tailshaft mod

[ben]

hi bugas, i have not been on for a while cause been flat out but i did a tailshaft mod on my van last night and figured the info would be helpful for others so i got some photos, (i only thought half way though i should be taking photos)

putting a 350 chev in my van

tailshaft needed 5inchs cut off it.

after talking to some people about it

made the cut, cleaned up the spigot, push the yoke back in with a few mills to be able to move it.

put it in the van, using the dial indicator managed to get the shaft tru within 5 thou.

tack welded it in position. checked it. all good still

pulled it out of the van fully welded it, welding opposites to try to avoid shrinkage.

put it back in. oh no it 60 thou out!

stared at it for 10mins

then noted which way it had pulled.

took it out ground the weld down on the side it needed to be pulled just so i could use the shrinkage to pull it back in to balanced.

rewelded it, checked it and i got it so its balanced again. its not perfect all the way around but its balanced evenly.

wont be driving with it for a couple of weeks but ill let you all know how it goes once im back on the road with it.

it took about 2.5hrs. with what i know now it will be much quicker so not a big job.


happy to chat to anyone that will have a go at doing it yourself (saved me 350odd bucks!)

ben

[Sammy]

if you want to balance it more, get some radiator hose clamps, put them on tight enough so they don't move but loose enough so that you can rotate them reasonably easy by hand, then go for a drive, they should move into place to get the balance right, then you can tighten them up....

probably start with one or two, and see if you notice the difference, it might not be much out of balance anyways.

[ben]

Thanks sammy I have been told the hose clamp trick but I didn't know you can keep it loose so it spins into place.

Also been told put the shaft in salt water with the hose clamp on and spin it and balance it that way, apparently the salt water helps it to float.

I think it will be right after talking to a mate who welded ihis up after not using a dial indicator and he said no vibration. Crazy..

Ben

[MaTTe]

Good work, but it only cost me $80 when I last had a tailshaft cut and balanced

[ben]

thats alright matte ill have to send my next one to you to get it modded:)

ben

[MaTTe]

Nah mate, you've got the skills now