shift trans. tailshaft over?

[N8N]

Hi all,

If this is a bad idea someone please tell me. '55 coupe, T-10 4-speed, am running a single piece driveshaft because someone before me cut out the x-member. Am having slight driveshaft/tunnel interference under hard acceleration and/or speed bumps even with custom 2-3/4" shaft. Looking under car the shaft is not centered in the tunnel. Looks like if I shift the trans over just a hair that I will have much more clearance. Am thinking of removing the bellhousing mount and slotting the mounting holes slightly with a die grinder to make the required clearance. Might change the U-joint angle by a degree or so. I don't *think* this should be a problem... should it?

Option b) would be to use the Dick Steinkamp method and use a 2-piece shaft with the T-10 slip yoke. I have all the parts to do this, although I would probably want to obtain a new front driveshaft section to modify as the shaft that I have is from a '57 Golden Hawk and I don't want to cut it in case a T-85 drops into my lap.

thoughts?

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[StudeRich]

Did you ever notice that the holes in the center carrier bearing bracket have 2 holes on each side for Left Hand or right Hand drive cars for the special studs and grommets that mount it to the frame?

The L/H drive cars have the driveshaft off center to the right, just like the front engine mount holes in the frame bracket.

I don't think you should try re-engineering it Nate! [:0]


StudeRich at Studebakers Northwest -Ferndale,WA

[N8N]

I don't have a choice in the matter, unless I find a short-tail 3/OD! (and somehow, I don't think a T-86 will cut it.) I'm makin' stuff work that was never meant to work together

nate

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55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[WCP]

As they say, suck it and see! I doubt you will see the difference. A short drive will soon tell if you'll get noticeable vibration.

[Dick Steinkamp]

I've got an excess complete '54 2 piece drive shaft. You can have all or part of it for shipping, Nate, if you end up going that route.

I'd try your first solution first, however. Nothing to loose.




Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[4-speed wagonaire]

Why not try spacing the front mounts up 1/2" (1/4")? That will lower the tail shaft some, might be it needs just a little and should not introduce any vibration issues?

Bill, Many Fords and one great Stude!

[N8N]

Dick, I may take you up on that just to have it... Bill, I can't do that, my A/C compressor juuuuust barely fits under the hood as it is! (yeah, more stuff that wasn't supposed to fit that now does...)

Edit: Dick, I don't know if I asked you this before or not, but did you happen to take any measurements of the front portion of the shaft you used in your hardtop? If you did, I could simply take that and my Golden Hawk shaft to a spring and driveshaft place and say "make me one like this, but this long."

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel