Welcome Joe.
From my experiance, a cutting torch was the first tool used anytime a firetruck needed to be modified. Crude doesn't begin the discribe the damage I've found on old rigs...
As for your drive shaft issue, find somebody who has a truck like yours and take a look with pictures, inperson or in an old manual.
As much as we want to think our trucks are one of a kind, somebody out there has one just like ours. Those folks are always willing to help you out.
