The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Telescopic? driveshaft

I have a granny 4 speed that I am going to put in my "59 3100. It has the original 3 speed in it. The 4 speed came out of a "59 3600 and will bolt right up. My problem is that I need a drive shaft now. I need a driveshaft that telescopes in and out. I realize that I am using the wrong terminology but I don't know what they are called. I was wondering if there was a way to find out what vehicles use the right length driveshaft so I could get one at a salvage yard. I was also wanting to know if they make u-joints that are 2 different sizes to adapt the driveshaft if it uses a different size u-joint. I know that I am not the first one to do this so I was hoping I could find out how others have done it.

In other words you need a driveshaft with a front universal to fit the 4 spd that will slide in and out of the seal on the 4 spd??
John

The front u-joint is connected to a plate that is bolted directly to the transmission and the other end is attached to the differential with the other joint. The slide has to be in the driveshaft somewhere between the u-joints.

I'm not sure how you'd do it. But you are right the 4 spd was offered in the 1/2 ton.
John

I think what you want is a slip yoke somewhere on the drive shaft.
How did the original 3 speed set up look?

SLIP YOKE!!! I knew there was a better way of saying it. The original setup was on the "59 ton truck. I said it was a 3600 but I might have that wrong. It was the ton truck though. It was set up with a two piece drive line and a carrier bearing. It was a long truck. I don't want to mess with a carrier bearing on a short wheelbase truck so I need a driveshaft with a slip yoke that is the right length. I realize that you can get one made but is there something out there in the salvage yards that will work? Oh, and the 3 speed that is on it now just has the slip yoke at the transmission connection.

Something like this Drive shaft with slip yoke but longer.

Yes, that is what I need. I just need one that will work on my truck.

Maybe this company can help you figure some stuff out? http://www.iedls.com/

look for a Chevy truck 55-?? that had that tranny in it originally, they should have a two piece drive shaft in it. I used a 2-[piece shaft in mine behind a 1968 230 and 4-speed
2-piece driveshaft

(I know thats not a stock crossmember, but it works)

Look around for 55.2 thru 59, 3100's with 4 speed trans, that's the one you need.
I went thru the same thoughts & issues & searches for my 57 3100 back in the early 1970's.
I may have a spare around here someplace.
good luck

Is that a slip yoke or a 2 piece drive shaft?

All 3. A 2 piece drive shaft with a slip yoke built into it. The slip yoke allows the 2 pieces to slide in and out.

You could try here.
http://www.car-part.com/
150 Million used auto parts instantly searchable

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1/2 Ton SWB,4SP H1013 $149 Chevytruck Parts Hudson, LLC USA-CO(Hudson) 303-536-4428 / 855-536-4428

1957 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1/2 Ton FRONT SECTION,SM420 4SP 1013 $99 Chevytruck Parts Hudson, LLC USA-CO(Hudson) E-mail 303-536-4428 / 855-536-4428

1957 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1/2 Ton REAR SECTION,SM420 4SP,2X 1013 $99 Chevytruck Parts Hudson, LLC USA-CO(Hudson) E-mail 303-536-4428 / 855-536-4428

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 3/4 Ton 2-PARTS LONG BED 4-SPD V-8 1195 $75 Winston Auto Wrecking USA-OR(Winston) E-mail 888-679-5625 / 541-679-5625

1958 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 3/4 4SPD-U 3302 $50 Ace Auto Parts, Inc. USA-NM(Albuquerque) Request_Quote 1-800-654-7116 Request_Insurance_Quote

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 3-4 TON NOF $35 Kramer's Auto Parts USA-NE(Grand-Island) Request_Quote 1-800-652-9304 Request_Insurance_Quote

1958 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck NOF $30 Kramer's Auto Parts USA-NE(Grand-Island) Request_Quote 1-800-652-9304 Request_Insurance_Quote

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck REAR HALF-41 1-2 INCHES NOF $30 Kramer's Auto Parts USA-NE(Grand-Island) Request_Quote 1-800-652-9304 Request_Insurance_Quote

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1/2 Ton WYOLK NOF $30 Kramer's Auto Parts USA-NE(Grand-Island) Request_Quote 1-800-652-9304 Request_Insurance_Quote

1958 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 264758 $Call East West Auto Parts, Inc. USA-OK(Tulsa) E-mail 1-800-447-2886

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck CL1098 $Call East West Auto Parts, Inc. USA-OK(Tulsa) E-mail 1-800-447-2886

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 152359 $Call East West Auto Parts, Inc. USA-OK(Tulsa) E-mail 1-800-447-2886

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1/2 Ton 313659 $Call East West Auto Parts, Inc. USA-OK(Tulsa) E-mail 1-800-447-2886

1959 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck 1 1-2 TON NOF $Call Kramer's Auto Parts USA-NE(Grand-Island) Request_Quote 1-800-652-9304 Request_Insurance_Quote

1957 Rear Drive Shaft
Chevy Truck C3100 FRT YOKE ONLY 3168 $Call Columbia Too-ELITE USA-NJ(Port-Murray) Request_Quote 908-689-3030 Request_Insurance_Quote

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to check the salvage in Tulsa but I am guessing that what they have for a short wheel base truck is probably for a 3 speed. Any thing that uses carrier bearing will probably end up costing as much as having a drive shaft built once I replace the bearing and put in a cross member for it.

If you go to this link and scroll down to page 59, you will see the different driveshafts used in 1959 trucks. Same info if you want to search it for 55.2 through 59.

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...hevrolet-Trucks/1959-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

This confirms what Delky stated...the one piece driveshaft was used in 4 speeds only for the 3100.

You probably need the tailshaft connector and the driveshaft off a 55.2 to 59 3100 4 speed.