pistonpop

While replacing my trans mount I noticed there is too much play in the tail shaft bearing. The bearing that the drive shaft goes in to the rear of the tranny. I don't know if I am correctly naming the part? The manual does not list a part number or a description? Does anyone know the correct part number, name or how to remove it? is it pressed in? Do I have to get to it by removing the tail shaft? I have a 1971 Cutlass 350cidwith a 350 3 speed tranny.


John

oldcutlass

Are you referring to the universal joint??

coppercutlass

If you are talking about the trans side . Behind the output shaft seal there is a bushing in there i dont think there is a bearing in the housing extension.

pistonpop

No the part of the tranny where the drive shat goes in to the tranny. It rides on some tye of busshing or bearing I need to know the part name and number?

pistonpop

I think it is some sort of bushing? Do you have any idea of the correct name or part number?

coppercutlass

Tail hosuing extension bushing. Type in th350 tail housing extension bushing should pop right up

MDchanic

Why do you think it's bad?

If it's because you could grab the output shaft and wiggle it around after you pulled the slipyoke out, then the output shaft bushing is fine. The bushing rides on the slipyoke, not the output shaft, so when the slipyoke is removed, the output shaft can wiggle around.
To check it, re-insert the slipyoke and then check for play .

- Eric

pistonpop

Hi Eric,

Thanks for helping me out. About 2 weeks ago I installed a manual hurst floor shifter and the drive shaft was hitting the installation bolts on the shifter when I drove the car and it was under load? So I changed the trans mount and changed the bolts to carriage bolts and installed them from the bottom up. I noticed that the drive shaft has been hitting the underside of the floor for sometime prior to the floor shifter installation. When the drive shaft is in place you can grab it and move it around way to much. So that is why I want to replace the tail shaft bushing. I found a complete rebuilt tail for a reasonable price. What do you think?

MDchanic

If the front U-joint is all over the place, then I agree, the bushing is bad.

If you can get a hold of a good tail piece, that should do it. You can make sure by inserting the slipyoke into the new tail piece before you even install it, to see if it fits with only a few thousandths play.

It should be a simple matter to unbolt the tailpiece (be ready to catch all the oil!), and slide it off, but I will admit that I've never actually done this before myself.

Good luck!

- Eric

pistonpop

Thanks Eric!
I am going to order the entire tail piece. I did a little research online and someone went through a lot of problems by just changing the busing several times because they damaged it and the part did not fit correctly and had to be machined down finally to make it fit correctly. I figure for a rebuilt one at $68 is a bargain! My only concern is a correct fit for the drive shaft. There are 2 different seals small and large shaft's on year one's website. I have a th350 so I am assuming it’s the smaller one? Any thoughts on that?
Thanks again,
John

citcapp

Is the speedo gear in the tail shaft?

MDchanic

As fas as I know (I'm not crawling under the car in the snow, and my spare TH400 is a few hundred miles away),

YES for the TH400 (at least in some cases), and

NO for the TH350 (but it's easy to remove in order to pull the tail if I'm wrong).

- Eric

pistonpop

Thanks Eric, I talked with a supplier on eBay. He has every size. He told me to measure length and dia of speedo housing. I should be able to get the correct one. I'll keep you and everyone else posted.