66-3X2 442

I need to know if the 68 442 turbo 400 drive shaft is a two piece unit. I also need to know what the center to center of the u-joint measurement is. I also need the measurement of a correct 442 air cleaner from the end of the snorkle to the center of the vacuum pod. I'm getting conflicting info that there's two different cleaners,small block and big block cleaners. I've been told the difference is the positioning of the vacuum pod. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

64Rocket

All I can answer is the drive shaft question. It is a one piece. I don't have the length.
Gene

getawaycar

I'll measure mine for you this afternoon.

Chris

69442C

I have a 69 442 with T400 and should be the same as your 68. The driveshaft is actually a 2 piece unit, meaning that it has a tube in a tube. The smaller tube is in the back and hangs out about 18" - 24" from the larger tube. The tubes have a rubber isolator that holds everything together. The dimension on my shaft, measuring from between the center of the 2 ujoint caps on the shaft only, is 55 1/8".

1968Cutlassfallbrook

So is that a torque tube that you're talking about? I had one of those on a rambler I had where the driveshaft was inside the torque tube and there was a donut looking thing. I would of thought that those would of been gone.

getawaycar

The 442 with automatic transmission came with a driveshaft with a bonded rubber connection at the diff end of the driveshaft, kind of like the engine vibration damper. There is an outer and inner tube with a rubber sleeve between them. This was to reduce the "clunk" when you put the trans in gear. The bonding in my shaft failed and as a result the shaft became "out of phase" which will cause some vibration. I had a new solid tube shaft made to replace it. The shaft measures 55 1/8 from center of joint to center of joint.

My air cleaner measures roughly 5 1/4 inches from the end of the snorkel to the center of the vacuum pod.

Chris

joe_padavano

No. A torque tube is a large tube AROUND the outside of the driveshaft that does not rotate. The driveshaft spins inside of it. It is rigidly connected to the rear axle and pivots up and down at the trans.

Oldsmobiles with automatic transmissions typically used the rubber isolated driveshafts to reduce driveline shock for a smoother ride. The two concentric tubes were connected with a molded-in-place rubber layer. From the outside it LOOKS like a normal one-piece driveshaft. While some people call this a "two piece" driveshaft, that is really confusing, since most people use the term "two piece driveshaft" to refer to a driveshaft that has a third u-joint or a CV joint in the middle. Think long-wheelbase trucks, or my 62 F-85 wagon. In the case of my 62, the two-piece driveshaft was used to provide a lower hump and floor in this relatively small car.

66-3X2 442

Thanks guys for the response. My drive shaft is 55 1/8" center to center and is the two piece or dampened rubber style. I've had guys tell me that they have original cars with both styles. The consensus is the dampened unit is the correct one but who really knows what came out of the factory. I have a photo of a 68 W-30 automatic car and it clearly shows the dampened unit. The most common length I've been given is 55 1/8",so this means I have the correct unit. I can see where the two piece description could be confusing but I think most got my question. The 5 1/4" measurement on the 68 air cleaner is also correct for the distance from the end of the snorkel to the center of vacuum pod. Thanks again.

Mike Richards