1970 Driveshaft - Why so small?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
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From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
1970 Driveshaft - Why so small?
I am about to start my car up after a engine, driveline, chassis and suspension rebuild.
I cannot help notice how small my driveshaft is in relation to everything else. My current drivehaft is about 2" in diameter. I have heard that it may be a "torque tube", ie designed to twist?
Why so small?
I cannot help notice how small my driveshaft is in relation to everything else. My current drivehaft is about 2" in diameter. I have heard that it may be a "torque tube", ie designed to twist?
Why so small?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
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From: Massapequa Park NY
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
Don't know why only 2", but it is the same for 4spd cars from 63 - 70 or 71. Then the dia changed to 2 1/2". The 2" dia driveshaft is a thicker wall tube though.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
I twisted 2 of them before I upgraded to 3 inch. Yes 3 inch will fit our tunnels with a little cleanup right at the transmission yoke.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (70BBvert)
Thanks.
Does your BB have the same size shaft?
If not is it possible to use a BB/muncie driveshaft on a SB/Muncie?
[Modified by stingry, 12:56 PM 3/18/2004]
Does your BB have the same size shaft?
If not is it possible to use a BB/muncie driveshaft on a SB/Muncie?
[Modified by stingry, 12:56 PM 3/18/2004]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (norvalwilhelm)
Norval,
Where did you get the 3" shaft and how much?
What sort of cleanup?
Do you mean removing glass or steel to fit it in?
Thanks,
Pete
Where did you get the 3" shaft and how much?
What sort of cleanup?
Do you mean removing glass or steel to fit it in?
Thanks,
Pete
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
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From: Massapequa Park NY
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
Small block & big block were the same. 4 Spd vs. auto were different lengths,
29 7/8 " for manual & 29 1/2" for auto. But things started changing when the borg warner trans was used & the Turbo 350. Especially with the slip yokes. IIRC all went to 2 1/2" diam in 71 or 72.
I have a later slip yoke so Ii will need to use a 1310/1330 combo u-joint at the front. The smaller dia slip yokes are hard to come by.
Jim
29 7/8 " for manual & 29 1/2" for auto. But things started changing when the borg warner trans was used & the Turbo 350. Especially with the slip yokes. IIRC all went to 2 1/2" diam in 71 or 72.
I have a later slip yoke so Ii will need to use a 1310/1330 combo u-joint at the front. The smaller dia slip yokes are hard to come by.
Jim
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
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From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (70BBvert)
Thanks.
Hopefully I can find a larger one through the aftermarket.
My 2" driveshaft looks like a piece of rubber hose next to my half-shafts!
Cheers,
Pete
Hopefully I can find a larger one through the aftermarket.
My 2" driveshaft looks like a piece of rubber hose next to my half-shafts!
Cheers,
Pete
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,906
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From: Berlin
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
My 2" driveshaft looks like a piece of rubber hose next to my half-shafts!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
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From: Massapequa Park NY
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
You could easily get a larger diameter driveshaft made up. Just need to keep in mind that the slip yoke & pinion yoke would need to be changed also. Not sure whats available there other than the 2 1/2" diam versions. May need offset u-joints (1330/1350) to go larger than 2 1/2"
Jim
Jim
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
Any drive shaft shop can build you a new 3 inch driveshaft. I paid $240CDN complete for a 3 inch tube and 2 new ends plus balancing.
The only place it gave any problems is right where the yoke came out of the transmission. The fiberglass floor had a seam that I ground down in one spot and repainted. The yoke just kissed it lightly so a little work with the grinder quickly increased this one spot.
The only place it gave any problems is right where the yoke came out of the transmission. The fiberglass floor had a seam that I ground down in one spot and repainted. The yoke just kissed it lightly so a little work with the grinder quickly increased this one spot.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: St. Louis MO
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (norvalwilhelm)
I had wenco industries build (http://www.wencodriveshafts.com/custom.html ) my driveshaft. Its a 3" and they garanteed it to handle well over 1000Hp. I figured that would be enough of a factor of saftey. I can't remember but I think it was $240 with spicer ujoints and I sent them the transmission yoke i wanted to use. Had it back three days after they recieved my yoke.
I looked at Denny's driveshafts and they wanted over $300 and they were on a two to three week lead time.
I looked at Denny's driveshafts and they wanted over $300 and they were on a two to three week lead time.
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From: Wherever
Re: 1970 Driveshaft - Why so small? (stingry)
stingry wrote: "I have heard that it may be a "torque tube", ie designed to twist?"
A torque tube is a setup where the drive shaft runs through a tube which is rigidly attached to the differential and swivels at the front end. Concept was used on older (40's) Chevy products.
http://www.oneleft.net/Automtive_Def..._Parts_S_Z.htm
Torque Tube
A solid steel drive shaft enclosed in a hollow tube, with a single swivel joint at the front.
[Modified by RestoVette, 4:55 AM 3/19/2004]
A torque tube is a setup where the drive shaft runs through a tube which is rigidly attached to the differential and swivels at the front end. Concept was used on older (40's) Chevy products.
http://www.oneleft.net/Automtive_Def..._Parts_S_Z.htm
Torque Tube
A solid steel drive shaft enclosed in a hollow tube, with a single swivel joint at the front.
[Modified by RestoVette, 4:55 AM 3/19/2004]
