TC Driveshaft Length

[AbingdonNerd]

I need confirmation on the length of a standard TC driveshaft (I’m thinking flange to flange length at the flange mating surfaces for the gearbox and rear end flanges).

I have seen references to both 44 and 43 inches.

The reason for the question is that I have a TC in the garage with a drive shaft so long that the front sliding yoke is jammed all the way back and there is absolutely no clearance for the sliding yoke to slide.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Best regards,

Jeff Delk

[Steve Simmons]

I just measured mine as best I could sliding under with a tape and got approximately 43 5/8" from flange face to flange face.

[AbingdonNerd]

Steve - thank you so much for going to that trouble. I really appreciate it.

I have a real mystery on my hands. This TC either has an incorrect flange on either the gearbox or pinion, or the driveshaft is incorrect.

The shaft measures 43 5/16 - but there is absolutely no movement possible on the sliding yoke. At the fully retracted position, it barely fits between the gearbox and pinion yokes. I had to remove the rear axle bolts and move the axle back in order to remove the drive shaft.

Very strange.

[Steve Simmons]

Well, remember that mine is installed on the car, so off the car and compressed it would be shorter! Sounds like yours was made to the "in use" size, not the correct fully compressed size. A local drive line shop should be able to shorten it easily.

[BCBryan]

I just measured mine since it is out of the car and accessible; with the flanges on I get 43".
Bryan.

[Will]

Some have reported that their replacement springs had the locating dimples out of position. Worth checking.

[Rob Reilly]

Always remember that as with every driveshaft, that the yokes at each end must be parallel, i.e. in the same rotational orientation.

driveshaft.jpeg (13.96 KiB) Viewed 1304 times

[Duncan M]

driveshaft.jpeg (13.53 KiB) Viewed 1250 times

[AbingdonNerd]

Thanks for the additional suggestions and advice. I’m rebuilding the differential right now and will look back into this issue once I have that sorted.

The suggestion about incorrect springs is intriguing as the springs are new replacement items. I will check on the positioning of the axle.

The poor quality of some replacement parts certainly makes restorations more challenging.

[SteveW]

Yep, the dimples in mine were in the wrong place and I only noticed when I couldn't fit the rebound hoops (before I tried to connect the prop shaft).