Need a front driveshaft measurement

[Yukon Jack]

I would appreciate it if someone could measure a front driveshaft length on a 70-72 truck or Blazer with a V8, 4 speed manual and NP205. Can either be a stock vehicle or one with a 4" lift.

Thanks

[krue]

Would it be the same for one with a th350?

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by krue

Would it be the same for one with a th350?

Yes, they are the same. The 465/205 uses a long adapter that is designed to match the t-case position to the TH350/205.

[Yukon Jack]

That is interesting, I wouldn't have guessed that. I saw in the for sale section a driveshaft that I think junkyardjohn has for sale that is for the TH350/205 and he does give measurements.

If anyone else can get another measurement for me to compare to his, that would be cool.

My problem is when I bought my 70 K5 it was missing it's Dana 20 transfer case and I am swapping in an NP205. It was also missing it's front driveshaft but I got another one that needed rebuilding. By the time I got the driveshaft I had the NP205 installed but the front axle out. I took the driveshaft in for a rebuild and the found it was not rebuildable so they just made a new one - they didn't call me first. Had they called me I might have been smart enough to tell them to hold out til I get exact measurements.

The one they made is 24" fully collapsed measured from the middle of the cv u-joint closest to the shaft to the other u-joint.

I compared this to my 69 K20 with a SM465 and T221 and mine installed measures 23 1/2". If the SM465/NP205 is similar in length to the SM465/T221 then this new shaft is about an 1 1/4" or so too long.

[Yukon Jack]

Just to add some info, junkyardjohn listed the following info in his for sale post:

From The Center Line Of The Last U-joint In The C-v Cluster To The Center Line Of U-joint In The Yoke In The Opposite End--
Colapsed = 26 1/2" Extended = 29 1/2"
Colapsed Within About An Inch Of Bottoming Out & Extended Within An Inch Of The Spline Showing. I Pulled This Out Of A 71 Short Fleet 4x4 Gmc Pickup With a SBC/ T-350 & A NP205 .

Burt4x4 has a 465/NP205 and his installed front driveshaft length on his 72 K5 with a 4" lift is right at 26" measured from the center of the rear u-joint cap to the center of the cv coupler.

Looks like the front driveshaft I have waiting should be the right length. Will know for sure as soon as I get the front axle installed.

[wedgemon]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Burt4x4 has a 465/NP205 and his installed front driveshaft length on his 72 K5 with a 4" lift is right at 26" measured from the center of the rear u-joint cap to the center of the cv coupler.

Mine is 26 inch.

80 K10 SM465/NP205. 350V8

[greenhorn male]

..mind if I chime in. I started the other thread on driveline length, but was not very specific. I have a front driveshaft someone wants to buy, but I'm not sure what lift it was made for. Where and how is a driveshaft normally measured? I noticed junkyardjohn measured an inch before full collapse and an inch before fully extended. I don't fully understand burt4x4's measurement above. Anyway, mine measures 28" from center of furthest u-joints fully collapsed and 31-1/4 fully extended. What lift is this for? Thanks!

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by greenhorn male

..mind if I chime in. I started the other thread on driveline length, but was not very specific. I have a front driveshaft someone wants to buy, but I'm not sure what lift it was made for. Where and how is a driveshaft normally measured? I noticed junkyardjohn measured an inch before full collapse and an inch before fully extended. I don't fully understand burt4x4's measurement above. Anyway, mine measures 28" from center of furthest u-joints fully collapsed and 31-1/4 fully extended. What lift is this for? Thanks!

I think Burts measurements are with the shaft installed in the truck. I'm not sure about the

to the center of the cv coupler

staement.

I think you would need to measure from center of the front u-joint to the center of the frontmost rear u-joint.

I can get a measurement from mine for ya Yukon, but I don't have a CV joint in mine so it probably wouldn't do you any good.
At least it lookin like your shaft is about right or to long...It's not everyday you can say that....

[Yukon Jack]

Burt4x4 measured like shown by the "B"

I normally measure like shown by the "A".



454_72_4x4 - get a measurement from center of u-joint to center of u-joint, even though you don't have a cv - I still can compare it to mine.

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

454_72_4x4 - get a measurement from center of u-joint to center of u-joint, even though you don't have a cv - I still can compare it to mine.

Mine measures 27-5/8in center to center on the u-joints, installed in the truck.

No CV joint (Shortened Ford Ranger rear driveshaft.)
4 in Rough Country lift
Dana 44 front axle
454 holdin it all down! LOL.

[greenhorn male]

Yukon...are all CV joints made the same size? Wouldn't a more accurate measurement be the center of the outermost u-joints (with or without CV joints), as this would be the measurement between differential yoke to transfer-case yoke?

[Yukon Jack]

I don't know. That would probably be the better way to take a measurement now that I think about it.