Should I shorten a '40 Torque Tube or find a '33-'34?

I picked up a nice '40 rear end, and I want to use it in my '32 highboy. In Mike Bishop's book he talks about using a '33-'34 torque tube because it is easier to shorten. But at the end of the chapter he goes on to say you can use the '40, just knock out the centre bearing. What to do, besides the straight tube, is there any real benefit to using the '33-'34 over the '40? Thanks in advance for your input.......

 

35/36 Torque tubes are also easy to shorten. No intermediate bearing block. But you will need a 37-40 drive shaft as the 35/36 is shaped like a torpedo.

 

I have a good 35/36 torque tube you can have if you'd like but I did cut the radius rod lug out with a zip disk. Did the diff lead work out?

 

Id shorten the 40 torque tube and shorten the 40 drive shaft, i just turn the driveshaft down in the lathe till it fits into the splined adaptor and weld the adaptor to the driveshaft, and your done, fast and easy and you already have all the parts you need. you dont even need to knock out the suport bearing.

some people may say its a bad idea but ive done it on 2 cars and the run and drive fine, my buddy did it in his A sedan and that runs and drives fine.

and if you decide to go with a 33-36 style set up, just cut the ends of the original driveshaft off and get some dom tubing and make a new one, then if you used a 35/6 drive shaft, you can make a set of headers out of the leftovers

jeff

 

Thanks for the advice guys, sounds like I'll use what I have. Jason, I called Gary but he asked me to call back this week, found a guy in Westbank with several, I might even go back for another for my '33 pile.

 

I have the same question with the 40 rearend in my 33 Ford. Would be great if you posted some pics of what you do with your build. Sounds like a great project.

 

I used a '40 rear & torque tube on my RPU. Shortened it in front of the radius rod lug. Left the bearing inside alone. I shortened one end of the driveshaft & had it resplined at a local machine shop.

Don't beat yourself up trying to find a '33-'34. Use what you have. It'll work just fine.

JH