Driveline question regarding 5 speed swap

[richieroo]

Hi all! In most of these issues about putting in a 5 speed the driveline is always approached that it has to be welded longer and then balanced. I agree wioth that, but I have another idea. Instead of welding why not extend the drivline by the amount needed with a spacer? Wouldn't that be acceptable? As a machinist I can make a spacer that will add the length at the end of the u-joint.

 

Today I found a driveline out of a 84 wagon at a JY and I think it may be so close that the spacer will be very short.

 

Any comments?:-\

 

Rich

[idosubaru]

i doubt there's any cost benefit over making spacer instead of having an existing shaft lengthened for someone paying for custom work. that being the case, there's no point in creating and adding more parts or connections, just make the existing part long enough for the application. but if you can do it yourself then tear it up. whatever it takes to get the power to the ground and you're in business.

[BobBrumby]

Yeh saw this only today on a show called "wheeler dealers", anyway they were lifting a suzuki sierra and used about 1 inch spacer with longer bolts, inbertween tail shaft and diff. No reason why it cant be done, wouldnot it be cheaper? How long does your spacer need to be?

[edrach]

The two piece driveshaft that came off the donor car with the transmission will work just fine; no need to make anything extra. If you want, a one piece driveshaft can be made by any driveshop, but it's really not necessary unless there's inadequate metal for attaching the center bearing carrier.

[richieroo]

Not ging to use a center bearing at all. I have to see about how short or long a spacer would be from the driveline back to the diff face. If it is too long then I agree with welding it. It might be unbalanced of the u joint is farther away for the way it was meant, but about 2 inches should be fine. Above that, I think a harmonic hummwould happen myself. SO even though I know the spacer can be done am just a leary of getting that humm as well.

 

Rich

[edrach]

Speaking of harmonic humm; make sure you work out a way to attach the exhaust in the center as with the old 4 speed. I had just put a rubber hanger in the center on mine at first and the exhaust would resonate loudly around 2800 to 3200 rpm (cruising speed on the highway); my wife found the noise very annoying. When I finally fabbed a solid support in the center where it belonged, that resonance was finally eliminated.