Drive Shaft: 1966 Daytona 2 door Sport Sedan - 283/AT Drive Shaft needed

[KHawk]

New to the forum, first post! Excited to have this tool! Picked up a 1966 Daytona Sport Sedan (2 door) with original 283 and original Borg Warner AT. Previous owner misplaced the driveshaft after removing it, and believes it has been scrapped. I have ordered manuals for it, but would like to get ahead of the curve on this while I wait for manuals. Can anybody shed any light on how to approach this? Get the front slip yoke and make one? Buy used? What will interchange? (as in pre-Hamilton) Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Rhys]

You should post your needs on this page too: https://www.studebakerswap.com/swap/swap.php

[Rhys]

Oh! And welcome to the forum! There is a lot of great knowledge here.

[KHawk]

Thanks Rhys for the welcome! And for the studebaker swap page link. I already see how beneficial this forum is going to be!

[tsenecal]

We have a great local driveline shop that will build whatever you need. They will measure the vehicle for you, if you trailer it to the shop, or explain what measurements they need, and you can do take them in to them. If you're lucky you might find a place like this near you. They would also know what slip yoke and u-joints you needed. Sounds like a cool car!

[KHawk]

You are probably spot on. I'd get a new driveshaft and chapter closed. Still interested in interchangeability though. Wondering if the tranny cross member is in the same place on the 65-66's as it is on the South Bend built 2 door Lark types. Or did that get tampered with in Hamilton? When I get my parts book, I'll probably be able to tell! Thanks again for your thoughts.

[KHawk]

Did a quick drawing of the dimensions (attached), just in case someone out there has a this driveshaft laying around. These dimensions were taken with the car sitting on the springs. (springs loaded)

From the trans seal outer lip to centerline of diff u-joint = 49 5/8"
From end of trans ouput shaft to centerline of diff u-joint = 48 7/8"
See drawing

Thanks

[61Lark]

Looking at the 1965 shop manual supplement, your car should have a Dana 44 rear end. The 1964 Chassis Parts Catalog list the driveshaft length for a two door, V8, automatic with Dana 44 and Spicer joints as 46-9/32”. Part number 1561869. I assume that is center to center length and not overall.

Whether a 64 automatic transmission is in the exact same place as a 65-66 I can’t say. The factory did mount the transmission differently when they started using the Chevy V8.

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of the driveshaft that I removed from a 63 two door V8 with auto and Dana 44. This car had some interesting engineering so I would take these measurement as anything but reference.

[KHawk]

Thank you 61 Lark for the pics and measurements. I did list the need on studebakerswap.com and have a driveshaft coming from a fellow SDC member that came off of a 2 door 66 Daytona Sport Sedan (same as mine). It measures 47" center of U Joint to center of U Joint. (pretty close to yours) We will see when it arrives! Ah the intricacies of automotive engineering! For future reference, I will post full details and pictures on this thread for anyone that might walk the same road someday. Thanks again for taking the time to shed light on this subject. Greatly Appreciated!

[Milaca]

Welcome to the forum Kevin. I believe that you are the guy I purchased a blue 1964 Champ (and parts) from back in 2016, does that sound correct?
Do you have any photos of your Daytona to share on here?

[64V19816]

Welcome to the 66 Daytona owners group! There is a Registry of them actively kept on this forum if you haven’t listed the car yet please do.