It's a good idea to have weight on the back wheels before you tighten down the center pedestal. The driveshaft will move in and out just a little with the suspension travel so it's good to tighten at normal ride height.
When I changed my 62 Impala over to a 12 bolt rearend and a TKO 600 transmission I went and got a driveshaft from a one ton cube van at the wrecking yard. I had to shorten it but it works just fine. It's got a slip joint. It's the black driveshaft, the silver one is the stock Chevy driveshaft.
-- Edited by jim_ss409 on Thursday 6th of February 2014 12:33:42 PM
here's what I did to the new 1 from CARQUEST(premium 1 -$45.00 )-welded in re-enforcement on the sides-------the last 1 bought had poor spot-welds & flopped over to the side !
a horrible engineering design by GM......a slip-joint would have saved a lot of headaches
I did the same thing. If everything is working properly there shouldn't be a lot of stress on the pedestal but they are pretty flimsy.
I wonder if the originals were any stronger, you know how it goes these days, some of these replacement parts aren't exactly built to the highest standards.
It's a good idea to have weight on the back wheels before you tighten down the center pedestal. The driveshaft will move in and out just a little with the suspension travel so it's good to tighten at normal ride height.
When I changed my 62 Impala over to a 12 bolt rearend and a TKO 600 transmission I went and got a driveshaft from a one ton cube van at the wrecking yard. I had to shorten it but it works just fine. It's got a slip joint. It's the black driveshaft, the silver one is the stock Chevy driveshaft.
-- Edited by jim_ss409 on Thursday 6th of February 2014 12:33:42 PM
Hey Jim - do you remember the year of one ton cube van........that's a great idea
Bernie
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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better
I don't remember but it doesn't really matter much because once you get into the trucks they mostly all use standard sizes. This driveshaft is all 1350 sized and that's pretty common on most one ton trucks. I'm not 100% sure on this but I think it was Spicer, the big driveline company that came up with these sizes, the stock U joints on these X frame cars is 1310.. You can also get 1350 sized yokes for most transmissions and rearends. The 1350 size is also pretty standard on most drag race cars.
I found an old post on the 348/409 site and I paid $35 for the used drive shafts and then another $200 to get them shortened, balanced and I think I got new U joints in on the price.
I had to modify the aftermarket polly center pedestal from the old driveshaft in order to make the bigger center bearing fit.
These days you can order a brand new 1350 sized two piece driveshaft from Inland Empire. I'm sure it would cost more than this one did but it's easier. There's is a different configuration, but it should work pretty much the same. I think Denny's Driveline might also make one, I'm not sure about that though.
If you were going to use a wrecking yard driveshaft it would be good to get a center bearing and pedestal from Inland Empire, that would save having to modify one.
I've heard that you can fit a one piece drive shaft into these X frame cars without cutting the tunnel if you use shorter rear shocks that limit the travel of the rear end. (I think shocks from a 65 to about 70 Impala are what they use)
You also have to use a relatively small tube size, like about 3.25" (I'm not sure about the size) I think a driveline company would normally like to use something bigger, like about 4" for a drive shaft that long but I gather that guys are getting away with the smaller diameter tube. A place like Bears Driveline in Windsor Ont. could build a one piece shaft out of chromoly.
Very interesting thread! Ironically, I just ordered a polyurethane carrier bearing from Jeg's Performance. ($124.99) for my '64 CS. I had it shipped to Phoenix from Grove City, Ohio since I am heading there next week. No taxes and free shipping. Hopefully, it works has well as they claim. I agree that the original design is far too flimsy, especially if one has doubled the original horsepower.
