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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: burdar]
#1111410
11/11/11 06:39 PM
11/11/11 06:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
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U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
I had a driveshaft shortened at a metal fab shop once. What you described is exactly what they did. I never had it ballanced and didn't have any problems. Obviously the proper way is to have it ballanced. I'm sure I just got lucky.
How fast did you drive the car wit hthat unbalanced shaft ? The only time I ever had it done the balance seemed ok at the legal speed limit , 100mph with a 3.23 gear and a 4 speed was a completely different matter .
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: JohnRR]
#1111412
11/11/11 07:01 PM
11/11/11 07:01 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
I had a driveshaft shortened at a metal fab shop once. What you described is exactly what they did. I never had it ballanced and didn't have any problems. Obviously the proper way is to have it ballanced. I'm sure I just got lucky.
How fast did you drive the car wit hthat unbalanced shaft ? The only time I ever had it done the balance seemed ok at the legal speed limit , 100mph with a 3.23 gear and a 4 speed was a completely different matter .
this is not a place to cut corners. IMHO
ever have a shaft come out at trip diget speeds 
you need a least a lathe,then mill the weld bead only to remove the yoke,make the tube cut with the lathe also,then replace the yoke and phase it back to the other end,reweld it,only way i know to get it straight..then have a high speed balance to check the run out.
my local machine shop chops them down 25$ but i have to go to the drive shaft shop for balance at another 40$
$ well spent in my book
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1111414
11/11/11 07:10 PM
11/11/11 07:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,169
MI
68shifter
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,169
MI
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I have done hundreds with a dial indicator, a home made jig to roll everything, and checking and rechecking. Most shafts pull loads of 250k along with multiple car shafts. Never has one come back. The lathe makes cleaning the weld off easier but some time and a cut off wheel will work too. Quality and consistency of the weld is very important to the balance, I have seen slot of shafts need balanced just because of how some idiot welded them.  Good luck, be safe with it.
68' Barracuda (4 speed)
64' Savoy (4 speed)
65' Satellite (girl tranny)
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Challenger 1]
#1111417
11/11/11 07:13 PM
11/11/11 07:13 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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doing it and getting away with it and doing it right are 2 diff things. the yokes have to be phased the end welds need milled not cut with a hacksaw needs a dail indicator to make sure it straight on the run out yes you could be close to the balance it once had,but it has now changed with the cut and reweld bead all this will make the u-joint have a longer service life,and stay in the car at high speeds I have hacked shafts up and even welded u-joint caps into yokes after grinding the yokes to get them to angle more with out binding on a lot of 4x4 junk. after throwing one at 105 mph on I-75 in a 73 duster, i wont ever skimp on a shaft again. not saying you cant do it and get away with it..but it can bite back at ya
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#1111418
11/11/11 07:24 PM
11/11/11 07:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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unless you have some REALLY good equipment at home, I wouldn't even chance it.
$300 to build a whole new driveshaft, or $100 to cut one down and rebalance it at just about any local clutch/driveline shop seems like small change when you're spending thousands on a car and it's drivetrain.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: VITC_GTX]
#1111419
11/11/11 08:05 PM
11/11/11 08:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,748
Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 25,748
Rio Linda, CA
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The reality is that most driveshaft tubing isn't all that round so dial indicating is useless and the method of separating the tubing end is irrelevant as long as the end is reinstalled in phase and equidistant with the other.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: VITC_GTX]
#1111422
11/12/11 08:24 AM
11/12/11 08:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,169
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 20,169
Park Forest, IL
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We did a couple in my buddy's home shop many years ago with a small metal band saw and a stick welder, cutting the factory weld with a hack saw.
Scribe a line on the shaft and yoke and you can get it back in the right position.
Biggest problem we ran into was that some shafts had an inner tube that was a real PITA to cut down.
Never had one break, and one was in a pig block 4 speed car.
