Need TREMEC/Cuda Drive Shaft Help

[dpcd67]

It's always something; I installed my driveshaft today into my TKO 500 in my 340 Cuda. It measures 47.5 inches center to center of the u-joints.  The slip yoke is pulled out one inch from the trans and, SOB, the slip yoke contacts the shifter rail. I can't believe it.  Should I have more than one inch of yoke pulled out? I am using a standard Spicer 2-3-6041X yoke.

[dpcd67]

Here is the answer; for the TKO in an E body, you pull the slip yoke back from the end of the transmission housing to the center of the u-joint, 3.5 inches. then measure the length to the rear yoke center; that will be the drive shaft length. The old rule of one inch of slip yoke pull out will not work in this application.  It won't clear the shift rail in first, third, or 5th gears.

[bigblue73]

Do you still have the paperwork that came with your transmission?  Please try and find it as the instructions should be very clear on the procedure to measure the drive shaft length.  Check the length versus what was sent in and see if that is the problem.  The slip yolk will move about 1/4" in each direction with the suspension travel so make not of that.  Good luck

[dpcd67]

Yoke.  Yes, the directions that came with the trans show how to measure for the new drive shaft but nothing about how far the slip yoke should be pulled out from the tranny. The measurements they wanted were the distance from the end of the transmission to the front of the yoke at the differential.  So, that info was useless if you had never made a driveshaft for an E-body TKO before.  I didn't send the measurement in, there is no one to send it to; my trans kit came from Keisler and although I paid for the driveshaft, needless to say, I didn't get one. I had to have it made locally.

[anlauto]

I'm getting ready to send my measurement into American Powertrain to get my driveshaft made. They use the same type of formula as Keisler, from tranny case to rear yoke. The reason for that is because of all the variables involved with a slip joint. They obviously have a formula of deduction to get the correct shaft length.
Maybe try calling them to see how the actual shaft length is figured out.

[ToxicWolf]

I'm getting ready to send my measurement into American Powertrain to get my driveshaft made. They use the same type of formula as Keisler, from tranny case to rear yoke. The reason for that is because of all the variables involved with a slip joint. They obviously have a formula of deduction to get the correct shaft length.
Maybe try calling them to see how the actual shaft length is figured out.

  They take the information you send and apply a formula to get the correct length for the shaft.

[dpcd67]

Yes, they use your overall measurement and deduct 3.5 inches from the face of the tranny to the center of the slip yoke. I asked the new Keisler company, Silver Sport Transmissions; they gave me the answer I needed.  That is dimension they don't provide the customer as you don't need it unless you are like me and had to buy another drive shaft.  This is based on the standard, Spicer 2-3-6041x slip yoke, which is what is used in this application.

[ToxicWolf]

Yes, they use your overall measurement and deduct 3.5 inches from the face of the tranny to the center of the slip yoke. I asked the new Keisler company, Silver Sport Transmissions; they gave me the answer I needed.  That is dimension they don't provide the customer as you don't need it unless you are like me and had to buy another drive shaft.  This is based on the standard, Spicer 2-3-6041x slip yoke, which is what is used in this application.

Good information for those of us that may need it one day.   

[dpcd67]

Yes, I hope it will be of value to others who might need to make a driveshaft for their E-body and not have to go what I had to; pay for two driveshafts, one of which I did not receive,  and one alteration. I now have the most expensive driveshaft in the world but at least I have a good one that fits.