I reinstalled my driveshaft on my 66 F-85 today and slid the splined shaft into the transmission housing all the way. Then I went down to the rear end and put the U-bolts in to both the yoke to the differential and when I was finished I noticed the shaft had slid out of the transmission a bit once the U-bolts were tightened. It's seated in there fine, but I'd say there's about an 1" or 1.25" exposed between the dust seal on the transmission housing and the front yoke. Is that ok? I really don't see any other way to install the driveshaft, but I just want to be sure. Stock rear suspension and trans, only thing I changed was the gears inside the rear.

 

That's how it should be. Around 1" of movement is normal.

 

Yep...this is correct. If it was up against the seal or bottomed out in the yoke when the car is level the suspension articulation would drive-back on the tail shaft and cause internal trans damage.

 

Thank you both!!!

 

Keep in mind that with the rear axle hanging down, the yoke is pulled further out of the trans than when the suspension is at ride height.

 

Yes, thanks! I thought about that and didn’t really think anything was amiss until I put the car back on the ground and saw that it still had about an inch exposed.