Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by 70LonghornCST

Beautiful work!

Thanks, it has been a long road but it's getting there

[Bennett68C10]

Today my brother and I started making the last piece to my drivetrain puzzle. First we made up a 2" spacer for the carrier bearing and then started to modify a 2 piece drive shaft my brother just happened to have sitting around out of an 80's Suburban with a big block. Definitely a heavy duty shaft with 1350 ujoints throughout.

First we removed the old nasty carrier bearing and installed my new one. Next we mocked the front portion of the driveshaft up in the chassis, connected it to the tranny yoke and took some measurements. Turns out it was 3 3/8" too long so we proceeded to cut it down and tack it back together. Once we confirmed it was the right length and was nice and straight, my brother finish welded it. We ran out of time for the night so next weekend we will finish off the rear portion of the shaft as that has to be shortened too. I also had to order a 1350 pinion yoke tonight, hopefully it will come in for next weekend so there are no delays.

I have to say it was a learning experience for me. My brother has built 20-30 driveshafts so he knew what he was doing. I just helped him hold things and watched I was pretty amazed that he could do that.

[Bhelton]

Now that's some beef!!

[screaminchevypickup]

Great job on the drive shaft!!

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Now that's some beef!!

Thanks, I think that big block needs some beef

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

Great job on the drive shaft!!

Thanks, I can't take credit for it I was just the second pair of hands

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Thanks, I think that big block needs some beef

I agree!! It's looking good

Thanks, I can't take credit for it I was just the second pair of hands

4 hands 1 shaft.....I'll leave this alone.

[Rusbuilt]

They make conversion u-joints to go from that 1350 to your factory rear end.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

4 hands 1 shaft.....I'll leave this alone.

I actually did laugh out loud on that one

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

They make conversion u-joints to go from that 1350 to your factory rear end.

Yeah I know but I want to keep the 1350's throughout the entire driveshaft. I saw them on Denny's driveshaft. Even my trans yoke uses 1350's as it is the heavy duty truck bolt on style. I don't plan on being easy on this drivetrain so I hope it is as stout as possible

[shawno72]

Very nice Keith.

[mcbassin]

Very nice work on the drive shaft. Looks like that will work.

[Rusbuilt]

Oh ok! That makes sense! lol

[jlsanborn]

Nice work man! We shortened a driveline not too long ago but just kinda figgered it out the hard way. How did you cut the weld yoke off? Were you left with any kind of "lip" to locate it back onto shortened tube nice and square?

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by shawno72

Very nice Keith.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Very nice work on the drive shaft. Looks like that will work.

Originally Posted by Rusbuilt

Oh ok! That makes sense! lol

Thanks guys, saved me a lot of money from having a custom shaft made. I will have about $200.00 into this one when all said and done.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice work man! We shortened a driveline not too long ago but just kinda figgered it out the hard way. How did you cut the weld yoke off? Were you left with any kind of "lip" to locate it back onto shortened tube nice and square?

Yes my brother cut the yoke off dead center of the weld being careful to only cut the shaft and not through the yoke. Once the piece was cut off he was left with about a 1" lip on the yoke that we squared up and pressed back into the shortened shaft. Once everything was square he threw some tack welds on. Then we tried it in the truck to make sure it was the correct length and the carrier bearing bolted in. Once we confirmed it was correct he fully welded it. Hope that helps.

[Bhelton]

Here are some beefy u joints, I ran these off road and they rocked
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-135...joint-ctm.html

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Here are some beefy u joints, I ran these off road and they rocked
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-135...joint-ctm.html

Wow I think I just crapped my pants over the price of those u joints

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Wow I think I just crapped my pants over the price of those u joints

Go wipe then come back

[Rochlow]

Good work on the drive shaft!

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Go wipe then come back

Originally Posted by Rochlow

Good work on the drive shaft!

Thanks hopefully I can get it all finished up this weekend

[Rochlow]

That's one of the things I've been dreading

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Rochlow

That's one of the things I've been dreading

Yeah I was too, I thought I was going to have to spend $600-700 to have one built similar to this. Inland empires 502 2 piece shaft is over $700. I got to talking to my brother about the driveshaft and next thing I know he was up in the attic grabbing this one. He was like "we will make you one"

[Rochlow]

I've talked to Delmo about building one for me. but the price is what gets me $700, plus like you said.

[Bhelton]

I have a buddy here in NC that's going to build me a new 2 piece for $400 with new components. He owns Oliver's driveshaft in Winston salem and builds them for people all over U.S

[coueshunter]

Adams driveshaft in Henderson , Nv builds all my shafts for cheap!

[Hart_Rod]

I had mine built at a local shop, everything new, 3.5" diamter, 1350 joints, HD carrier bearing... $500.

[Bennett68C10]

Originally Posted by Rochlow

I've talked to Delmo about building one for me. but the price is what gets me $700, plus like you said.

Originally Posted by Bhelton

I have a buddy here in NC that's going to build me a new 2 piece for $400 with new components. He owns Oliver's driveshaft in Winston salem and builds them for people all over U.S

Originally Posted by coueshunter

Adams driveshaft in Henderson , Nv builds all my shafts for cheap!

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

I had mine built at a local shop, everything new, 3.5" diamter, 1350 joints, HD carrier bearing... $500.

Looks like you guys have some decent prices from local shops. I don't even know what the going rate would have been locally. I'm glad I didn't have to go that route, all it cost me was a new carrier bearing and pinion yoke.