I'm putting a 200r4 in my 65 Cutlass everything is going good except the damned drive shaft goes in an 1 5/8" and stops dead, it will still turn but it will not go any farther. This is a newly rebuilt transmission and I can see a shiny new bushing through he seal. The yoke is clean inside and out and isn't rusty, I don't get it anyone run into this before?

 

I've got a couple 200's in the garage but haven't touched them yet. I know some yokes have splines right at the end, then others have a smooth stretch before the splines begin. You might try taking a small screwdriver and sliding it into the transmission to see how far the splines on the tailshaft go.

With that thought... what does the inside of your yoke look like? Do the splines start right away, or could that 1 5/8" be just engaging the splines? Is there a wide spot in the splines that has to match with the yoke, so it can only go in at one spot? I hope these thoughts give you somethings to check, hopefully other members will post additional things to consider. John

 

Im assuming that you had a power glide? or a 350 turbo ? Then it should work if your your resuing your driveshaft. The tailshaft seals may look a little different but it should work. I agree with previous reply inspect each spline. Thne run a thin piece of metal or pointed file in each groove just becareful around seals and bushings.

 

The splines go all the way to the end of the yoke so it is fully engaged as soon as it's of the tail shaft, the inside of the yoke looks to be clean and rust free.

 

Got the drive shaft to fit tonight, I removed and cleaned the yoke real well and it still wouldn't go in, so I pulled the rear seal out so I could see into the bushing better and there was a burr on the very back edge, I used a very small rat tail file and smoothed it out and the yoke went in. What a pain in the ***!

 

Glad you found the problem and got it to fit. Yes - a PITA that was!