Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks, it has been a long road but it's getting there :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Today my brother and I started making the last piece to my drivetrain puzzle. First we made up a 2" spacer for the carrier bearing and then started to modify a 2 piece drive shaft my brother just happened to have sitting around out of an 80's Suburban with a big block. Definitely a heavy duty shaft with 1350 ujoints throughout.

First we removed the old nasty carrier bearing and installed my new one. Next we mocked the front portion of the driveshaft up in the chassis, connected it to the tranny yoke and took some measurements. Turns out it was 3 3/8" too long so we proceeded to cut it down and tack it back together. Once we confirmed it was the right length and was nice and straight, my brother finish welded it. We ran out of time for the night so next weekend we will finish off the rear portion of the shaft as that has to be shortened too. I also had to order a 1350 pinion yoke tonight, hopefully it will come in for next weekend so there are no delays.

I have to say it was a learning experience for me. My brother has built 20-30 driveshafts so he knew what he was doing. I just helped him hold things and watched :lol: I was pretty amazed that he could do that.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Now that's some beef!!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Great job on the drive shaft!!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks, I think that big block needs some beef

Thanks, I can't take credit for it I was just the second pair of hands :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

4 hands 1 shaft.....I'll leave this alone. :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

They make conversion u-joints to go from that 1350 to your factory rear end.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

:lol: I actually did laugh out loud on that one

Yeah I know but I want to keep the 1350's throughout the entire driveshaft. I saw them on Denny's driveshaft. Even my trans yoke uses 1350's as it is the heavy duty truck bolt on style. I don't plan on being easy on this drivetrain so I hope it is as stout as possible :devil:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Very nice Keith.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Very nice work on the drive shaft. Looks like that will work.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Oh ok! That makes sense! lol

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Nice work man! We shortened a driveline not too long ago but just kinda figgered it out the hard way. How did you cut the weld yoke off? Were you left with any kind of "lip" to locate it back onto shortened tube nice and square?

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Thanks guys, saved me a lot of money from having a custom shaft made. I will have about $200.00 into this one when all said and done.

Yes my brother cut the yoke off dead center of the weld being careful to only cut the shaft and not through the yoke. Once the piece was cut off he was left with about a 1" lip on the yoke that we squared up and pressed back into the shortened shaft. Once everything was square he threw some tack welds on. Then we tried it in the truck to make sure it was the correct length and the carrier bearing bolted in. Once we confirmed it was correct he fully welded it. Hope that helps.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Here are some beefy u joints, I ran these off road and they rocked
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-135...joint-ctm.html

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Wow I think I just crapped my pants over the price of those u joints :lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Go wipe then come back:lol:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Good work on the drive shaft!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks hopefully I can get it all finished up this weekend

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

That's one of the things I've been dreading

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Yeah I was too, I thought I was going to have to spend $600-700 to have one built similar to this. Inland empires 502 2 piece shaft is over $700. I got to talking to my brother about the driveshaft and next thing I know he was up in the attic grabbing this one. He was like "we will make you one" :metal:

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

I've talked to Delmo about building one for me. but the price is what gets me $700, plus like you said.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

I have a buddy here in NC that's going to build me a new 2 piece for $400 with new components. He owns Oliver's driveshaft in Winston salem and builds them for people all over U.S

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Adams driveshaft in Henderson , Nv builds all my shafts for cheap!

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

I had mine built at a local shop, everything new, 3.5" diamter, 1350 joints, HD carrier bearing... $500.

Re: Project "What was I Thinking" 68 SWB
 

Looks like you guys have some decent prices from local shops. I don't even know what the going rate would have been locally. I'm glad I didn't have to go that route, all it cost me was a new carrier bearing and pinion yoke.