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#1 |
And Don't Call Me Shirley
![]() Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cameron Park, CA
Posts: 115
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Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
Its time to get something done on my Green Machine!
My 69' C20 came as a 350 with TH400 and Dana 60/4.11. Last winter I bolted in a great running 454 out of a donor truck, then installed a Gear Vendor and TH400 adapter I pilfered from a Motor Home. I left the stock trans crossmember in place and will use a new stock type mount. Then I took a break till now. I think its time to trailer it to the Driveshaft/Muffler Shop to make some new head pipes for the exhaust and shorten the stock 2 piece driveshaft. To me it looks like they might just shorten the front half but is that the way to go? Or do I have them make a 1 piece shaft? Have any of y'all added a GV overdrive on a TH400 longbed and if so, what the best way to go?
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Rick Tucker 1969 C20/Custom Camper (the Green Machine)Sold 1970 GMC 4000 COE (future Ramp Truck) 1972 K10 Longbed (restoration begins June 2020) |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: burlington,iowa
Posts: 439
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I hope you get a good answer, because that is exactly what I am doing this winter.
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Tom in Iowa 68 L88 C10 68 4x4 C10 soon |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,518
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
How did you bolt in the 454? Using the 350 frame stands?
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#4 |
And Don't Call Me Shirley
![]() Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cameron Park, CA
Posts: 115
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
No I used BB stands.
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Rick Tucker 1969 C20/Custom Camper (the Green Machine)Sold 1970 GMC 4000 COE (future Ramp Truck) 1972 K10 Longbed (restoration begins June 2020) |
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Warrenton VA
Posts: 1,048
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I'd imagine you can do a one piece, and just go with whatever the driveline shop recommends really, assuming they are reputable shop and not some fly by night place. Is your truck lowered or do you plan on lowering it?
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71 c-10 Long Bed, under the knife for a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Chassis Pack and coil over static drop. 07 Silverado Classic 2wd 95 Camaro 427SBC/TH350 |
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#6 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Posts: 874
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I spoke with a well known shop in my area about the same thing on my short bed. You are better off going with a one piece. The hanger for a 2 piece is pretty antiquated in their opinion, and definitely not as good as a one piece in high performance applications. You'll have to verify that a long bed doesn't change that, I'd imagine it wouldn't. You might have to have a bigger diameter driveshaft than a shortbed though.
Good luck.
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1971 C/10 SWB, 15x8 Rallys, 4.5" X 7" static drop, C-notched, 350/350, 3.73 Posi. .........A 383 and Gear Vendors are on my bucket list. 1972 GMC 4X4 K1500 Survivor - Sold No matter what problems life throws at you, your time on Earth can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.....if you just lower your expectations. -Phil Dunphy |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: st cloud mn
Posts: 163
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I would recommend a 1 piece driveshaft. The biggest issue you will run into is the shaft hitting the cross member that the hanger bearing mounts to. Your clearance should be checked at top and bottom of axle travel. Your clearance will change if you change ride height in either direction. I ran into this problem with a truck I built. It was a 71, 1/2t, 2wd, with a 454 and th700r4. My truck was at stock ride height and my driveshaft length was at the max the shop would build as a 1 peice.
you will probably have to go up to a 3 inch diameter shaft. The shaft length if I remember correctly was around 68 inches. Your shaft should be quite a bit shorter. I think your combo is at least 10 inches longer than the 700r4. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: st cloud mn
Posts: 163
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
Found some old pics. No idea how to attach them to the post.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Modesto, CA
Posts: 2,188
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I don't think it's as cut and dry as just using a 1 piece for the sake of it.
Because you have reduced the distance between the diff and the GV output, you may be able to use a 1 piece. Longer shafts require heavier, larger tubing, which also increases rotational mass. You have to take into consideration the way you use your truck because the driveline angles are more drastic as you reduce the driveline length. If you constantly load the bed, never load the bed, tow, or anything that changes the angle of the driveline, it's worth considering the benefits of 2 piece vs 1 piece. Best of luck! |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 39
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
Nick from Gear Vendors here. Although you could likely get away with a one piece length wise, I dont think there is any chance it would clear the trailing arm crossmember when the trucks rear suspension is completely unloaded. I'd jack the frame up then run a string from the overdrive to the rearend and see what clearance you have.
Shortbeds are no issue with a one piece but of the many longbeds we've done we have always kept the carrier.
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69 GMC shortbed Carbed LM4 - Manual VB TH350 - Gear Vendors OD |
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#11 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
I've built dozens of one piece shafts for 67-72 chevy long bed trucks. A short transmission rquires the use of 3.5" diameter tubing. With a large od unit you may be able to get away with a smaller tubing diameter.
There's nothing really wrong w the stock ld carrier bearing setup if the driveshaft is balanced properly as an assembly which some "drive shaft shops" aren't able to do. We have 2 $40k balancers and often balance 5 piece drive shafts for limos.
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67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project, |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 784
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
Just so you know, the 88-98 GM Longbed pickups use a large diameter, one-piece driveshaft, made of aluminum. My Mustang also uses an aluminum one-piece driveshaft.
Pretty sure the large diameter will not clear the crossmember, but creativity is always available...
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Rick -69 GMC 910 Long Box, 350 -98 Chev Silverado 1500, 350 Vortec 4L60e -08 Mustang GT Convertible |
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#13 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Gear Vendor Driveshaft Recomendations
Sounds good.
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