Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
10 members (FishinToms53, Otto Skorzeny, 3B, FAST55, Rusty Heaps, MickeyP, pauld, Forty9, 2 invisible),
105
guests, and
2
robots. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,115 Posts1,056,628 Members48,450 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 | I'm installing a 305 sbc and a turbo 350 trans with a 6in.tail shaft in 53 GMC 1/2 ton Long Bed P. U.( 78 in.) I have a 68 le mans rear.I want to use a one piece driveshaft do I need a longer tailshaft to make this work. Can I make it work | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Normally you get the donor drive shaft shortened or lengthened to fit between Trans and Rear if that's what you are asking. You also have the proper yokes/slip yokes put on at that time. Measure once and pay twice.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 | My question is : Will that distance be to long for a single drive shaft | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,441 | Just a small piece of advice, load your truck onto a trailer and take it to the driveshaft shop and let THEM do the measuring. Any mistakes will be on them. Don't ask me how I came to that conclusion.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Call a local driveshaft shop, they're the experts on what length is too long. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | If you are saying that you think it's about 78" that is considered Loooooong, the answer will be either how long they can do on their equipment or what is a doable diameter/wall thickness for that long. It really boils down to RPM vs rigidity of the shaft. Many say 72" max. There are vehicles with 80. As said, the answer can only be gotten from whomever is going to build it. You can call several shops to see if you get the same answer. You may see longer shafts on this or that. Does not mean anything. Many long beds are two piece. More modern equipment/materials may enable one piece. Two piece will be greater hassle/expense.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | It really boils down to RPM vs rigidity of the shaft. Bingo! For some reading on he subject try the Spicer Driveshaft Applications Guidelinesfound linked in this tech tip http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/driveline/setup/index.htmlYou can have a long driveshaft if the RPM is low enough and the tube diameter is large enough... along with some other considerations. Figuring out what is safe and reasonable takes some head scratching and or expert advise, like from a driveshaft shop and the Spicer literature. Sounds to me like a two piece shaft will be the safer option, but worth running the numbers and investigating all options. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | I think he is saying he has a 78" bed, not that the shaft is 78" long. Have you set the engine and trans in place? Do you know where the back of the engine will be? That's the first step... Once you know where the back of the engine will be start measuring from there back to the rear U-joint, Then start measuring transmissions and subtract them from the first measurement taken to come up with a rough shaft length. Now that you have a rough measurement you can ask the experts if it will work or not. Hope this helps, Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 21 | Thanks for the GOOD advice it's 78 in. bed not drive shaft length. I will talk to experts at local drive shaft shop .I heard there really good | | |
|
|
