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by **shoebox1.1** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:44 am

my 80 coupe came with 4 banger and manual trans. all that went away and 4.3 v6 and th350 went in! i think i slid the motor and trans as far forward as they would go (trans mount slotted center hole) and made motor mounts from there and the engine and trans is in there perfect. i went tonite to install driveshaft (factory to vehicle) and torque arm. torque arm went on with the b m 3rd gen camaro aftermarket mount. the bm rubber mount worked perfect but i had to cut a lil on the big bracket to allow arm clearance and the rubber mount sits kinda to the "rear" on the arm. the arm is small end and it gradually flares to big. im all the way back as far as the rubber can go. anyway heres the problem. the driveshaft doesnt fit. i stuck it all the way in the trans and it looks too long by about 1 inch. but it still needs to come out of the trans 1 more inch too right? so i think i need 2 inches cut off. im excited this thing is starting to come together

by **2lucke4u** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:33 am

Good problem/bad problem,,,,,,,
you are guessing about right on the length you need,,you need room for the drive shaft to move in and out of the tail shaft with suspension travel or it will bind and break parts,measure from the pinion yoke seat after you position the shaft where it should be in the tail of the tranny,,measure twice,, cut once,, good luck,,
Charles

by **NixVegaGT** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:58 am

OK. That was just about the best subject line a guy can have! LOL!

How long is the driveshaft you have? I may have a spare that will work. I guess it's pretty inexpensive to have one shortened though if I don't have one that will work...

by **AusRs** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:35 am

not a bad idea to send the shaft away to get balanced cut and new universal joints fitted anyway

by **shoebox1.1** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:53 pm

i have a really good driveshaft shop local that will come pick it up cut balance etc. for like 80.00 and i actually have a late model camaro alumnium shaft that might work too. i need to go back out there and measure some more.

by **bill1978v8** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:18 pm

The four cylinder shaft is longer than the V8. What mounts are you using for the V8 and what holes in the unibody did you put the crossmember in? I'd use the aluminum shaft if you got it already.

Bill

by **shoebox1.1** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:44 am

well i used the factory 4cyl frame plates and lowered the engine onto them with 88 s10 upper and lower mounts. then just welded the 88 lowers to the 4 cyl plates. the holes in the body for the crossmemeber are the rear ones. the front ones are boxed in and have no nuts

by **spyder_xlch** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:33 am

So you're shaft is too long but you have no nuts? Sorry, couldn't help myself.

by **HI WINDING MONZA** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:29 pm

When I did my mockup , I used a junk Powerglide and measured all 3 transmissions ( Powerglide , Turbo 350 and 4 speed Saginaw with bellhousing ) found them no longer than a 1/8 difference in length between the 3 . I too had a problem with the driveshaft length but was able to move the trans - engine forward. I hope I won't have the same problem with the Turbo 350. Did you install the driveshaft when mocking up the V6 - Turbo 350 ? Doug in AZ

by **shoebox1.1** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:18 pm

sorry for the delay reply.. no i didnt use the driveshaft during the mock up. i knew i wanted the motor as far back as i could and it all just kinda fell into place where it is! and i looks like a factory posistion

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