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C1 driveshaft

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  • Brian W.
    Very Frequent User
    • September 30, 1990
    • 216

    C1 driveshaft

    Can someone out there tell me the proper length of the driveshaft if measured from centre to centre of the universal joints. Car is a '57 245 hp 3 speed, non posi. Thanks
    Brian
  • Dennis C.
    NCRS Past Judging Chairman
    • January 1, 1984
    • 2409

    #2
    Re: C1 driveshaft

    Brian, Have one out of a car, will post tomorrow, unless some kind person beats me to it... Dennis

    Comment

    • Joe L.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • February 1, 1988
      • 43193

      #3
      Re: C1 driveshaft

      Brian-----

      I can't give you the u-joint center-to-center length, but the overall length from end-of-yoke to end-of-yoke is 34-35/64". Usually, this is the easier dimension to measure. You can calculate the center-to-center distance by subtracting 2 X the dimension from u-joint center-to-end from the overall length I provided.
      In Appreciation of John Hinckley

      Comment

      • Ed Jennings

        #4
        Re: C1 driveshaft

        I used this dimension to have a driveshaft fabricated a couple of years ago. It fit perfectly. Be sure you have the correct lenght Corvette specific transmission yoke; the generic ones are too short.

        Comment

        • James F.
          Very Frequent User
          • December 1, 1985
          • 596

          #5
          Re: C1 driveshaft - Brian

          Brian,
          "Corvette Chassis Restoration Guide" says 34 1/2" C to C (center to center). Regards,

          Comment

          • Brian W.
            Very Frequent User
            • September 30, 1990
            • 216

            #6
            Re: C1 driveshaft

            Gentlemen:
            Thanks for your response. My drive shaft measures 36 9/16" full length. When in the car it looked o.k. so I measured from the end of the pinion gear nut on the rear end housing to the top rear of the transmission tail housing casting and I have 38 11/16" (body's off the frame). Is this measurement correct? Previously to installing the correct 3 speed it had a 4 speed muncie, could this be the reason for the extended drive shaft?
            Brian

            Comment

            • Brian W.
              Very Frequent User
              • September 30, 1990
              • 216

              #7
              Re: C1 driveshaft - Brian

              Jim: I read that section too and that is the reason I'm questionning my drive shaft length. I'm not sure where the problem is.
              Brian

              Comment

              • Karl #35089

                #8
                Re: C1 driveshaft

                Brian: From an early '61 with a T-10 and orig. prop shaft:

                Prop shaft C-C: 34-1/2
                Prop shaft OAL: 35-7/8
                Hook tape behind slinger on rear & measure to top, rear edge of trans tail casting: 39-7/8 (My prop shaft is installed so I can't readily get to the pinion nut to duplicate your measurement, but I think they'll ~agree.)

                If you confirm you have an over-length prop shaft, I'd be concerned about binding when the rear susp is compressed. Also, make sure you have the right yoke at trans as others have said. -Karl

                Comment

                • Joe L.
                  Beyond Control Poster
                  • February 1, 1988
                  • 43193

                  #9
                  Re: C1 driveshaft

                  Brian-----

                  The dimension that I provided in my initial post is GM's spec for the driveshaft's end-to-end length. However, it's very possible that the spec was actually for center-to-center and the GM information is incorrect. From the empirical information which others have reported, that sounds like it could be the case here. It's very unusual, though. Usually, GM uses end-to-end length for driveshaft specs (except 71-82 Corvettes where, incredibly, they use TUBE SECTION LENGTH.
                  In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                  Comment

                  • Brian W.
                    Very Frequent User
                    • September 30, 1990
                    • 216

                    #10
                    Re: C1 driveshaft

                    I checked the measurement on the car that Karl sugested and it's the same. It appears my driveshaft is 5/8" too long. I guess I'll have to cut it down.
                    Brian

                    Comment

                    • Joe L.
                      Beyond Control Poster
                      • February 1, 1988
                      • 43193

                      #11
                      Re: C1 driveshaft

                      Brian-----

                      The Saginaw 3 speed and the 63-70 style Muncie trans are exactly the same length of 21-1/2". If you have a 71-74 Muncie (tailhousing is #3978764), that transmission is about 3/4" longer than the 63-70 style Muncie. But, if you had that transmission previously installed (and a driveshaft previously made up to fit), then you would need to LENGTHEN your driveshaft now for insatllation of the 3 speed. So, if you are going from a 63-70 style Muncie to a Saginaw 3 speed, I don't understand why you are having a driveshaft fitment problem, at all.
                      In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                      Comment

                      • Brian W.
                        Very Frequent User
                        • September 30, 1990
                        • 216

                        #12
                        Re: C1 driveshaft

                        Joe:
                        The muncie trans. is 21 1/2" long. The tailshaft cast# is 3846429. I'm guessing the shaft was made longer because the fine spline slip yoke is the short one.I'll have to get the corect yoke as used on corvette.
                        Brian

                        Comment

                        • Joe L.
                          Beyond Control Poster
                          • February 1, 1988
                          • 43193

                          #13
                          Re: C1 driveshaft

                          Brain-----

                          Yes, that's the problem. If someone sized a driveshaft to be compatible with the "short" transmission yoke, that would result in a longer driveshaft. It's a very bogus way to make the adaptation, though, but a lot of folks operate this way.
                          In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                          Comment

                          • Dennis C.
                            NCRS Past Judging Chairman
                            • January 1, 1984
                            • 2409

                            #14
                            Re: C1 driveshaft

                            My '62 I'm working on: U-Joint C/L = 34 11/16". Front yoke machined surface measures 4 3/4" long.

                            Comment

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