driveshaft question

[Robk]

Question for the experts;

The two GS' I have bought in the past year (a hardtop parts car and the 4spd convert I am restoring) came with two different driveshafts.  The 4spd came with a rusty driveshaft with what I call a "sleeve" design.  The hardtop came with what I call a tapered design.  I intend to use the drive shaft off the hardtop because it is in much better condition, seems to match Mark Ascher's drive shaft - which makes me think it is correct, and will restore nicely.  I was wondering if others have seen the sleeve style on a GS before.  The third drive shaft in the picture below (to the right in the photos) came from a skylark and is different from the other two.

Thanks
Rob Keena

[gssizzler]

Rob, your drive shaft should be solid for a 4spd and with a rubber sleeve for the auto. Jon

[nut465gs]

Rob,

Compare the total length of the two driveshafts. If I'm not mistaken, the 4-speed transmission is a different length than the automatic transmission. Therefore the driveshafts are also different lengths by about  one inch or so.

John Egel

[Brian]

Neither of those is correct for a 4-speed car.  If you look closely, you will see that the yoke on the end is attached to a smaller tube that fits inside the larger tube, and they have vulcanized rubber to fill the gap between them.  The 4-speed cars did not have that rubber moulded in them--the yoke is welded solid to the main tube, therefore making what is called a solid driveshaft.   The 4-speed driveshaft is also 1" shorter than an automatic driveshaft. 
  If you can find one out of a regular skylark or Pontiac that had a 3 or 4 speed manual transmission, then you can have it shortened by 1" at a driveshaft shop and it will be correct.

[Robk]

I was afraid there was a difference between the auto and the 4spd.   Finding a correct part will no doubt be a long search.  Any ideas on the next best thing (new product) to hold me over during the search?

Thanks
Rob K

[Brian]

I have an automatic one in my storage building in VA at my parents that I had shortened to the correct length for my 4-speed car until I found the correct one.  I will let you have it for $40 plus whatever it takes to ship it.  I can get it next time I go up there.  It will work perfect until you can find a correct one. 
   Ask Mark Ascher how long it took him to find the correct driveshaft for his car....

[WkillGS]

If you can find a driveshaft from a 71-75  LeSabre with TH400, it can be made to fit. It's a one-piece (no sleeve), and is the right length. Pontiac-Olds may be the same.
It is meant for a CV joint, so the support between the ears needs to be cut off....may not sound like the best idea, but it still looks strong enough without the support.
I may have pics at home.

[Robk]

Thanks guys.   

Brian, your shortened/auto driveshaft might be a good bet for me until I find something correct unless I can get my hardtop driveshaft shortened.  Is the one that you had shortend the same as my hardtop driveshaft (in the photo)?   Maybe you could send me a PM with information on the next time you will be up to your storage building.  Also, when you say a Pontiac driveshaft off of a 3 or 4 speed would be correct when cut, is that only from a 1965 Pontiac or would other years be correct if cut?

Thanks
Rob

[Brian]

Any 64-67 Pontiac A-body driveshaft from a manual trans car should work. The reason the pontiac is a candidate is because it has internal locks and uses the same U-joints as the Buicks.  The Chevy driveshafts have external lock like a Ford driveshaft. 
   It looks like I will be going to VA this weekend.  Do you want me to bring the shaft back with me?