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54' chevy 3600- 383 stroker with a TKO600. Custom rear end.


Just curious to see what others have done for driveshafts. The ole issue of one or two piece comes into play here. I've had some places say they can do a one piece aluminum (5") or a two piece, one place saying they'll do it at 3 1/2" steel. The needed measurement is 66.25".

Welcome thoughts or recommendations for what others than have done this with a 3600. Will also take recommendations for shops.

Thanks!

Since you have already modernized the transmission and rear end why would you want a 2 piece driveshaft. Tell your driveshaft company the HP rating of your engine and let them build a 1 piece shaft that will last you forever.
My 400+ hp ‘62 C-10 with 700R4 has a nicely made steel shaft that will handle anything my engine can throw at it.

Who did you end up using? My issue is that the shaft needs to be 66.25" long. Most places are capping out at 65" and won't do it.

Precision Drive, LTD
6201 SW 15th
Oklahoma City, ok 73128
888-275-4900

You supply exact measurements center line of ujoint to center line of ujoint. Tell them what transmission and what rear end. They also need to know your horsepower and torque and how you plan to drive. They supply the yoke and rear ujoint. Nice guys and they will ship. Ask for David Hobbs.

I guess it depends who you talk to. I measured 64.25" from u-joint to u-joint. When I talked to the guy at the local shop that makes up custom driveshafts, he recommended that I use a two piece driveshaft. I followed his recommendation.

My Dad's 63 Chevy long box step side had a two piece driveshaft. I remember the steady bearing failing on the Alaska highway. What a PITA!

My 1980 3/4 ton long box had a two piece driveshaft. No issues with the steady bearing.

My 2010 1/2 ton long box has a one piece driveshaft. It looks like a big aluminum sewer pipe!

Gord, I had a local big truck shop make my 1 piece steel driveshaft. About 10,000 miles and no issues. I think I had a front yoke, they provided the rear. Cost was about $150 USD.

I'd ask the shop how they wanted me to measure. Some want end of transmission output shaft to front of rear yoke or center of u-joint for rear yoke.

Also, make sure to measure with full weight on the tires.

Good Luck,

RonR

Montana 54 Chevy All- Tran of terre Haute Indiana made a 3.5 inch steel shaft for a 8000 RPM 79 Chevy 4x4 pulling truck,worked fine,about150$ Bryan has been there since we were all children 54 years. shaft done about 5 seasons so far.812 232 0981

Ended up getting a 4" aluminum from American Powertrain. They checked the specs and said it would work. It's not a drag truck by any means, just an around town with the occasional sporty run.

I went through the same drama. I want to say mine was 67” and I had one shop say flat out NO to making it a one piece and I had the machine shop for levines auto parts price it out both ways. They said it was just over what they feel comfortable doing for length but they understood that it was substantially more $$$ and I explained to him that I already did all the calculations and I understand its right on the edge of “safe”. They said we will build it for you the way you want it but there is NO guarantee on it. I said ok do it up. Ive had them build 2 shafts for my racecar so I wasn’t worried. I did learn a lot about how driveshafts work though.

Just fyi a 90hp truck can explode a driveshaft driving down the highway on cruise control. Nothing to do with horsepower but its all related to driveshaft RPM. Imagine a truck with a 4.56 and say a 28” tire AND OVERDRIVE. Now cruise at 80mph and that engine might be singing but ok but the driveshaft is spinning its heart out! NO driveshaft is perfectly round and no driveshaft is welded perfectly centered on a yoke. There is a acceptable run out and thats where balance comes in. Now when you spin it fast enough to exaggerate a imbalance the tube basically turns into a jump rope and then it self destructs and stuff goes bad quick. Also the longer the driveshaft the harder it beats up the joints.

I knew none of this until i really really researched it. Aluminum is a good option because you can go longggg and not beat up the joints. Hence all the new trucks have long 1 piece aluminum shafts in like 5”.

Use this site in the future. Works well if you input the correct info. Remember the larger the steel shaft diameter the heavier it is and shorter is needs to be if its a 1 piece.
Driveshaft RPM CALCULATOR