The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Drive shaft

I have a nibble on a possible flat bed dump body for my 1940 Ton and a Half Chevy. Problem is that the truck is an ex-firetruck and has all the old pump hardware still between the rails. I need to take all that junk out and put in a one piece drive shaft. Is it possible to get a new shaft at the junk yard or do I need to go and have it done at a specialty shop? I'd like to keep this as painless(read cheap)as possible. The other inte"rust"ing thing is that the VIN translates to two different wheel base lengths depending on which web site I check.
I suppose its also possible that the truck is custom for the firetruck conversions! Please educate me. Thank you Ron

youre gonna need a custom drive line but you could go get one from a wrecking yard than have it made to length wich would be best mony wise

I agree that a wrecking yard might turn up a proper series shaft. However before you start buying stuff first determine if you need a single shaft or a 2 piece driveline. Most of the 2 ton size trucks uses a 2 piece even on the shorter wheelbases. If the pump is driven by the tranny output i.e., NOT a PTO unit, then you'll need that one too. Having spent many years in the driveline business my advice would be to take it to a good driveline shop and see what they say. Heed their advice on lengths and tube diameters too as well as angles. Very important information.

One of the yards I go to has a school bus full of driveshafts. I picked one by length alone and it seems OK for the year I have used it. It is good to know that you can get U joints to make any conversions you need. They can mix and match almost anything. I was making changes in tranny models and other things. - Scott

I concur, measure your custon set-up accurately, then head to the yard to find a match. There are some tables of shaft length (!!) out there on the net to tell you what to look for in th yard, but I couldn't dig then up just now.