C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

[Donald H.]

I've searched the archive and didn't find an answer to my problem.

I'm trying to install the driveshaft and can't get the yoke into the tail housing far enough to get the rear universal in position to attach to the pinion yoke. I think I have all the right parts, not positive.

The driveshaft is the one that came out of the car, but when I got the car it had a 63 T10D-1 transmission. I got a 61 all aluminum T10-1C and rebuilt it with a correct cast iron T10-1B main case and the tail housing is a correct T10-7B.

The front yoke is 4 7/8". Searching the forum seems to confirm this is correct for my 1960.

The drive shaft is 34" or maybe a little longer. I can't get a good measurement now as I have the driveshaft wedged into the transmission.

As it sits now, the front yoke is into the tranny about 3" as I can measure about 1 7/8" of the yoke still showing outside the tranny tail housing. I can not seem to get the yoke to go any further in and I need at least 1/2" to be able to get the rear together. I tried to persuade it with a rubber mallet. But it doesn't want to budge.

I cleaned out the yoke and can not see or feel any interference.

I did overhaul the transmission myself, which was a first and took good pictures. From one picture where I was measuring where the speedometer drive gear was located, It looks like the output shaft has splines of 5+" for the yoke to go onto. Also, I did look at the output shaft when I did the transmission and it also looked clean and no burrs.

What I didn't do that now seems logical was try to install the yoke into the transmission before I had everything in the car.

Sorry for the long story, but what I need to know is should the yoke go into the transmission tail housing further? If so, then I must have some inteferrence on the output shaft.

Thanks in advance,

Don

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Did you look to see if the output shaft is straight? Often there is a bit of a twist right where you are having trouble getting it in.

[Edward J.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Don will the yoke slide into the other transmisson without a problem? there really is not much I can think of that will inteferre. can you pull the yoke and take a peak by the seal to check for maybe a spline that might have a burr or obstruction?

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Mike,

The output shaft looked fine to me when I was rebuilding the transmission. Here's a picture where I was measuring the placement of the speedometer drive gear before I removed it. Looking closely at this picture now, the yoke may be stopping at the groove around the output shaft spline. The one that is at about the 4" mark on my tape in the picture.


output shaft2.jpg

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Edward,

Good suggestion, I'll try to see if the yoke fits onto the 63 transmission shaft all the way.

Don

[Edward J.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Don, your pic shows a area the is shiney and it looks as though that was where the shaft slide on which is about 2 3/4 inchs( not enough). measure the depth of the yoke and see how far your off. and inspect the inside yoke for something out of the ordinary.

[David G.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Did you look to see if the output shaft is straight? Often there is a bit of a twist right where you are having trouble getting it in.

I have seen this more than once. It doesn't take much of a twist to keep the yoke from sliding all the way onto the shaft.

Dave

[James O.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

I bet the spline is twisted as it happens quite often because people use the non-corvette shorter yoke. try a loose spline to see if it slides in easily . it can't bind. there is a replacement spline shaft available out there but i think it was $150. and it would mean trans has to come out. another idea would be to try the shorter non-corvette yoke as an interim measure until the trans comes out next time. i'm no expert but had the same problem.

[John H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

I had the same issue on both the 57's I restored, and in both cases the output shaft was twisted from hard launches using the incorrect shorter passenger car yoke; finding good output shafts wasn't easy, even back in 1995, and neither was finding two "long" yokes before they were reproduced.

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Here's the lastest this morning. I pulled out the 63 T10D transmission that was originally in the car. The slip yoke will slide into it further. With the yoke slid into the T10D transmssion, there is about 1 1/2" of yoke exposed. On the T10-1D transmission in the car and the yoke slide in there is about 1 7/8" of yoke exposed.

So back to one of my original questions, how far should the yoke slide into the transmission?

Thanks,

Don

[Edward J.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Don, I do not believe there is a set depth. but can tell you there is something up. that yoke should bottom out on the shaft. It will go as deep as the yoke is. Its has to slide so that the movement of the chassis when going over bumps or accel and decel.

Your pic. maybe missing something that not showing.as some of the other posters are saying the maybe a twist, or a burr on the shaft . did you take a measurement on the yoke spline depth ?

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Don, I do not believe there is a set depth. but can tell you there is something up. that yoke should bottom out on the shaft. It will go as deep as the yoke is. Its has to slide so that the movement of the chassis when going over bumps or accel and decel.

Your pic. maybe missing something that not showing.as some of the other posters are saying the maybe a twist, or a burr on the shaft . did you take a measurement on the yoke spline depth ?

The spline inside the yoke are machined all the way to the bottom of the yoke. So they are 4 7/8" +. I can not see any damage to the yoke, but it will not bottom out on either of the transmission. I'm not sure how much force to apply. I pushed it firmly by hand onto the rear of both transmission, but it stops on both. If it supposed to bottom out, then I will see if I can find a replacement yoke first.

Don

[Edward J.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Try a little white lit. grease on yoke inside and outside. and if you have a plastic dead blow hammer give it a wack or two. one other note are the wheels hanging on your car? or are you jacked up by the rear axle?

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Try a little white lit. grease on yoke inside and outside. and if you have a plastic dead blow hammer give it a wack or two. one other note are the wheels hanging on your car? or are you jacked up by the rear axle?

I've actually applied grease liberally both to the inside of the yoke and the outside. Used a hammer and wood block to wack it. That proved to be a mistake, made it very difficult to get the shaft back out. My rear is jacked up, but I have the jack stands under the axles, so the weight of the car is on the axles/rear.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Don

[Edward J.]

Re: C1 (1960) driveshaft install issue

Don the wheels should hanging down that brings the rear axle down so the driveshaft has a little extra room to be installed.