c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I've been searching and im not really coming up with any real solid results. im trying to find out the various lengths chevy trucks have had over the years in the long wheel base trucks. If anybody could help or just post the length you have in your truck. Drive shafts seem to be the a big topic and the 1 piece/ 2 piece question seems to come up alot also' so any help there would be great too.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I was just searching for the same info for shortbed 60-66 trucks.
Many give the answer to measure what you have - which I will, but there has to be a few standard lengths.
http://www.hotrodhotline.com/md/asse...iveshaft-1.jpg

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I have two inline 6 / 3sp manual driveshafts for short beds out right now. I can get a measurement on the one piece shafts tonight.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I would think with manual transmissions the bellhousing mounts to the same place whether an i6 or v8.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

their only std for the model that they were made for. just get the tube lengthened or shortened to what you need . get the yokes that you require.
you may find one out there the right length but the ujoints and or yoke may be different. then that it was taken out of something else, is it still true( where did that vibration come from?)the time that you spend looking plus your going to have to change the joints anyway, it will be less expensive just to get it done.
when you play with vehicles sometimes not everything comes from a store.
ron

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Let me explain little more what i need this for. i have a two piece drive shaft out of early 90's 1500 in my bagged 1963 (that I fabricated myself NOT BOUGHT FROM A STORE). I have recently decided to upgrade from a 283 with a saginaw 3 speed to a mild 350 with 350 turbo trans. Now considering the issues with having the truck bagged and now needing a shorter drive shaft my carrier bearing location will not work and I'm thinking of going back to a one piece driveshaft. I don't have to original driveshaft anymore due to it being bent, I'im looking for a replacement that will either work or be close to the length i need. so any real help here would be greatly appreciated.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I really think there has to be "Standard" lengths for drivelines. The Bell housing was mounted in the same place for thousands of trucks. After that you only have to consider what transmission you have, then short or long bed.
Doesn't it cost like $400+ to get a driveline made?

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

It could cost that much if you have to have a complete new driveshaft made. The trick is to start with a driveshaft that is too long and just have it shortened and balanced. That should be $120-150.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Nope. Too many other variables.

The operative concept here is to control the driveshaft "critical speed", the point at which it begins to swing like a jump rope. It is affected by length, outside diameter, thickness, material, mass and rpm. Highest shaft rpm is affected by vehicle top speed, rear axle ratio and tire diameter. Length is affected by wheelbase and driveline configuration.

The driveline is also affected by any unusual or unpredicted system resonances, which can destroy a driveline even at a speed lower than the critical rpm.

From an OE perspective the driveshaft choice (one piece vs two piece) can be manipulated by controlling any one or more of those variables.

Hence there's a little more going on than picking a length and slapping a couple yokes on it (from a production standpoint).

There is a chart that the engineer keeps (like the brake system release charts I have posted in the past) that shows all of the driveline configurations and shaft lengths for every GM light duty truck. I have asked the engineer for it on a couple of occasions but he has not come through with it.

K

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I doubt they made each driveline special when the truck reached the end of the assembly line.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Yes - they made each driveline special but no - not at the end of the assembly line. All the pieces are made up ahead of time.

Nothing on an assembly line is spontanteous (or, at least, it better not be). Keep in mind a typical line rate is 60 jobs per hour - that's one completed truck every minute. That gives you about 45 seconds to do your job assignment so there's not a lot of time for extra curricular activities.

The specific parts are released into the engineering database for each available combination. That way they can be sourced and procured in quantities to support volume production, a process that could take several weeks or even months. (That supplier could be supporting as many as six or seven vehicle assembly plants, so they are making several hundred shafts per hour). With the amount of engine, trans and wheelbase proliferation in full size truck that's a lot of combinations. This is all psyched out, designed, developed and validation/durability tested months and years ahead of start of production.

The parts numbers are distributed throughout the plant as required and printed on the manifest and/or build sheet. The operator selects the parts as indicated on the build sheet (either by part number or by broadcast code) and puts 'em together for that specific truck.

In more detail: major components like engines, transmissions, rear axles, HVAC units, etc, are received at the final assembly plant already put together by the various suppliers. They are usually received and trimmed out in a remote area of the plant and conveyed to the main assembly line in build sequence order. Rear axles are hung on the conveyor according to the build manifest and the brake lines and shocks installed. The drive shaft is sub assembled and placed on that same rear axle hanger and conveyed to the main line, as a unit.

One other nuance: usually the drive shaft assembly is attached to the rear axle before the engine/trans is installed. The front of the shaft is supported temporarily by a bungee strap and then guided into the trans tailshaft at motor set.

See http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm photos #1, 2 and 4.

I mention that only because it is one of those little tidbits that is counterintuitive, compared to what you or I would do in our own garage.

K

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Great info as always Keith. Your perspective from the manufactures side is very insightful.
Jimmy

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Thank you; and you are welcome.

K

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Well - I did stop by and see the drive shaft engineer at his desk. He was kind enough to drag out his big book of knowledge for me to thumb through.

Unfortunately (a) he didn't have any charts earlier than the GMT400 version and (b) they are not really in the format I remembered. They wouldn't really lend themselves very well to posting here or to cross referencing different usages (there are only one or two parts per page).

Did you have any other questions or comments I might be able to elaborate on?

K

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Thanks,
I'll probably just end up getting it made if I can find one close and have a shop size and balance it.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I just had one made, 350/th350 in a 62, 52" CTC

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Many Drivetrain changes have been made to our trucks over the years.
And now we're making changes and need to get either a different driveshaft, or have ours modified.
In searching these forums I've found that the lengths are all over the place.
So now I'm going to start looking at other vehicles for a donor shaft.
Myself, if I was to keep my ho32, I'd need roughly a 53.75" u joint center to u joint center.
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So far, from just these forums I've found the following :
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Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

And if you have an 8.8 rear end the shaft will hit on the trailing arms cross member.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Stock driveshafts are meant for stock HP levels even if you have one shortened. I prefer to just buy a new steel DOM driveshaft without grease fittings that way I never have to worry about it.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

A related question/answer:.

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Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

More:

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Here's another thread with many donor options :

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I'm running a small block with a 700r4 in my '64 LWB, and I found a combination of factory shafts that worked perfectly. No cutting or mods.

Front shaft: 1973-1987 1/2 ton Suburban (or maybe C-10 LWB?)
Rear Shaft: 1960-1966 C20
Carrier bearing: Heavy duty 1960-1966 "C20 style" (shaped like a bell).

You will need to run a "combo" u-joint (1310/1350) at both ends of the rear shaft if you are using a stock truck 12-bolt. At the slip joint, use the yoke from the '73-'87 rear shaft.

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

I'm thinking about going out to Pick-N-Pull in the next couple weeks. I'm guessing I'll only need the wrench for removing the u-bolt at the u-joint.
I shouldn't need anything else, right?

Re: c10 driveshaft lenghts
 

Also,
For donors,
Did GM switch to metric at the u-joints after a certain year?