Build Thread - 1-ton Chevy Swap

[koda6966]

Such wittle tires.
Can't wait to see it with real rubber on.

And I'm really liking the Dodge.

 

[JohnnyU]

I think I'm going to try to dissassemble the drive shaft and start clearancing it for more angular travel tonight. I also have to shorten it by about 3".

Anyone interested in seeing how I plan to do that?

 

[KELLY88]

I think I'm going to try to dissassemble the drive shaft and start clearancing it for more angular travel tonight. I also have to shorten it by about 3".

Anyone interested in seeing how I plan to do that?

Definitely interested.

 

[danger88ranger]

Definitely interested.

Count me in on that one too.

 

[86ford]

I think I'm going to try to dissassemble the drive shaft and start clearancing it for more angular travel tonight. I also have to shorten it by about 3".

Anyone interested in seeing how I plan to do that?

i am very interested only because i have a friend who is painstakingly, and slowly building the same thing you are.

86

 

[metalmacguyver]

Anyone interested in seeing how I plan to do that?

Yes. Have read up on it but would like to see it done again by some one else.

 

[Dangeranger3]

Anyone interested in seeing how I plan to do that?

Of course, how are you going to do that??

 

[Bray D]

1) Remove u-joints
2) Clearance yolks
3) Cut out splined pilot
4) Remove 3" of d-shaft
5) Insert pilot, tack, install joints, install shaft in truck, check runout, pull shaft, finish weld, etc.

Did I miss anything

 

[JohnnyU]

Did I miss anything

A couple things;
1) It's a yoke, not a yolk. These aren't eggs.
2) Make sure you cut the 3" out of the shaft. We wouldn't want the shaft to end up being the same length as stock after all that work...Ahem, radius arms, ahem....



I'm planning on being at Levi's on Sunday, gonna come down and show us those mud meats?

 

[Bray D]

4) Remove 3" of d-shaft

no eggs? damn haha.

I won't have the tires on till the friday before the bog. I may stop by and see how the pit's coming along, are you bringin the Chevy down?

 

[JohnnyU]

Driveshaft finished. I didn't take any pictures during the shortening/clearancing process. I didn't really take many pictures at all, I was just trying to get things done.
EDIT: I did basically use the method as Bray described. I marked the shaft axially from yoke to yoke so that I could realign the lines and make sure the u-joints were correctly phased. Then I cut the desired amount out of the tube. Since the tube was 2"ODx0.125"wt, I was able to sleeve it with 1.75"ODx1.25"wt tube I had left over. This ensured a true fit, as well as strengthed the joint. I used two rosette welds on each half as well welding completely around the joint. Then I ground it smooth in hopes to balance it out, and painted it up.

It's starting to get dark too early, I didn't get the front tires mounted before calling it quits for the day.

 

[Bray D]

Damnit that looks good. I'll be out at Levi's tomorrow for sure. Justin's back home and he's been textin me like crazy to go out there already. I plan to wake up at a decent time tomorrow and try to get some work done, but shoot me a text/call when you get out there. If you don't have my number, have someone else call me haha.

 

[JohnnyU]

Well, the dumb thing ended up being a bit taller than I was really hoping for.... However, I can always pull the body lift off to lower it 3" if I feel that it's just too tall. I need to unload all the junk out of the back of the bed, but the rear end still sits about 2" lower than the front. Oh well, who cares, right?

I've just got a few more little things to do, but it's essentially complete....for now.....

 

[Sunk]

Nice, looks good. What size are those tires? They look pretty narrow...

 

[Bray D]

Its not too terribly high. I think it'd be about perfect without the body lift. I assume you have your adjustable buckets as low as they'll go. How much adjustability do you have with them? I thought you'd be able to dial in the ride height a little better with the 4+ inches of adjustability