Not sure if any of you had a similar experience, my cutlass came with a chevy rear (just found out), so while mounting a shortail TH400 and driveshaft with a th400 yoke, the driveshaft is not fitting!

The issue is not the yoke since it's fully inserted, the actual length of the driveshaft is 56 3/4ths and it needs to be around 54 3/8ths to comfortably fit.

Did anyone experience a similar issue before? Yes, I will one day get a Olds rear but for now need a fast solution. I am looking to find driveshaft with measurement above, reaching out to chevelle driveshaft owners on craigs for measurements.

If all fails, may need to have the driveshaft reduced by a shop.

thanks

 

Find out if WTony has one around...he's probably not far from you.

 

I saw an ad on new england cl maybe boston the guy had 3-4 DSs and measurements listed on the ad

boston can be done in a day from NJ

edit found it;

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/pts/3501808461.html

man I have a brilliant memory !!!! well for things like this, no-one tell my wife because as far as shes concerned i cant remember squat

 

thanks, will reach out if I cant find one locally.... im the same, I am online for hours and she keeps asking what im doing and I just saying nuttin just surfin net...

 

I've got a 72 with a chevelle 10 bolt.
The stock driveshaft for an Olds rear with th400 is 54 1/2". I found the chevelle 10 bolt to be shorter than the Olds diff, requiring a longer shaft. Not sure what your driveshaft came off of, maybe a chevelle with a th350? But it was only $70 to have a driveshaft shortened locally.
You also might want to check engine, driveline, and pinion angles with the chevy rear.

 

i am running a Chevy 12 bolt rear........I had a custom shaft made as I remember my stock one was to short......the spline didnt go far enough on the tail shaft...Maybe there's a difference between 10 bolt and 12 bolt Chevy rear ends? Just saying if its working theres nothing wrong with running a Chevy rearend......

 

http://www.axle-exchange.com/

found this place nearby, may just stop by and get it shortened for $125, seems they are on the pricey side.

 

That price is quite reasonable to shorten and re-balance the shaft. Make sure the universal joints are good, and measure so that the yoke is 1" out from full insertion into the trans.

 

It wouldn't cost much more than that to have a whole new drive shaft made. I'd pull the yoke out 3/4 of an inch and measure. The measurement is center to center on the U joints.

 

I don't think you have the correct shaft to begin with.A 71-72 Cutlass/442,with TH400 transmission,and the original 8.5" 10-bolt,came with a driveshaft that was 54 3/4" tip to tip,or 53 1/4" from the center of the u-joint hole,to the center of the other u-joint hole.The overall length,from the rear tip,to the end of the yoke,should be about 60 5/8".The only rear that would require a noticably longer shaft,is the 12-bolt O-axle.It sounds like your shaft might have come from a 68-70 Cutlass/442,or someone could have taken a longer TH350 shaft,and installed a TH400 yoke on it.
If you indeed have an 8.2" 10-bolt Chevy rear,then the u-joint needed for that yoke,is a 1310.If it is the 8.5" 10-bolt,or BOP 8.2" 10-bolt,then it will take a 3R u-joint.

 

For around $200 you can order the size you want online that comes with 2 new U joints and yoke. I did that rather than spend the same amount on modifying corroded 40 year old parts.

 

The shaft we are trying (thought should work) to use is supposed to be out of a big block Pontiac Lemans 1971 with a Turbo 400 trans, and it is too long by about two inches. After digging I found a shaft missing the yoke and it is 55 inches ear tip to ear tip. I think it will work. With this project we are swapping in a 455 and Turbo 400 in Ed's 72 Cutlass conv that had a 350 Olds engine and a long shaft Turbo 375 trans in it. Funny the shaft we pulled out was junkyard labeled Camaro.

 

since the driveshaft changes diameter as it nears both ends, the shop was no help.. however I ended going to another shop in North Jersey in Clifton called Driveline on Rt 46 and they were much more helpful. http://www.drivelinenj.com/ The guy at axle exchange didnt even care to look at the DS or measure it.

Im glad Joe was able to dig out a DS which hopefully will work, thanks for all the helpful feedback.

 

Let us know how it turns out.

 

RULE #1 There is no such thing as a bigblock Pontiac! HaHa.
The 72 Lemans uses an 8.2" 10-bolt,which requires a slightly longer shaft,compared to the 8.5",so the driveshaft WILL be longer than a Cutlass shaft of the same era.
The longshaft TH375/TH400 take a considerably shorter shaft,so a Camaro shaft might ust work for that,as they are considerably shorter.I have one.They might have also started with a Camaro shaft,and shortened it more,who knows.
If a company can't shorten a shaft just because the diameters change,then they have no business doing driveshafts.They make different ends for different diameters,and to do it right,they would put a new end on it anyway.I can get them done here,correctly,with new Spicer u-joints at each end,balanced,and even painted,for $125.00 or less.

 

NICE! Guess I did not even think about it..... it was a 455 Lemans and I just referred to it as a Big Block!

 

I have an ol' 2 piece with the plastic sleeve if you really want to re-use some old junk.

 

The turbo 400 yoke was attached to the 55 inch drive shaft, which went in fine, and will work fine. Optimally the yoke could have gone into the trans another 1/2 inch to be "perfect". I have no idea what this 55 inch shaft came out of. I accumulated quite a stash of driveshafts over the years....long story. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

 

I am also running a chev 12 bolt in my 66 with a 4 speed dont rember were i got the driveshaft But the rear ujoint needs to have the smaller caps for the chev yoke than the olds shaft on mine to bolt up you can by them that way at a good parts store or sumitt, jegs so what you need is a ujoint with small caps for the yoke and big caps for the driveshaft yoke unless you make a driveshaft with the rear chevy yoke than you can use a std chev ujoint