was hoping an 80's SWB shaft will work without modification or at worst to shorten it a couple inches. I have a 96 LT1 w/ 4L60e and I know I will need a different shaft when I install it but that may not be till the end of summer or into fall. I will probably have a new one built at that point but I need to get rid of the 2 piece i have now. I dont even drive the truck that far partially because the drive shaft I have is going to fall apart. I already changed the carrier bearing and the center U-joint and I obviously screwed it up. Besides, if I have one cut to fit I can pass it along to another boeard member when I swap the new motor and trans and have then new one built ....

In any case, i wanted to know the length of a SWB drive shaft to see if it was too long, too short, or would fit right in ... I asked about the LWB because if the SWB is too short, I could cut the LWB shaft down .... as long as the step down part of the shaft was long enough ....

I know this was discussed before but I could never find any measurements .. just saying "it worked" but that was with the 700r4 conversion .... so .. I'm just not sure ....

[1972C10]

The newer model shaft wont work as the wheelbase is different and they use longtails .

I have a 72 & 68 the 72 runs a long tail 350 and the 68 runs a t-5 both same length trans and there also same length as a 700-r4 Ill get the measurements off of one i wanna say there like 57 inches but the way i measure them is outside of the u joint surface to the other side outside u joint surface wich would be the fartherst u joint location point so i guess if your wanting centerline take of an inch or so . Ill get ya an exact measurement tommorow.

The shaft thats in my 72 came out of a 2 door chevvelle so if you happen to run across one of them that should work ,, As long as your runnin your motor in the V8 mount location.

[1972C10]

Oh and if your wanting a shaft to run with that 307/th350 ive got a shorttail one i can measure if your runnin a shortail trans


I didnt fully understand what you were lookin for till i read it twice

[mcmlxix]

the more i explain, the more i confuse myself and the people around me ....

I'm not sure if I have the short tail TH350 or not .. I would think so but I would have to dig the snow out and crawl under the truck to check ... brrrr....

[mcmlxix]

So can anyone measure their 73-87 SWB driveshaft from center of U-joint to center of U-joint? I want to find a donor ASAP. Thanks.

[1972C10]

I dont think the 73-87 is gonna work for you ill measure the driveshaft in my shop right now ill have the measurements posted withing 5 minutes sorry for forgetting about it lol@

[1972C10]

Here is the measurement of a drivehshaft that came out of a project truck of mine it was running a 350/Th350 in the v8 location with a short tail Th350

From end To End 60 3/4
From Center Of u Joint To Center 59 1/2

Hope this helps


What year LWB driveshaft measurement did you need ive got one for a 73-87 with 350 and one for a 72 two piece i can get the measure ment if you still need it.

[jimfulco]

10-bolt rear end or 12-bolt? 10-bolt uses a shorter shaft (3/4" or so).

The T-350 normally used in trucks has a 9" tailshaft housing. Most cars used a 6" housing, although some full-sized cars used one that was 12" or 13".

[mcmlxix]

damn... I need 61" from center of U-joint to center of U-joint ....
and a LWB is too long with the stepdown to shorten .... I guess i need to keep looking for a donor ....

[jimfulco]

A Suburban shaft is shorter than a LWB. My '79 Sub with T-350 & 10-bolt is 67.5" center-to-center. (shaft is '82-'93 length due to rear-end change)

Might hit the yards & check out big GM passenger car shafts. www.car-part.com lists '72 Pontiac Station Wagons as having 58.5 or 59" weld-to-weld, & other big cars should be similar, with small variances due to trans length, etc.

[mcmlxix]

ok.. maybe I can shorten the Burb drive shaft ... does it step down near the ends? Whats the diameter? I would have to have them hack 3" off each end ...

My other option is that the motor is mounted in the two forward holes on the frame rails. Maybe I can move it back. that would give me the extra couple inches I need .... I will do a search on motor position but if anyone has moved the moor back, feel free to share your experience ....

[jimfulco]

It steps down around 6" or so at each end. I had a '72 Pontiac wagon & I remember that shaft being stepped, but I don't remember how far. I think I still have it somewhere, so if I can dig it up, I'll let you know.

[jimfulco]

Driveshaft from '72 Pontiac Catalina Safari Station Wagon with 455 engine & long-tail Turbo 400 trans. Big GM wagons from 71-76 use the same basic frame, so shafts should be similar.

Length weld-to-weld 59"
Length center-to-center 62-3/8"
Diameter at ends ~2-3/4" (14" step-down at front, 3" at rear)
Diameter of central portion ~3-1/2"

Diameter is eyeballed with a measuring tape, no calipers available

Suburban shaft looks to be similar diameters (same eyeballs)