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Technical Driveshaft selection for sbc in model A

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Phil P, Feb 15, 2020.

  1. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Good morning all

    I'm shopping around for a driveshaft and found this one at Summit.
    https://www.summitracing.com/search...hafts-steel-driveshafts/part-type/driveshafts

    I know this is not a performance shaft but would it be good with a mild 283 in my model A.

    I have an estimate from a local driveshaft shop for a custom shaft for $500 which I think is reasonable considering there will be no shipping $exchange etc, and I'm sure it's a better shaft, but do I need better.

    I'm also to much of a woose to go wandering the the pick and pull at -20c :rolleyes:. Although if it is reasonable to expect to find something about 30" long I could wait till spring.

    I didn't get get a estimate to shorten a pick and pull shaft but I know this could be an option.

    Thanks in advance Phil
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2020
  2. You might try speedway motors.I got my 32 shaft from them.I don't think the odds of finding a late model short shaft are very good.In my area shops that can build shafts don't want to shorten oem shafts they push their own new made to length shafts.Many larger cities have a drive line specialist shop that do truck,farm equipment work,and will custom build to your specs.
     
  3. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Why would you not go to a local driveshaft shop with a good reputation and have one made there rather than taking a chance on a mail order unit? You load the car up, take it to the shop and a few hour later you have a custom made to fit your car driveshaft installed and the total cost probably will be less than some mail order shaft that does or doesn't fit plus shipping and other fees to get it into Canada. If the car is shop bound you might even get the local guy to stop by the shop and measure it and make one.
     
  4. Happydaze
    Joined: Aug 21, 2009
    Posts: 1,904

    Happydaze
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Although I'm not a fan of Speedway having examined their driveshaft offerings I can see the attraction - I can't imagine a local shop could come close to $150 (but shipping is presumably a further cost consideration). Never seen pre made driveshafts available in what seems to be 1/2" increments, most convenient!

    Having said that, if I'm reading their listing correctly, they're all 2" diameter tubes, which seems kinda skinny to me. I might be out of touch with modern methods but I don't recall any shafts of that diameter being used on anything with any decent power / torque on tap. I'm sure some wag will prove me wrong though! I bought a custom made steel driveshaft last year and it must be 3" diameter.

    Chris
     

  5. jaw22w
    Joined: Mar 2, 2013
    Posts: 1,671

    jaw22w
    Member
    from Indiana

    In my '27 T roadster, about 550 hp, I have a custom 3" aluminum driveshaft. In my '26 T coupe, about 250 hp, I have a 2" Fast shaft from Speedway. It comes balanced. It now has 22K miles on it with no problems. Can't beat the price
     
  6. Frank Carey
    Joined: Oct 15, 2009
    Posts: 574

    Frank Carey
    Member

    Find a shop that builds and rebuilds off-road trucks, installs serious lifts, etc. They build driveshaft all the time. That's who did mine.
     
  7. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have complete trust in the local shop (they shortened a shaft for me 40 years ago). If I need a $500 shaft that's fine.

    The Fastshaft would be 1/2 of that by the time it gets here so if its suitable for my application, why not?

    Phil
     
  8. $500 is wow! Holy crap! Guess i need to go hug Steve at the driveshaft shop. I've bitched when he charged me $125 for a new shaft. He'll shorten and balance one for $30-$50
     
    kidcampbell71 and alanp561 like this.
  9. And it seems to me like the 2"aftermarket shafts were a dirt track thing?? Don't remember. But i can sure be hell on a driveshaft from time 20190810_174317.jpg to time
     
  10. jaw22w
    Joined: Mar 2, 2013
    Posts: 1,671

    jaw22w
    Member
    from Indiana

    YEP! BTDT.
     
    TagMan likes this.
  11. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Give Steve a hug for me:rolleyes:, and see if he wants to make me one and send it to NY state.

    Phil
     
  12. If it comes to that just send me a pm and I'll get on it!
     
  13. kasselyn29
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 240

    kasselyn29
    Member

    We Have used the speedway shafts in a lot of project very. They work very well and can sometimes fine tune the length with a longer yoke ect. Yes if you try to drag race with slicks they will fail.
     
