1952-59 Ford Driveshaft measurement

Goung to get my driveshaft cut down next week. What is the proper way to measure for the correct length? I checked a couple sites and couldn't find anything that referenced the rear yoke style on our cars. I know that the trans yoke should be shoved all the way in and take 1" off total length. Do you measure off the flat on the pinion yoke or hold the u joint bearing cup on the yoke and measure from the center on it?

 

Local driveshaft shop told me to measure from the flat on the pinion.

 

Thanks okie.

 

My thoughts would be to find out where the shop that's going to do the work wants you to measure from...and double check to make sure you're on the same page.

 

When I had mine done, the shop said: trans yoke pushed in all the way, center to center on the u-joints less 1". The car has to be on level ground when you take the measurement.

 

Are you using the flange style rear u joint?

 

Yes. I'm staying with the original u joint style.

 

Both conventional joints in mine. There is a great site, Denny's Driveshafts. He has worksheets on any type 'shaft you can think of.

 

In my '54 I used a 1986 Ford Crown Victoria drive shaft with a NEAPCO 2-0291 rear U-joint to bolt up to the stock rear end I did have to shorten it 1 1/4" because my donor 302 & AOD came from a Lincoln the AOD is 1 1/8" longer than Mustang or Crown Vic AOD's or C4's.This drive shaft is the same from 1982-86 I have helped guys with this swap here and at other sites it will work on all 1954-56 Fords. The same U-joint can be found at NAPA Perfection #506

 

Better check with the driveshaft shop. Different shops use different points of reference (at least that's been my experience.)

 

Any range on price? Mine is short and I have to lengthen it. Here is a picture of mine installed after I put a Maverick rear end in my 53 Victoria

 

I had mine done at a shop in San Berdoo, about $100. I took him the drive shaft from my 56 and the shaft from the Mustang the trans was out of and he put the two together.

 

Just got mine back. It was $138 with new u joints installed. All I had to do was put it in the car.

 

Mine was also in the $130 range....with new u-joints installed.

 

I paid $300 for a new 3.5" shaft, all ****er and Neapco parts, good to 500 HP. I supplied the front yoke.