We did them ourselves mainly because there wasn't a driveline shop within 50 miles of us.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: slantzilla]
#1111423
11/12/11 09:50 AM
11/12/11 09:50 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,445
Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
daniel_depetro
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,445
Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
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I've done a few myself and must have got lucky.  I simply scribed a lineup mark on the shaft/end and cut through the weld with a cut off tool. I then cut the driveshaft the desired amount. On the last shaft that I cut I also had to relocate the attached weight. I grinded down the weld smooth with a standard 4.5" hand held grinder. Is it precise? No. Is it perfectly balanced? No. Can I feel any vibrations or any other adverse effects? No. Does it work for me? Yes. This is my personal experience and opinion. Take it for what it;s worth. It plus $1.10 will get you a cup of coffee.
1969 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-speed, Dana 60 4.10)
1972 Plymouth Road Runner (400, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)
1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (360, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Finoke]
#1111425
11/12/11 10:46 AM
11/12/11 10:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
Has anyone tried this driveshaft kit? I've been thinking of doing that for my small to big block conversion.
Driveshaft kit from Mancini's
That was never balanced to begin with so I doubt it would even be close ...
But it seems the overwhelming response is to just weld it up an go ...
I guess we can put driveline shops right up there with automotive machine shops , balancing is just another money grab ...
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: JohnRR]
#1111427
11/12/11 11:04 AM
11/12/11 11:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
minot north dakota
ledft79
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 587
minot north dakota
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I had a welding shop cut the shaft on my 70 cuda, when I switched from a 318 to a 440. That was back when I was a kid and drove like nothing else mattered. It was topped out and close to topped out many times, and I don't remember there being any vibration at all. Lathe or no lathe, I don't know.
DRIVE EM, DONT HIDE EM.
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: JohnRR]
#1111428
11/12/11 11:37 AM
11/12/11 11:37 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
Has anyone tried this driveshaft kit? I've been thinking of doing that for my small to big block conversion.
Driveshaft kit from Mancini's
That was never balanced to begin with so I doubt it would even be close ...
But it seems the overwhelming response is to just weld it up an go ...
I guess we can put driveline shops right up there with automotive machine shops , balancing is just another money grab ...
not me..I have had it come out at 105 mph on I-75,it was out of balance/out of phase/home cut/weld..machine shop said it looked to have bent in the middle and then broke a u-joint/yoke weld.
speculating here,but seems thats what happend,vib from the git go and got worse at speed,let off and BANG!!
not to mention 2 mufflers,3 feet of exhast pipe,1 rear shock and one hell of a bang.
I will just keep my local shop in bizness,cuttin and balanceing my junk.
cant see puting 3-4-5 K into and engine and risk the balance on it myself,but then again i run used junk most of the time antways..but it does have the factory balance 
do you feel lucky?..good luck with it?
seems a lot of guys get away with it,I did for a while,cost more in the long run though
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1111432
11/12/11 06:56 PM
11/12/11 06:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,704
North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,704
North Dakota
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I've never had a driveshaft shortened but having Dodge trucks with driveshaft splines I've had more than one spline replaced. Always had them balanced. One time the shop screwed up the phasing and I got a fairly bad vibration from it. Took it back to the shop, they cut it open again, rewelded it, and life was good. No balance the second time through. My conclusion? Phasing is more important than balance.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: 6PakBee]
#1111433
11/12/11 11:13 PM
11/12/11 11:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,169
Park Forest, IL
slantzilla
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,169
Park Forest, IL
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For the record, the shaft in my Valiant was cut and rebalanced by a driveline shop. However, I've seen a ton of Mopars (mostly 4 speeds) toss the factory driveshaft through the floor in the traps. That's right, all original Ma Mopar driveshafts will break too. The balance job on many of them was nothing to write home about when they were new. Would I cut my own now? Sure. But, I also have access to a lathe and mig welder now.
"Everybody funny, now you funny too."
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Finoke]
#1111435
11/12/11 11:51 PM
11/12/11 11:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
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Quote:
Has anyone tried this driveshaft kit? I've been thinking of doing that for my small to big block conversion.
Driveshaft kit from Mancini's
That's the very same kit that has been in my race car since 1993 and has held up well,,,and yes it was balanced after it was cut to length and welded. 
Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: dartman366]
#1111436
11/12/11 11:55 PM
11/12/11 11:55 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have a local shop that shortens, balances, and puts in new spicer joints for under $140.00.
Turnaround is usually one working day.
I'm big on doing things myself but sometimes you just gotta hire the experts with the proper equipment.
