How to lower?

[hiway]

My swb 79 has the T400 and two drive shafts with a carrier bearing in the middle. Any lower really throws the alighnment off. Is replacing the shafts with a single my only choice?

[boatpuller]

hey i posted the exact same thing several months back,and i think everybody thought i was crazy,i had several post saying they never heard of a two piece in a short bed,truth is 67-72 it was pretty common. i don't know why they did it,i heard because the rear doesn't line up left to right with tranny very well,2 piece drivelines are common on a lot of lowrider sites even being favored and produced new aftermarket over 1 piece they take away vibration.what i ended up doing was taking it in and having a couple inches taken out of the carrier bearing housing bracket that leveled it out.they wanted about 300 for a new one piece.or you could try junkyard.for 1 piece.people will say shims ,but if your angle was like mine shims aren't near enough.i just had back surgery and can't get under there anyway to take a pic or i'd post one of how it turned out.

[hiway]

Thanks. I hear the same when I mention carrier bearing. This is my third SWB with one. Seems the T400 is also involved somehow

[boatpuller]

you may be on to something with that turbo 400 explanation.the other 79 i knew of had a 400 also.that carrier bearing bracket is the cheapest easiest way to straighten out the angles,no bad vibes.by the way my nephew's playing minor leauge pro basketball down there in arkansas for the rimrockers.

[beaterC10]

No to muddy the water but the 86 SWB and the 87 SWB I recently junked both have (had) a TH400 with a one piece drive shaft.

[boatpuller]

yeah...i don't know what determined the way they decided at the factory 1 piece sure outnumber 2's but there must of been some explanation,be kinda cool if somebody that actually worked at gm could give a concrete explanation.

[Gandalf]

I have a 73 SWB with the two-piece driveshaft also. Was going to post that "why" question tonight but a quick search turned up this thread - perfect!

And the rubbery donut thing that seems to hold them up has a LOT of play between it and the metal piece securing it to the frame. Wondered if a single driveshaft might be better and then got to wondering why they had the two pieces in the first place.

It's a factory 454 truck but how do I tell if 350 or 400 trans?

G.

[magnethead]

350= texas pan 400 = mostly square (or not texas pan, either way)

[hiway]

350 pan is square with a rear corner cut off. 400 has two "rounded out" corners on one side. A 400 also has an electrical kickdown instead of a 350 type cable coming from the pass. side front of trans by bell housing.

[Grande Rojo]

my 86swb with a 4speed has a 2pc drive shaft
my 77 swb has a auto and 1pc drive shaft

I'd like to know why also?????

[boatpuller]

i'm glad to know i'm not the only one,that first post i did months back the response was kinda like i was reporting a sasquatch.

[73stepside]

the 2 piece drive shaft was/is better for towing/hauling. a lot of late model trucks still have the 2 piece driveshaft

[hiway]

I would understand the reason....in a long wheelbase model.