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09-02-2002, 02:20 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Spirit Lake, Iowa
Posts: 27
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Driveshafts and Lift
I have a 72 Jimmy been doing a frame off job on for some time now...anyway I`m to the point where I need to decide on a 2" or 4" suspension lift, I have 2" of body lift in it already. Could someone tell me if I `ll need to get my driveshafts lengthened with a 4" lift, and how bad will it be on u-joints since the Blazer rear shafts are so short and at a steep angle to begin with. Thank You
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`72 Jimmy 6" n 35`s `68 Chevy II SS 396 `98 Dodge Ram `01 Audi TT |
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09-02-2002, 06:47 PM
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#2 |
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user # 2756
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chesapeake, Virginia
Posts: 4,612
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4" should be no problem. I had an 85 w/ 4" lift and it's driveshaft is shorter then what you have because of the NP208 transfer case's tailshaft.
Welcome to the board!
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1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm 
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09-03-2002, 09:26 AM
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#3 |
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Suburbans RULE!
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clinton, IA 52732
Posts: 689
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When I put a 4" lift in my Suburban I had to have the rear shaft lengthened. When I went to install the rear shaft after the lift I pulled the splines all the way out and I was about 1/2" from seating in the yoke. Obviously too short. The front shaft was fine.
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--Ben 71 GMC Suburban 4X4 The "Beast" 388 CID Stroker, TH350, NP205, 8-lug D44, 14BFF w/ Detroit, 4.10:1 gears, 4-Wheel Disks 4" Lift, 35" MT/R's. |
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09-03-2002, 09:51 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,727
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I have 4" on my Jimmy and had no troubles with the stock rear shaft. I first had 1 1/2" add-a-leaves and 2 1/2" blocks but bent the axle housing perches! It now has a set of 4" National springs in the rear but I disposed of the EXTREMELY clapped out stock rear shaft for a Tom Woods CV joint rear shaft. The rear springs tilt the rear axle up to a virtually zero pinion angle which is correct for a CV shaft, but not for a non CV shaft. I had tossed my original shaft out a couple of times after breaking rear yokes and/or u-joints and it was tweaked as well as just worn from 300k+ miles. The new shaft elimintated about 2/3 of the slack in the driveline.
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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09-03-2002, 05:24 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Spirit Lake, Iowa
Posts: 27
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Thanks for all your input guys! Sounds like I`ll get by with my stock shaft lenghts and 4" of lift... in a old Jimmy anyway. Now I just have to decide, 33`s with 4" total lift or 35`s with 6" total. Decisions decisions!
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`72 Jimmy 6" n 35`s `68 Chevy II SS 396 `98 Dodge Ram `01 Audi TT |
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09-03-2002, 10:33 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,727
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35's of course. My truck looked supid with 33's I thought. 4.10s and the 33s was too much, but perfect for the 35s.
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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09-04-2002, 05:14 PM
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#7 |
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Post Whore
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,686
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When I did my initial 4" lift on my '69 I did have to have the front driveshaft lengthened and even had to add a CV joint. But mine has the Rockwell T221 transfer case. From what I have gathered, usually a 4" lift on the years after they stopped using the Rockewell (after 69), don't need to have the shaft lengthened.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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09-04-2002, 08:08 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 7,727
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The NP205 trucks should come with a CV shaft in the front. At least the 3 I have had did.
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44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax |
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09-07-2002, 12:40 AM
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#9 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Iowa
Posts: 119
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Quote:
--------------- Don't worry about U-Joint life too much, either. When I first lifted my heap, I was going thru U joints quite often. Then I discovered that my yoke was thrashed. After fixing that, the joints last for a couple years, or so. Although thats a pretty short lifespan, when compared to a stock truck, they're cheap, and easy to replace...so, IMO, its no big deal. Well worth it, for the increrased clearance, traction, etc. My beater has a 6" Lift in it, BTW. -M |
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09-28-2002, 02:41 AM
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#10 | |
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Account Suspended
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IL
Posts: 0
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Quote:
that would explain why some trucks have perfectyl horizontal pinion and why some are tilted up/back a bit,.... hmmmmm......... |
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