Driveline removal tips
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Driveline removal tips
I am in the process of removing my drive line but there is a big crossmember that the drive line goes through just befor it gets to the rear axel. I was wondering about tips to take off my driveline. any ideas would be extremely helpful.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
what year is your car? on my 77 the drive shaft removal was fairly easy just loosen the bolts on the u bolts holding the u joints to the yokes.....be sure to mark the transmission end and the transmission yoke (with paint) they have to go back in the same relation to each other since they were balanced together. I don't recall having to take the crossmember out to take out the drive shaft, seems to me one of the drive shaft ends drops down and lets you pull it out.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
I just put the drive shaft back in my 82. Still have to connect up all the half shafts, struts, etc. after the rear gear change.
On my 82 the drive shaft bolts were 6 point, on my 81 they were 12 point 1/4 inch, and I believe some earlier models have the 12 point 1/4 inch also. So you may need to get one of those sockets, a 6 point won't work. I used a 1/4 drive and extensions, the 3/8 sockets were to fat around.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get to the bolts on the rear U-joints. I used 2 long ratchet extensions one with a wobble end and undid the bolts through the rear cross member. You may want to try and put a rag under the U-joint so if the bolts fall off they don't get stuck up there somewhere, there's not much room for hands to fish them out.
On my 82 the drive shaft bolts were 6 point, on my 81 they were 12 point 1/4 inch, and I believe some earlier models have the 12 point 1/4 inch also. So you may need to get one of those sockets, a 6 point won't work. I used a 1/4 drive and extensions, the 3/8 sockets were to fat around.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get to the bolts on the rear U-joints. I used 2 long ratchet extensions one with a wobble end and undid the bolts through the rear cross member. You may want to try and put a rag under the U-joint so if the bolts fall off they don't get stuck up there somewhere, there's not much room for hands to fish them out.
Last edited by 82Vette'ster; Jun 24, 2005 at 04:38 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
How much are you pulling out? If you're pulling the tranny be careful with the speedo cable. On my 77 I had to remove the entire shifter and mounting bracket before I could remove the transmission. You may have to undo your exhaust hangers, disconnect the pipes from the engine and pull the pipes to the rear.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Originally Posted by Alfred11
...and have allready removed the pipes from my headers back along with the central cross member that me exhaust ran through
You changing your clutch?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Boofers
..... On my 77 I had to remove the entire shifter and mounting bracket before I could remove the transmission. You may have to undo your exhaust hangers, disconnect the pipes from the engine and pull the pipes to the rear.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
why did you have to remove the shifter and mounting bracket? what did they hit? all i did was remove the cable.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Boofers
I had to remove the shifter and bracket because I needed the space to get the tranny out. I couldn't pull my tranny back far enough from the engine until I had the shifter and bracket out of the way.
..maybe i took my engine out first...i'll have to go back and look at my notes....
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: James Island South Carolina
Originally Posted by 82Vette'ster
I just put the drive shaft back in my 82. Still have to connect up all the half shafts, struts, etc. after the rear gear change.
On my 82 the drive shaft bolts were 6 point, on my 81 they were 12 point 1/4 inch, and I believe some earlier models have the 12 point 1/4 inch also. So you may need to get one of those sockets, a 6 point won't work. I used a 1/4 drive and extensions, the 3/8 sockets were to fat around.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get to the bolts on the rear U-joints. I used 2 long ratchet extensions one with a wobble end and undid the bolts through the rear cross member. You may want to try and put a rag under the U-joint so if the bolts fall off they don't get stuck up there somewhere, there's not much room for hands to fish them out.
On my 82 the drive shaft bolts were 6 point, on my 81 they were 12 point 1/4 inch, and I believe some earlier models have the 12 point 1/4 inch also. So you may need to get one of those sockets, a 6 point won't work. I used a 1/4 drive and extensions, the 3/8 sockets were to fat around.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get to the bolts on the rear U-joints. I used 2 long ratchet extensions one with a wobble end and undid the bolts through the rear cross member. You may want to try and put a rag under the U-joint so if the bolts fall off they don't get stuck up there somewhere, there's not much room for hands to fish them out.
