CV Driveshaft and T-Case question

[gstuck3]

74 Jimmy, 350/350/203. d44/12b.


I have a HAD CV driveshaft that I want to install before it rusts away. Right now I have the stock driveshaft, 4 inches of lift and angle shims under the springs to reduce vibration. I know (or I think I know) that the pinion is supposed to point at the T-Case output for a CV driveshaft. Can I install the CV driveshaft with the shims still in and take them out at a later date? They are bolted to the spring packs and will take a while to get out. The driveshaft swap shouldn't take too long but I am limited on time

Can I tell which part time kit I have in my NP203 without tacking it apart? It was installed by PO and I don't know which it is.

Can I tell what size chain I have without taking it apart?
I'm pretty sure it's the original T-case.

 

[mechted]

you need to get the shims out of there for the CV shaft, you will destroy the joint at the axle and may damage the actual CV if you dont.

sorry, cant help on the 203 stuff

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

How is your pinion angle now (as in, how close is it to pointing at the t-case)?

You can run with the pinion pointed however you have it, but if its not pointed at the case you will have vibes.

Shims are an *ok* way to change the angle of the pinion, if the pinion is pretty close to pointed at the t-case output you should be able to run it with little problem.

 

[gstuck3]

How is your pinion angle now (as in, how close is it to pointing at the t-case)?


The pinion is not pointing at the t-case output now. I put the shims because it was and caused vibration. I have since upgraded to a CV driveshaft but haven't had time to put it in. I think I should take the time to take out the shims so I don't bone up my new driveshaft or something else.

 

[tvonloss]

Yup. your suposed to run zero pinion angle in a loaded condition which means about -2 degrees unloaded to allow for axle wrap under load.

 

[gstuck3]

Thanks for all the answers guys. I'm just trying to get this thing up to snuff but I keep missing a lot of the details. And these small details are really adding up to some pretty big things.