2 Piece Driveshaft Install - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

angelsairman · 03-26-2004, 02:09 AM

I had to have my driveshaft cut down to fit in my 71 C10 as i used a long TH350 when i swapped from my 3 on the tree. Im trying to reinstall the driveshaft. One of two things is wrong, the driveshaft wasnt cut properly or im doing something wrong. I looked in my service manual on installion of this driveshaft but the one in the illustrations is not the one i have. The driveshaft i have the center bearing bolts front to back and not side to side. And on the installion procedure if im reading it correctly says to hang the center bearing and set the rear shaft into the diffrential then slide the two halves together. My driveshaft has a bolt that keeps the two joined behind the ujoint. Can someone please tell me the correct installion for this so i know if its not cut right??? When i figured the length i found the diffrence in the two model trannys which was 2 3/16.... does this sound right??? ....... Also if anyone has a still stock 2 piece driveshaft like mine could they take a measurement from center of front u joint to center of middle u joint so if it was cut wrong i know it was me or the machine shop??

SWEET7T · 03-26-2004, 03:28 AM

I don't have the measurement, but to install a 2 piece (like ours). Stick the yoke into the tranny, then put the other end on the diff. Then bolt up the carrier bearing. Well, that's the way I did it anyway, and it's in there.

67_SS396 · 03-26-2004, 03:44 AM

I'd measure mine while it's out, but it won't do you any good as I have a short shaft TH-350 in the '70.

You have to assemble the shaft completely outside of the truck. Slip on the carrier bearing, bolt on the rear yoke to the front shaft then attach the rear shaft and u-joint to the front shaft. From there you slide the yoke into the tranny, bolt up the rear u-joint to the rearend and finally bolt up the center bearing. It's pretty straight forward.

FYI, my brother is stationed at the same base as you. He's been there for about 2 yrs now I believe. He's one of the dog handlers. If you needed help, I'm sure he'd be willing to lend a hand.

angelsairman · 03-26-2004, 03:49 AM

thats how i figured the instalation went... as for the measurements if im correct the orignal 3 speed manual i had is the same as a short shaft TH350. Which is the measurement i need as thats what i started with and i no longer have the measurement and i need to figure out if they machince shop didnt cut it right or i gave them the wrong measurements.... which if i did its going to cost me another 100$ and with what ive already invested in the driveshaft alone i could have bought me a decent short tail, and had i known it was a a direct replacement i would have went that way in the first place..

67_SS396 · 03-26-2004, 03:51 AM

I'll go pull the measurements and get back to you in a few minutes...

67_SS396 · 03-26-2004, 04:02 AM

I still have my shaft out, so it was easy to pull measurements. This a stock shaft. The front measures 37" center to center and the rear is 35" center to center. Hope that helps.

angelsairman · 03-26-2004, 04:14 AM

well if your set up is the same as mine was orignally, damn is yours a long bed? As mine is. If it is then looks like i just screwed myself out of a 100 bucks.... well at least i didnt have it cut to short....and once again the money pit opens to swallow more...Thanks for the info..

67_SS396 · 03-26-2004, 04:17 AM

No problem, glad I could help. Yes it's a long bed. My short step has a one piece. While I had the shaft out last night, I tried to go with a one piece that I had laying around, but it's 2" too short.

I hate carrier bearings, they are nothing but junk and a pain in the a$$.

krazy_texan · 03-26-2004, 10:21 AM

ah having a driveshaft shortened, i just had mine done and had a similar problem after i got it back i had to take it back and have another inch take off but the guy was nice enough to do it for half price.

*72longbed* · 03-26-2004, 12:42 PM

Not trying to steal this thread, just hoping to learn something. I also have a two piece driveshaft under my C-20. I dread everytime I have to drop the drive shaft, (especially front), because its the biggest PIA of all jobs.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I always end up having to unbolt the carrier bearing mount from the crossmember and force the carrier bearing through the crossmember towards the rear of the truck to get the yolk out of the tranny??

What a royal PIA that is!!

I did have to shorten everything for the 700R4, but its still a brutal job dropping that front shaft.

Am I doing something wrong??

72longbed

03-26-2004, 02:09 AM	#1
angelsairman Future Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grand Forks AFB, ND Posts: 151	2 Piece Driveshaft Install????Help I had to have my driveshaft cut down to fit in my 71 C10 as i used a long TH350 when i swapped from my 3 on the tree. Im trying to reinstall the driveshaft. One of two things is wrong, the driveshaft wasnt cut properly or im doing something wrong. I looked in my service manual on installion of this driveshaft but the one in the illustrations is not the one i have. The driveshaft i have the center bearing bolts front to back and not side to side. And on the installion procedure if im reading it correctly says to hang the center bearing and set the rear shaft into the diffrential then slide the two halves together. My driveshaft has a bolt that keeps the two joined behind the ujoint. Can someone please tell me the correct installion for this so i know if its not cut right??? When i figured the length i found the diffrence in the two model trannys which was 2 3/16.... does this sound right??? ....... Also if anyone has a still stock 2 piece driveshaft like mine could they take a measurement from center of front u joint to center of middle u joint so if it was cut wrong i know it was me or the machine shop?? __________________ Its not the end result that counts most...its the journey along the way that's most rewarding My truck doesn't leak, it just marks it's territory Last edited by angelsairman; 03-26-2004 at 02:22 AM.

