Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

here my delema i have a 40 rear end and torqe tube. the bearing in the middle came apart as in the rubber around it came apart. it has been shortened to fit a 32 chassie i always have had a vibration since i built it. at speeds between 53-63 so ive heard they dont make the bearing with the valcanized rubber around it anymore and was told take a 33-34 drive shaft shorten it and use it in place of the solid 1 inch 40 shaft in it now. anyone deal with before im at a loss. thanks. billy

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

The 33-34 driveshaft as well as the 35-36 driveshaft has a 10 spline end that connects to the pinion.Your '40 is a 6 spline.You most likely will need the 33-34 torque tube.Both the torque tube and driveshaft will have to be shortened,Then you need to adapt from the 10 spline to the 6 spline. Call or go to the Ford Store in San Dimas regarding the bearing.There might be a good replacement.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

Some info here;https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ght=driveshaft

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

Skip sells a replacement drive shaft bearing.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

hellmet ….…….Whatever direction you end-up going, don't forget that there are TWO different lengths of drive shafts and torque tubes for '33/'34 Fords. The V8 assemblies are 1.5" longer than the 4-cylinder counterparts. Dimensions below! DD


TORQUE TUBES '33/'34

V8 = 61-13/16"
4-cyl = 60-3/16"

DRIVE SHAFTS '33/'34

V8 = 60-5/32"
4-cyl = 58-7/16"

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

I have a driveshaft support bearing NOS, where are you located. Skip Haney the coil master has them too.
Charlie ny

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

You cannot use a 32/4 driveshaft with a later center bearing torque tube. They are hollow and larger diameter. If you have a matching pinion shaft to the early driveshaft, its easy to cut or turn off the weld on the pinion end of the shaft at the coupling, shorten the shaft, re insert the coupling and weld it. Such a short shaft does not need a center bearing especially if it is true.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

im in hemet ca how much for the bearing

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

any truth in timing the splines after being cut?

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

Click on his user ID and you can send Charlie an email direct .

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

I'm going to offer an opinion that I don't think a 40 driveshaft, shortened to fit a 32, is a good idea. In my opinion, too short to include a center bearing. If not done meticulously, would probably vibrate. If it were me, I'd much rather have a one-piece, tube driveshaft. I'd be thinking in terms of the 36-38 tubed driveshaft, NO center bearing, shortened to do the job. OR, any which-way I could come up with a tubed driveshaft.
I don't have anything to back up this opinion, and I would have to give it some more thought.
('Course, you would need the 36-38 matching TT, too.
And, on the 'timing' comment, NO. The timing has to do with open driveshafts, and two or more u-joints.
33-34 TT's won't fit, at least not without modification.)

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

Use the 34 driveshaft with the adapter . Don't use the center bearing . It won't fit. You will have to shorten the shaft. Done it several times , it works.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

what do i need to do this what adapter do i need

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

You need a tubular driveshaft. 33/34 are best, I have used 32 4 cylinder shafts.

You cut the rear end off and weld in a 10 spline to 6 spline coupler. Not sure if some lathe work is needed, I've never had that combo of parts to use. In my case I used 32 4 cyl shafts, a normal 6 spline coupler, and because the 6 spline coupler is smaller diameter than the 10 to 6 adaptor coupler, and the 32 shaft is shorter than the 33/34, I turned up a short adaptor sleeve to get me where I needed to be.

You then shorten the torque tube to match, eliminating the centre bearing at the same time.

Alignment of all the parts is hyper critical and cannot be taken for granted.

Misalignment will lead to premature wear of the couplers and pinion splines and locking pin breakage. I know this from experience.

I have read that the original 10 to 6 spline couplers are better quality than the repro parts available.

The late and much missed Dick Spadaro used to supply brand new driveshaft kits emulating the setup described above.

Mart.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

do I need the 33-34 torque tube also

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

The front spline shaft can be removed from any of the tube type shafts but the later 35 thru 37 are good candidates since most folks don't like the shape of them. One in good condition can be mated to a straight tube shaft with any type rear spline a person would want. Weld it up & check balance & straightness and it would be good to go. Solid shafts have to have the damper to keep them from whipping. The tube types didn't seem to have that problem.


I'm surprised that no one has tried to do what Dick Spadaro did and come up with a drive shaft kit. This would be great for modifications and replacement parts for worn out shafts.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

Hellmet the time is irreverent but must be dynamically Balanced .

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

I would love to see the the dick sparado set up Im just confused on what to do. bums me out to drive my car. I know the 33-34 set up is the way to go. just need to know hows its done to replicate it.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

I purchased a good front stub from a fellow barn member. I think it was removed from a 1935 or 36 shaft but it really doesn't matter which. The front stub spline shaft was just welded in so it was a matter of cutting the weld and removing it. The trouble is finding one in good condition. The rear spline can be made from modifying a spline adapter fitting which are available from the resto parts suppliers. A drive shaft shop can do the tube work and balancing if you have one local to you. The 33/34 shafts are hard to find now days but there might be one out there some where.


I don't know if your solid shaft can be shortened & resplined or not. It depends on the diameter of the end after it's cut. The splines can be cut in a horizontal milling machine with proper indexing for the type of splines so that the pinion adapter can be reinstalled. The damper bearings are available as was already mentioned and the price for them isn't out of line at all. You might consult a machine shop to see what they think. They will need the correct dimensions to do the job.

Re: Help 33-34 draive shaft in shortened 40 rear end tourqe tube
 

No you don't NEED a 33/34 torque tube. In fact you're better off using a later torque tube. the 35/36 TTs can be shortened anywhere along the length. The 37-40 type have to be shortened around the centre bearing to eliminate it.

If you use a 33/34 torque tube you have to hog it out at the rear to clear the larger bearings used 35 up.

This assumes you're going tubular for the driveshaft.

Mart.