Driveshaft Short for LS1 Third Gen!
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
Driveshaft Short for LS1 Third Gen! I bolted down my engine and trans yester day and went to install my driveshaft out of an O1 LS1 and it is about 2 inches short 
. I have a 3rd gen conversion k member and I figured that everything would line up right, guess Im wrong. Anyone else have this problem, I only ask because I hadnt heard this problem yet....thanks
Chris
. I have a 3rd gen conversion k member and I figured that everything would line up right, guess Im wrong. Anyone else have this problem, I only ask because I hadnt heard this problem yet....thanksChris
I used same DS from my old L98/T56 setup, ended up with same yoke clearance at the trans tailhousing that I had previously.
Also have friends using LS1 driveshafts w/ their gen-1 engines and TH700 trannies, no problems there either.
Sounds like something is wrong w/ your geometry somewhere.
Also have friends using LS1 driveshafts w/ their gen-1 engines and TH700 trannies, no problems there either.
Sounds like something is wrong w/ your geometry somewhere.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
I dont understand how there could be...The engine is bolted in, the trans is bolted in...I have all the conversion parts, everything is where it should be. Could it be the conversion KMember put the motor further up??? I dont think it is because it looks like its sitting right. Unless im mistaken and the yoke only goes in the transmission partly? I have a feeling thats not right. Im kinda lost...
Can you get a picture of how far in the yolk goes, it doenst have to go all the way into the transmission? I had a 350SBC with T-5 and use an aluminum 4th gen driveshaft and am planning on using the same driveshaft once i get the LS1 and 4L60e in, As far as i know it should be a direct bolt in, unless like you are saying the k-member moved the engine forward, but i cant see it moving it far enough to not work with the drive shaft.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
Well im currently at college right now, but tuesday Im going back and I will try to get a picture. But to give you and idea, I slipped the driveshaft into the trans, and went to put it up to the ujoint and it was short. I slid the driveshaft so the u joint sat in the rearend and I bolted it in. But the trans yoke is 1.5 to 2 inches not flush with the trans. Theoretically it might be able run and turn the rear end, but I dont think it would work for long.
If you have the car on stands, with the rear springs unloaded, you'll get bad measurements. To get a true picture of the geometry, put the rear diff on jackstands so the springs are loaded and it's in the right position.
If you can visualize this, the distance between the trans output shaft and the rear diff pinion yoke is greater w/ the rear diff hanging down than it is w/ the rear diff in its loaded position. This will cause the DS yoke to be engaged further rearward than normal on the trans output shaft splines.
If you can visualize this, the distance between the trans output shaft and the rear diff pinion yoke is greater w/ the rear diff hanging down than it is w/ the rear diff in its loaded position. This will cause the DS yoke to be engaged further rearward than normal on the trans output shaft splines.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
The rear end springs are loaded...the wheels are on the ground. The front is in the air, but I cant put that down any more because I dont have front a-arms on. I dont have them at all right now. Im not sure if it will correct it enough even on the ground...hopfully it will. And how bout when I pull the wheels 2 feet in the air...wont the yoke be pulled out of the trans... 
. Does anyone have any pics of how far their yokes are in the transmission.
. Does anyone have any pics of how far their yokes are in the transmission. LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
When I was measuring for my driveshaft, I was told that the yoke should be ~1" away from the face of the tranny. (Like if you pushed the yoke all the way in on the output shaft, then pulled it back out an inch.) I don't think that 1 1/2" is going to force you to get a new driveshaft though.
Edit: That is for my car, in which the rear end and transmission are both attached to the frame, so they don't move relative to each other. I'm not exactly sure how you'd have to measure for a solid axle car where the rear end goes up and down...
Edit: That is for my car, in which the rear end and transmission are both attached to the frame, so they don't move relative to each other. I'm not exactly sure how you'd have to measure for a solid axle car where the rear end goes up and down...
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
I did some simple math calculations using a triangle, saying that the trans is about 12 inches above where it should be. And the drive shaft is 40.5 inches long when the trans is where it should be. So the square root of (40.5^2 +12^2) is about 42.2. So this means for the driveshaft to be flush with the transmission at the angle it is now it would have to be 42.2 inches long...about 1.7 inches longer than the driveshaft actually is, which is about what I am off. If anyone sees a flaw in my idea, let me know, because I hope my 8th grade math will save me $550 for a custom driveshaft.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
Originally Posted by Scooter70
When I was measuring for my driveshaft, I was told that the yoke should be ~1" away from the face of the tranny. (Like if you pushed the yoke all the way in on the output shaft, then pulled it back out an inch.) I don't think that 1 1/2" is going to force you to get a new driveshaft though.
Edit: That is for my car, in which the rear end and transmission are both attached to the frame, so they don't move relative to each other. I'm not exactly sure how you'd have to measure for a solid axle car where the rear end goes up and down...
Edit: That is for my car, in which the rear end and transmission are both attached to the frame, so they don't move relative to each other. I'm not exactly sure how you'd have to measure for a solid axle car where the rear end goes up and down...
