driveshaft

[eugrides]

putting a 305 with a turbo 350 trans in my 53 1/2 ton Long Bed presently I have a short tail shaft (6in.) on trans. I want to avoid a 2 piece drive shaft. Do I need to change to a longer tail shaft (9 OR 12 IN.) to accomplish this .

[skymangs]

Generally speaking, anything over about 58 inches should be two piece. What is your aversion to a 2 piece shaft? I put them in all the time, and generally prefer them.

[Purcell69]

Before I started the latest version of my project, I found a one piece drive shaft that bolted in my '57 longbed. I was using a TH200-4R automatic, which only has the short tail shaft. I was also sitting on the stock height rear springs. About the only thing I would have changed, for my own piece of mind would have been going to a longer slip yoke to ensure there would be no issues with the rear seal, though I never had any. There was about 1.5" inside the seal with the truck sitting at rest. In reality, the shaft could have stood being 2" longer, but it was a drop in.

You may be able to use a one piece rear shaft from a 1994+ long bed regular cab Dodge with cross over U joints. They are large diameter to make up for the length.

-Joe