Driveshaft stuff

[elacruze]

I intend to put a doubler in my 85 K35 TH400/205 with D60 front and 14b rear. I don't have a lift, but the truck's pretty high-should I consider a CV driveshaft for the rear, since I have to make new anyway? This truck will see regular freeway service with 4:10s and a heavy trailer. How do CV shafts hold up to high speed & heavy loads?

Thanks ahead

Eric

 

[elacruze]

After having a look around under the truck, it appears that if I change the slip yoke to a fixed yoke output on the rear shaft, that the joint-to-joint distance after installing the doubler will remain nearly the same length, and approximately the same angle. That coupled with a longer front shaft sounds like a good thing.

 

[Stephen]

I usually recommend using the simplest driveshaft you can get away with and if you're still around stock height, I'd go with some 1350's in a stock type (2 joint) driveshaft. As you say, it shouldn't be a lot different than what you have already.

 

[elacruze]

Looking at my rear shaft, it appears that the transfer case and rear axle input are parallel and the angle at front and rear joint equal. Should I leave them this way, or improve the angle of the rear axle joint? Will the phase change be a problem without a CV front joint?

 

[Stephen]

Definitely leave the angles equal, that's what makes your shaft run smooth, so you don't want to mess that up. I'm not sure how the phasing works with a CV joint but you shouldn't really have to worry about it, it'll be built into the shaft, or in your case, with a 2 joint shaft, it's not a problem.