home made drive shafts

Has anyone ever had luck making their own extensions for a drive shaft? I have a 49 coronet with a 400 turbo ******. I have the original rear end that i'm going to dress up and attach the drive shaft to. Put it up there last night and it's to short by about 7 inches. I unbolted the yoke from the ****** and it's the short yoke and slid it off. I thought about using the yoke with being bolted in and then using the portion of the other side and weding to a plate that would bolt up to the front. THen I would have ball and trunion with the dodge and u joints from the chevy. Does that sound like a "here hold my beer" idea?

 

Sounds like "here hold my bottle of Jack!" to me... Find a longer shaft and cut it down.

 

If you have all day,four arms,three sets of eyes and six dial indicators with magnetic bases you may get it pretty close so that it barely hums down the highway.Better off cutting down a longer shaft.I've had better results that way myself.However,if its free and your curious,try it and see.

 

I paid a c-note to a driveshaft shop to put a new shaft in my 66 Ford truck. I got it from a charity and someone moved it with a forklift and made the driveshaft smile. New tube, welded and balanced with my ends provided, $100.

 

Just cut the ends off and have a new tube installed. I have made a ton of drive shafts for off road trucks, but they never have to be ballanced since the trucks barley go over 30 mph. You dont want some "Mickey Moused" drive shaft spinning at 3000+ rpm, just under your ***! If that thing ever let go you would know it in a hurry!

 

FordRat IS RIGHT on the cobbled shaft spinning under you. I was following one of those on a cruise run one time. The shaft came apart on the front side (poor weld penetration,vibration) shaft came around sideways and put him on his side in the freeway median. A few feet earlier it would have been an overp*** bridge. F*cked up a real nice 56 Ford pu..

I always find a longer shaft and shorten it on the rear side. In a lathe with proper tools.

 

I agree with Bobcrman,I have had excellent results with very careful measurements ,proper phasing,and now and then balancing. Good luck which ever way you go,above, all be safe Jerry

 

Always use a longer shaft and sorten it and weld your ends in it