>I am in the process of fitting a single rail gearbox to my '74 Spit. My
>question is: Can I have the original drive shaft trimmed to fit the longer
>gearbox? I have the shaft with the "CV" looking joint and I have a real
>good drive line shop here in town that can cut and weld it back as well as
>balance it. Seems as if it will work, what does the collective think?
I completed this swap on my '74 recently but I used the later, shorter
driveshaft. Your description of the old driveshaft has me confused a
bit. Mine was the "strap-type"....two u-joints and a flex arrangement
on one end comprised of several metal strips. The later type that I
replaced it with reminds me more of a "CV looking joint".
I suspect that you could shorten the earlier shaft for reuse but I'm
not sure. I prefer the later shaft for several reasons: It's smaller
diameter makes it a bit lighter, it's easier to install and remove,
and the CV type joint can telescope several inches. Not true with the
strap type...you'll need to measure the length *very* carefully.
The downside of the later shaft though is that you can't service the
CV joint...AFAIK. BTW...if your '74 is like mine then you'll need to
do a few more things to complete the conversion.
* cut about 4" from the transmission tunnel <floorpan> and fabricate
or buy an access cover.
* new speedo cable *and* later speedometer in correct revs per mile.
* modify original cardboard tranny cover hole with 1/2" offset to the
right for new shifter location...new longer shifter boot needed too.
* possibly more things I can't think of right now...e-mail me if
interested.
Regards...Tom O'Malley
'74, '77 Spits
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