Driveshaft re-installation

[aj81spider]

Today was the day to re-install the driveshaft into my 1974 restoration. It went well until the end. The giubo is 1/2 inch short of the mounting ears on the transmission.



Some background: Engine and transmission were pulled and rebuilt. I have new engine mounts. The driveshaft was pulled and the center bearing as well as both sets of U joints were replaced. When re-installing I attached the giubo to the driveshaft and torqued the bolts while it was out and easy to work on. They were torqued to what I hope matches the shop manual I have - 51 ft/lbs.

It seems like 1/2 inch is way more than I should be tightening down on.

Any insight would be appreciated.

While you are contemplating that there is a bracket I re-installed that doesn't seem to do anything. I don't have before pictures so would appreciate any thoughts on whether that was installed correctly, and if it was what the purpose of the bracket actually is!

[76was124]

...... any thoughts on ...... the purpose of the bracket actually is!

If/when the guido breaks, it catches the drive shaft....otherwise the driveshaft hits the ground, find's a pot hole and catapults you on your head!!

Regarding being a half inch short (i know, bad connotations )....did the drive shaft pillar block line up? If so, is the drive shaft property engaged into the transmission yoke?

[aj81spider]

Everything lined up except for the giubo. The pillow block and bearing mounted into the studs nicely and the driveshaft in the back was perfectly lined up with the differential.

The only issue is in the front where the giubo bolts to the transmission.

Thanks for the insight on the bracket!

[76was124]

Looking again at the pictures, by any chance did you take the yoke off the transmission during the repairs? I think it has an offset, could it be on backwards? If not, I would take the bolts off the trans side of the the guido and see if the axel shaft and the input shaft are properly aligned and fully engaged. Was the car level or did you have the front end on jacks?

[aj81spider]

The transmission was rebuilt (supposedly by someone who knew what they were doing). I don't know if the yoke came off or not. Here's a picture from a little further back - perhaps it will provide more insight?



The car is on 4 jack stands. The front is slightly higher than the back.

I'm not sure what you mean by the axle shaft and input shaft being aligned?

Thanks for your help so far!

[aj81spider]

Just went out to the garage to check. The yoke appears to be on correctly. If it was flipped around the gap would be even larger.

[narfire]

Looks to me it could be tightened up. As you know the rubber tabs fit in the grove. The shaft has the ability to slide for and aft a bit, at least I'm thinking enough to get the tabs in the groves.
Chris

[76was124]

I'm not sure what you mean by the axle shaft and input shaft being aligned?

(sorry, mis-spoke and said 'axel' instead of drive shaft)....

Chris brings up a good point about the rubber and the slots. If they are aligned, but causing interference because they won't slide into the slots and you have the bolts in already, maybe removing the metal compression band and allowing the guido to expand out a bit would help.

If it's not the rubber interfering, and assuming you already tried tightening the bolts on the guido, and still had a gap, my thought was maybe the shaft isn't lined up exactly correct. I know mine took a little playing with before the sleeve slid all the way forward.

[aj81spider]

I'll try tightening it a bit tonight. The nuts are not tightened at all right now as the 1/2" gap seemed way too big to bridge by pulling the rubber. However you may be right that the rubber tabs are hanging up. I'll try tightening enough to get them started in the slots and see if that lets everything slide forward.

Thanks for the help. If it doesn't work I'll be back!

[aj81spider]

I took your advice and tightened the bolts slowly. You were right it was the rubber tabs getting caught. Once they cleared the slot the drive shaft had enough play to slide forward and fill the gap nicely. Getting 51 ft/lbs of torque on my back under the car was fun, but it's all together now.

Thanks much for your help. The jury is still out on whether I'm going to get this car back together again, but without this forum it's a certainty that I wouldn't!

[76was124]

Glad to hear it...you'll probably get yours done faster than I did...12 years and counting. However, in retrospective, it's been a fun process inspite of the series of frustrations along the way.

[81SPIDERMATT]

and now that it is together the metal band comes off .... just checking

[aj81spider]

The band is off! I remember reading about how someone discovered they left the band on when it came off as they were driving around. The story stuck with me.