03-26-2004, 03:28 AM	#2
SWEET7T Try spinnin 4 rear tars Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 757	I don't have the measurement, but to install a 2 piece (like ours). Stick the yoke into the tranny, then put the other end on the diff. Then bolt up the carrier bearing. Well, that's the way I did it anyway, and it's in there. __________________ SWEET7T 1970 C10, 2wd, LB, 307/TH350/3.08. PS, PB

03-26-2004, 03:44 AM	#3
67_SS396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Blue Ridge, Tx Posts: 1,172	I'd measure mine while it's out, but it won't do you any good as I have a short shaft TH-350 in the '70. You have to assemble the shaft completely outside of the truck. Slip on the carrier bearing, bolt on the rear yoke to the front shaft then attach the rear shaft and u-joint to the front shaft. From there you slide the yoke into the tranny, bolt up the rear u-joint to the rearend and finally bolt up the center bearing. It's pretty straight forward. FYI, my brother is stationed at the same base as you. He's been there for about 2 yrs now I believe. He's one of the dog handlers. If you needed help, I'm sure he'd be willing to lend a hand. __________________ Fawker Fab three seater rock crawler buggy 498 BBC/SM465/203/205 doubler, propane, 5.13's, 42" PB Rockers '66 C10 - The new hot rod '77 3+3 Dually - 12 valve 4wd conversion tow rig project '28 Ford 2 door sedan street rod RevLimit Offroad "Hang on beer, we can do this." Last edited by 67_SS396; 03-26-2004 at 03:46 AM.

03-26-2004, 03:49 AM	#4
angelsairman Future Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grand Forks AFB, ND Posts: 151	thats how i figured the instalation went... as for the measurements if im correct the orignal 3 speed manual i had is the same as a short shaft TH350. Which is the measurement i need as thats what i started with and i no longer have the measurement and i need to figure out if they machince shop didnt cut it right or i gave them the wrong measurements.... which if i did its going to cost me another 100$ and with what ive already invested in the driveshaft alone i could have bought me a decent short tail, and had i known it was a a direct replacement i would have went that way in the first place.. __________________ Its not the end result that counts most...its the journey along the way that's most rewarding My truck doesn't leak, it just marks it's territory

03-26-2004, 03:51 AM	#5
67_SS396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Blue Ridge, Tx Posts: 1,172	I'll go pull the measurements and get back to you in a few minutes... __________________ Fawker Fab three seater rock crawler buggy 498 BBC/SM465/203/205 doubler, propane, 5.13's, 42" PB Rockers '66 C10 - The new hot rod '77 3+3 Dually - 12 valve 4wd conversion tow rig project '28 Ford 2 door sedan street rod RevLimit Offroad "Hang on beer, we can do this."

03-26-2004, 04:02 AM	#6
67_SS396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Blue Ridge, Tx Posts: 1,172	I still have my shaft out, so it was easy to pull measurements. This a stock shaft. The front measures 37" center to center and the rear is 35" center to center. Hope that helps. __________________ Fawker Fab three seater rock crawler buggy 498 BBC/SM465/203/205 doubler, propane, 5.13's, 42" PB Rockers '66 C10 - The new hot rod '77 3+3 Dually - 12 valve 4wd conversion tow rig project '28 Ford 2 door sedan street rod RevLimit Offroad "Hang on beer, we can do this."

03-26-2004, 04:14 AM	#7
angelsairman Future Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grand Forks AFB, ND Posts: 151	well if your set up is the same as mine was orignally, damn is yours a long bed? As mine is. If it is then looks like i just screwed myself out of a 100 bucks.... well at least i didnt have it cut to short....and once again the money pit opens to swallow more...Thanks for the info.. __________________ Its not the end result that counts most...its the journey along the way that's most rewarding My truck doesn't leak, it just marks it's territory

03-26-2004, 04:17 AM	#8
67_SS396 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Blue Ridge, Tx Posts: 1,172	No problem, glad I could help. Yes it's a long bed. My short step has a one piece. While I had the shaft out last night, I tried to go with a one piece that I had laying around, but it's 2" too short. I hate carrier bearings, they are nothing but junk and a pain in the a$$. __________________ Fawker Fab three seater rock crawler buggy 498 BBC/SM465/203/205 doubler, propane, 5.13's, 42" PB Rockers '66 C10 - The new hot rod '77 3+3 Dually - 12 valve 4wd conversion tow rig project '28 Ford 2 door sedan street rod RevLimit Offroad "Hang on beer, we can do this."

03-26-2004, 10:21 AM	#9
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	ah having a driveshaft shortened, i just had mine done and had a similar problem after i got it back i had to take it back and have another inch take off but the guy was nice enough to do it for half price. __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

03-26-2004, 12:42 PM	#10
72longbed Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,411	Question about 2 piece? Not trying to steal this thread, just hoping to learn something. I also have a two piece driveshaft under my C-20. I dread everytime I have to drop the drive shaft, (especially front), because its the biggest PIA of all jobs. Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I always end up having to unbolt the carrier bearing mount from the crossmember and force the carrier bearing through the crossmember towards the rear of the truck to get the yolk out of the tranny?? What a royal PIA that is!! I did have to shorten everything for the 700R4, but its still a brutal job dropping that front shaft. Am I doing something wrong?? 72longbed



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