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: slantzilla]
#1111437
11/12/11 11:56 PM
11/12/11 11:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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I was watching the speed channel last weekend and I think it was Trucks! they had on where they cut a driveshaft with a sawzall and wire welded the yoke. Scary how they glossed over checking phasing or anything else.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: dartman366]
#1111439
11/15/11 12:42 AM
11/15/11 12:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,105
Horsham, Pa.
Finoke
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,105
Horsham, Pa.
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Quote:
Quote:
Has anyone tried this driveshaft kit? I've been thinking of doing that for my small to big block conversion.
Driveshaft kit from Mancini's
That's the very same kit that has been in my race car since 1993 and has held up well,,,and yes it was balanced after it was cut to length and welded.
that is good to hear. Thanks
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Finoke]
#1111440
11/16/11 01:51 AM
11/16/11 01:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089
Sorrento, BC, Canada
4speeds4me
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,089
Sorrento, BC, Canada
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I've done quite a few myself with never an issue. That said, if I had a vibration or something didn't feel or look right, I wouldn't hesitate to have it gone over. If it's phased correctly and you've verified that the yoke is square in there, there is no reason you can weld it as well as a shop (assuming you have reasonable skill in that department). Therefore the only thing you aren't equipped to do is balance, and if it's that far out, you'll take care of that anyways. My ...
2 Demons...no, not my kids! 
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: bboogieart]
#1111442
11/16/11 02:20 PM
11/16/11 02:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,157
Mass
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Unless you possess the skill and equipment to assemble/weld and balance a shaft, send it out , whats $100-$400 to have a shaft made/shorten/etc.... keep in mind "most" driveshaft shops are set up for the average Joe's daily driver, meaning their equipment for balancing is usually limited to 3500 RPM shaft speeds,...a performance oriented shop usually has equipment that takes a shaft up to 10,000 RPM, something to consider on a high RPM running car, or one equipped with an OD in the .64 to .50 range, prop speeds can get up there in the RPM range
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#1111443
11/16/11 05:06 PM
11/16/11 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,890
Athens, Greece
Pyper70
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,890
Athens, Greece
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Didn't read the whole thing, maybe someone else said it...but for $100 bucks done correct by someone who does them all day along is money well spent. Imagine doing it yourself and then getting a stress fracture which circles around the whole driveshaft. If its the front yoke...how would you feel about catapulting your car on a public road, injuring yourself, other driver, or your car?
Family owned 1969 Charger R/T DualQuad 440/727/GVO/3.55s
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Pyper70]
#1111444
11/16/11 05:33 PM
11/16/11 05:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
how would you feel about catapulting your car on a public road, injuring yourself, other driver, or your car?
That's what insurance is for ...
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: Pyper70]
#1111448
11/16/11 10:10 PM
11/16/11 10:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,976
U.S.S.A.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
how would you feel about catapulting your car on a public road, injuring yourself, other driver, or your car?
That's what insurance is for ...
The point is to not require insurance for something that could be accomplished for $100. The deductible you are going to pay for the insurance is probably 5x the price of sending the driveshaft out and a whole lot less of a headache later on
I left out the  ... sorry ... it was a joke .
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: JohnRR]
#1111449
11/16/11 11:59 PM
11/16/11 11:59 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
how would you feel about catapulting your car on a public road, injuring yourself, other driver, or your car?
That's what insurance is for ...
The point is to not require insurance for something that could be accomplished for $100. The deductible you are going to pay for the insurance is probably 5x the price of sending the driveshaft out and a whole lot less of a headache later on
I left out the ... sorry ... it was a joke .
Lawyers, too, you left out Lawyers...
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Re: Shortening a driveshaft yourself
[Re: dartman366]
#1111450
11/17/11 01:52 AM
11/17/11 01:52 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,001
Coram, NY
Pool Fixer
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,001
Coram, NY
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Quote:
Quote:
squashed flatter than a fart.
I would love to know,, but do I dare ask?
Not what I want on my tombstone. I live where everything costs out the Azz and everyone has their hand in your pocket for something. I used the mancini kit, mocked up in car, drew a line with a sharpie where I wanted them to cut and took it to the shop. It was like 50 or 60 bucks.
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