The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Cummins to Chevy drive shaft. Need HELP!

I am considering getting a 1955 Chevy 6400 2nd series truck from my grandfather and want to put in a 2WD, stick shift, 1994-1997 12 Valve Cummins Diesel, but do not know how to connect the drive shaft to the rear axle or which one to use. The story behind it, its current state, pictures, and more detailed plans can be found in my posts and is called "Fixing the Family Truck". Should I try to connect the original Chevy drive shaft to the cummins tranny because it is already the right length, or should I use the Dodge drive shaft and try to extend it? How would I go about adapting them? Anything is helpful.

Measure the u-joint center to center distance from the transmission yoke to the differential yoke. Take that measurement along with the two driveshafts to a driveshaft/driveline shop and they will chop up the two shafts to make one that will work for you. Be sure to place the transmission yoke correctly on the output shaft to allow for normal movement, etc. If you have any detail questions, ask the shop for their advice. Good Luck.

SimS

Simple enough to figure that out when you get there, and have the work done at a driveshaft shop.

Here's some interesting reading on the subject (homework) in the meantime
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/driveline/setup/index.html

Grigg

Thanks gents! Should I just trailer the truck out their after I drop the engine in? The reason I am saying this is because if the measurement is incorrect, the fault will be on there end and they can test fit it while it is there. Does this seem like a good option if it is a nearby shop?

Get to that point and then deal with it, that's a minor issue and a long way off.

I had no problems measuring and speccing the driveshafts I had made for my truck, it was actually fun. The Spicer manuals are quite helpful.
If you're uncomfortable figuring it out yourself then the driveshaft will be the least of your worries on the project you have planned. Or by the time you get to the driveshaft you might have a good handle on what's going on and it won't be the worry you think it is now.

Good point! I have bigger fish to fry So how would I go about adapting them without swapping axles? I just want to study up before diving into this.

Does anyone feel like giving me a response?

Yup. Go to your local driveline shop and have one built when you get to that point.

But if I supply the parts, I usually get a discount. I was wanting to know if I should give them the yoke from the tranny end of the Dodge donor truck so all they have to do is graft them together to save a few $$? Or should I just bring both of the shafts down to the shop and have them graft them into one?

If the GM shaft is the correct length, can you not just get a cross-over u-joint to connect the tranny to the original shaft? A driveline shop should be able to find out if one exists...

That is what I was hinking! If the GM drive shaft is too short or too long, can they just cut off or weld on a piece of tubing, or would they have to start from scratch?