lowNslow
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2013
- Posts
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Jonesboro Ar
- First Name
- Nickalous
- Truck Year
- 89
- Truck Model
- c30
- Engine Size
- 6.0
Is it possible?? Goin to be running a 4l80e out of a 2004 2500 HD
1 piece drive shaft in a 3+3 dually??
- Thread starter lowNslow
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Kapdin
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2012
- Posts
- 826
- Reaction score
- 65
- Location
- North Dakota
- First Name
- Lance
- Truck Year
- 1977,1979,1984,1987,1988
- Truck Model
- Silverado K30, Scottsdale K20, Silverado C10, Silverado V10, Silverado V20
- Engine Size
- 400ci, 350ci, 350ci, TBI 350ci, TBI 350ci
I 2nd this question.
foamypirate
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2010
- Posts
- 3,302
- Reaction score
- 459
- Location
- Central TX
- First Name
- Jake (Mr. Wilson)
- Truck Year
- 1980
- Truck Model
- El Camino, baby!
- Engine Size
- 5.3L/4L60E
Your best bet would to estimate the length needed (add or subtract the different between your current trans and a 4L80E), and then take that to a driveshaft shop and ask if they think it can be safely built.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Posts
- 47,132
- Reaction score
- 9,331
- Location
- OKC, OK
- First Name
- HotRod
- Truck Year
- 85 K20 LWB
- Truck Model
- Silverado
- Engine Size
- 454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
I'd sure think not. That's an awful long driveshaft. Why would you want a single? What's the purpose? Not only is the length long, but what about if you're carrying a load? The truck squats to much it might just end up on top of the driveshaft. I'd want a dual at least.
John-e Bravada
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2012
- Posts
- 156
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Oregon IL
- First Name
- John
- Truck Year
- 1986
- Truck Model
- C30 3+3
- Engine Size
- 5.9L CTD
No, it's too long for a straight run, Spicer has calculators for max lengths for each joint a tube size. Once you get over a certin length the tube actually droops in the middle and it's impossible to balance, it just whips.
towjoe
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2012
- Posts
- 695
- Reaction score
- 139
- Location
- Lafayette,IN
- First Name
- joe
- Truck Year
- 78,80,81,81,86,88,89
- Truck Model
- K30's or V3500's
- Engine Size
- 6.2, 454
If it was possible, don't you think GM would have used them to save cost? I'm with everyone else It's to long a run and will be weak and hard to balance
El Camino Man
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2013
- Posts
- 181
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- SO IL
- First Name
- JP
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- R30 Scottsdale
- Engine Size
- 6.2L
You could make your own and make a completely solid driveshaft!!! Not cost effective...
I agree: If GM did it from the factory, there was a reason. Iv never seen anything longer than an ext. cab short bed without a 2 piece in it, if that makes sense
My reasoning for the multi-piece drive shaft would be if you did put a load on it, or even hit a big enough bump, youd think itd pull out of/ram into the transmission since it has zero play in it
I agree: If GM did it from the factory, there was a reason. Iv never seen anything longer than an ext. cab short bed without a 2 piece in it, if that makes sense
My reasoning for the multi-piece drive shaft would be if you did put a load on it, or even hit a big enough bump, youd think itd pull out of/ram into the transmission since it has zero play in it
foamypirate
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2010
- Posts
- 3,302
- Reaction score
- 459
- Location
- Central TX
- First Name
- Jake (Mr. Wilson)
- Truck Year
- 1980
- Truck Model
- El Camino, baby!
- Engine Size
- 5.3L/4L60E
1-piece shaft works just fine in this situation. The output shaft is splined, so the driveshaft can slide in/out of the transmission as the susepnsion is loaded/unloaded over bumps and dips or from carrying a load.
El Camino Man
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2013
- Posts
- 181
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- SO IL
- First Name
- JP
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- R30 Scottsdale
- Engine Size
- 6.2L
On a crew cab long bed?
foamypirate
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2010
- Posts
- 3,302
- Reaction score
- 459
- Location
- Central TX
- First Name
- Jake (Mr. Wilson)
- Truck Year
- 1980
- Truck Model
- El Camino, baby!
- Engine Size
- 5.3L/4L60E
I was just talking in general. When I said "this situation", I was referring to the suspension loading/unloading.
El Camino Man
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2013
- Posts
- 181
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- SO IL
- First Name
- JP
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- R30 Scottsdale
- Engine Size
- 6.2L
But youd think on a crew cab long bed the travel would be exaggerated by the time it reached the front of the mile long drive shaft. I could be wrong
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Posts
- 47,132
- Reaction score
- 9,331
- Location
- OKC, OK
- First Name
- HotRod
- Truck Year
- 85 K20 LWB
- Truck Model
- Silverado
- Engine Size
- 454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Yeah well first off, quit exaggerating. Not sure where you come up with a mile long driveshaft. It's more like a 1/4 mile long sooooo.... just sayin'
Bottom line, I'd just go 2 piece for several reasons.
Green79Scottsdale
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2010
- Posts
- 2,834
- Reaction score
- 7,488
- Location
- G.R. - MI
- First Name
- Bob
- Truck Year
- 1979
- Truck Model
- K20
- Engine Size
- 400
Actually, mechanically speaking, I would think a longer trans to diff length would reduce the amount of play in the slip yoke. Kind of like backing up a trailer. The longer the trailer, the less your steering inputs translate to trailer movement.
There are enough opinions in here, mine is null and void.
lowNslow
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2013
- Posts
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Jonesboro Ar
- First Name
- Nickalous
- Truck Year
- 89
- Truck Model
- c30
- Engine Size
- 6.0
It was a thought.. i know the 4l80e is a lot longer than the turbo 400 that's in the truck.. so just wondered if it was possible
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
- Posts
- 47,132
- Reaction score
- 9,331
- Location
- OKC, OK
- First Name
- HotRod
- Truck Year
- 85 K20 LWB
- Truck Model
- Silverado
- Engine Size
- 454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Your opinion isn't null and void. I get your point and agree, BUT, in this case, this driveshaft would be to long. What he needs to do if converting from a Th400 to a 4L80-E is simply take the driveshaft, both pieces, to a driveline shop and have them cut the front shaft to fit the 4L80-E and just because, I'd have both pieces balanced as a single unit and new U Joints and carrier bearing while it was out.
