-
Custom driveshaft
Please excuse my venting, but why is it everybody wants up to $350 to make me a 15" driveshaft? It doesn't seem to be that labor intensive or time consuming.I already have a slip yoke and donor driveshaft to shorten. Am I wrong in my thinking? :confused:
-
nope. most i've ever paid is around 120 .
-
Don't know where you been looking but check out a few machine shops. I've had to have several made , shortened or lengthened non over $200. that I recall.
-
I've checked out places on line, and four shops in the Cleveland area. I'm on a short leash with this t bucket build, my budget is tight and my swap meet search for parts is on hold until spring. I'll keep looking for a reasonable shop. Thanks for the input, gentlemen.
-
i have mine made at a local machine shop. they do mostly farm and ranch stuff. last one was 135 with new joints and new shaft .
-
There are several threads on this site which detail exactly how to do it yourself.
-
I'm one of those that occasionally builds (shortens) my own shafts. It's really not that hard. You do need a way to cut the end of the shaft perfectly square and the ability to weld the yolk but it's not rocket science. For cutting the shaft I normally use a plumbers pipe cutter.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/shop-talk/...ne-swap-4.html
Then it's pretty much just properly indexing the yolk and hammering/pressing it in. Tacking it in 4 places (rechecking to make sure it stayed square) and welding it.
As far as the cost you were quoted it depends on what's included. The last shaft I built was for the 37. I started with a factory shaft that was too long. I didn't have a driveshaft with the proper yolk to use as a donor so I ended up having to buy a new driveshaft yolk ($50 + shipping).......even if you provided a donor shaft with the proper yolk most shops would charge you at least that for salvaging the used yolk and cleaning it up. Then of course there were 2 new U-joints (about another $50). If I had needed to send the shaft out for balancing (which I didn't) that would have added another $110. Having the driveshaft shop actually do the shortening and welding in a new yolk would have been another $100 putting me at $320 (including shipping).
Basically if the work includes balancing the $350 is really not that out of line (especially when you consider markup on the parts) ......if it's not balanced it seems a bit high.
.
-
You need to check heavy truck shops in your area and see what drive line repair shop they're using. I usually can get a single piece shaft shortened and balanced for $90 by the shop I use here locally.