  14. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    My local shop has NEVER been that much. I find it so much easier to take a dimension down to them and come back 2 days later to the exact thing I need.
     
    da34guy and kidcampbell71 like this.
  15. Get em here @ local shop, all new with yoke and Ujoints for 225/250 Done in 1 day.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  16. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thanks for the responses. There's not any competition for this service here also remember I was talking $Canadian so 500 is 375 $US right now.

    Phil
     
  17. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    Ya about $150 to shorten and balance mine.
     
  18. 1946caddy
    Joined: Dec 18, 2013
    Posts: 2,059

    1946caddy
    Member
    from washington

    When I last talked to a driveshaft shop, they told me that the longer the shaft, the larger diameter is needed. I needed a 3" for a Model A, small block chevy with 200 4r tranny and Ford 9" rear end.
     
  19. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    Just had one made for my Plymouth at my local shop with used shaft and slip yoke but 2 new universals and balance for $179...
     
  20. There’s only one guy here local that does driveshafts. He’s $400 Plus plus plus plus usually 500 OTD.
    I’ll shorten them myself because it’s not a big deal at all. More often than not if you don’t cut the weight off and weld semi consistently it won’t need balanced. Of course it’s sent out for balancing but just comes back without needing any. If I need a new or different stub he’s got them on the shelf.



    Now The welding out of that place is butt fucking ugly. I told him a few times I’ll weld all his shafts for him. He claims the welding doesn’t really cost him anything and it would be more of a PITA for me to do it.
    Now when I need a drive shaft I tell him to build it, tack it and call me. I pick it up and weld it and take it back for the assembly and balance. I always set those or one I’ve shortened and welded next to some of their gum bullshit and remind him about my offer.
     
    -Brent-, RICH B and kidcampbell71 like this.
  21. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I went with the Fastshaft from speedway, at $164.99 I figured I couldn't go to far wrong .
    At the Fastshaft website I see they make 2 different 2 inch shafts. A .095 wall and a .120 wall. They call the .095 wall a street stock shaft. The one from speedway is the .120 one. If the .095 is usable the .120 should be ok. Revue to follow after I actually get to the driving stage.

    Phil
     
  22. 03GMCSonoma
    Joined: Jan 15, 2011
    Posts: 314

    03GMCSonoma
    Member

    2" sure doesn't sound very big. A guy's tallywagger is almost that big. My OT F150 Lightning has a 5" shaft so 2" really does sound small. My $.02.
     
  23. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You know what they say "it's not how big it is its how you use it", at least that what I say:D.
     
    03GMCSonoma likes this.
  24. Dig thru the archives, Samiyam did a great tech piece years ago on how to shorten a junkyard shaft at home.

    Sent from my SM-J337V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  25. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
    Member

    I needed a drag race driveshaft. So the local driveshaft shop Built me a killer shaft. I supplied the yoke for the trans and they supplied the rest. 3 inch shaft 1350 solid u joints and they balanced it and painted it for $350.00.
     
  26. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'd thought about giving this a go after waiting till spring to go scrounging for a used shaft. A newer pickup shaft would probably be the only one easy to find around here but an interweb search did not show any that used the 1310 u joint which would match my existing yokes.

    Phil
     
  27. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If I thought drag racing was in the cards I definitely would have gone with the local guy for the estimated price of $500 CAN.

    Phil
     
  28. They produce mix match Ujoints,
     
  29. Model A Vette
    Joined: Mar 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,075

    Model A Vette
    Member

    Years ago I broke the shaft in my '69 Camaro. I think it was 2". I priced a new shaft ($150) and it was outrageous for the time. I went home and brought back the 3" shaft I had saved from the wrecked '55 Chevy I had parted out. It only cost me $35 to have it shortened and I ended up with a better shaft!
     
  30. BigChief
    Joined: Jan 14, 2003
    Posts: 2,084

    BigChief
    Member

    That's about the going price here in WNY too.....give or take.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     

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