Is there anyone that would know if i could shorten and use a driveshaft out of a newer model chevy truck?(1999-current) they are aluminum and i can get a few free i think and theres a good machine shop down the road as well. My main worry is that these drivesahfts are probably twice the size around of a normal steel driveshaft. this is just a thought but if it works out good i may get a few and have them shortened and ready to go for third gen cars. so any help would be appreciated thanks

 

I am not sure if the yoke will work with the f-body trans. Theoretically, you could have it cut and rebalanced and I don't see why it wouldn't fit. It wouldn't give you much room to work with though. The exhaust might have to be tweaked to give you some space.

 

Be very careful with an aluminum shortened driveshaft.





I had a place that supposedly does awesome work do that to my driveline. And that was on a mostly stock 305 (hsr intake, lt1 cam). Less than a year of driving.

Make sure they'll gaurentee their work. I took this back to the place and asked them to fix it because it's obviously a failed weld and they told me to go home.

 

I have already talked to my machine shop and he said they have done many that were problem free so im thinkin i will be alright. but that for the advice anyway, i would definatly hate for that to happen to me as thats extremely dangerous. thanks for help though

 

Why not just get a factory aluminum balanced LS1 shaft for $100 or so?

 

if i had one around here i could get for that i probably would but i also have about 3 of the ones im talkin about layin around as we speak and i can get them done for about 50 bucks so i may give this a shot. also i was kinda asking cause if it works i may be able to sell them on here for say somebody that needs one for a conversion of some sort. but i will say you have a good point there

 

A 1/2 ton truck should use the same U joint. If not forget it, conversion U joints will cost you more than the correct aluminum shaft.

 

thanks i should check that then cause i didnt think about that i just assumed the u-joints would be the same i will definatly check on that

 

No welders will touch an aluminum DS around here, something to do with liability? I hope you plan on running a safety loop.

 

Arent the truck shafts much larger diameter?There isnt alot of extra room under there.

 

Im just kinda feeling this one out for now but i trust thes guys pretty good but that is also something that need to be done for sure. yes some of the truck shafts are large like very large i have one of those but i also have a smaller one as well i think it may have came out of an s-10 maybe im not sure, because i have a s-10 myself its a zr2 and it has a humongeous aluminum shaft so im not 100 positive what they are from.