I had my driveshaft in the shop a few days ago getting new u-joints. The guys there asked me if it was the original driveshaft for the car. (As it was sitting in the back seat when I bought the car I couldn't say for sure.) The reason he asked is because the u-joints in the shaft are not alligned with each other (as is normal) but one joint is offset about 45-degrees from the other. He was telling me that a few older model cars had this done to cancel driveline vibrations. So the question is: Is anyone else's driveshaft the same? (Car is a V-8 with a TH400 auto trans.)

I have three FGF drive shafts and they are all the same. I thought they were just twisted from excessive driving.

How about that. Never thought about that before. I went out and took two pictures to see what you were referring to. (I also will need to find out what those out-of-focus stampings are. I didn't notice them when I was cleaning and painting under there. The drive shaft is original '68 TH400. The UJoints were replaced in the 70s.

Jim. It looks like you are missing a grease fitting on the u-joint for your transmisition yoke.

Jim G. 67 conv 400

Jim,
All your grease has probably flung out! I would fix that soon.

I just looked at my driveshaft pile and they are all the same, lined up ear to ear.

Oops. Another project for the growing list. Thanks.

The original from my 69 bird is off a few degrees, but the one from my 69 Bonnie is lined up.

Mine came with a th400, short tail. The U-joints are offset 45 degrees or so front to back. I can't say if it's original since the car seems to be pieced together. It doesn't appear to be bent in any way and the ends are on straight and square.

So it would seem that they are supposed to be that way. At least that is one part that seems to be right for the car. Thanks guys.

First Gen F bodies used a driveshaft that was out of phase as you described. Few cars, if any, otherwise used this type of configuration.

That's an excellent point when getting a custom drive shaft built. I'm going to have to jack up the 'Bird and make sure it's right. It would be nice to see a reference or article that explains the thinking behind the desicion to make them like that. What makes the F-Body different? Same trans as the GTO ect. Same rear end as the others too. Could it be our crooked drive train set-up?

I wish I could say for sure, and that may very well be correct. I believe the bowties wore their shaft to the left as well. It seems like the 1st gen goats used a tube in a tube, dampened with a rubber ring. Many full size cars used them as well. THOSE are the driveshafts that get twisted out of phase. If nothing else, It'd be interesting to see it there are any TSB's on it from the day.

Mine are off-set as well. Car-quest folks told me it was done for anti-vibe purposes. Lee, let us know what part number and manufacturer they used for your new u-joints.

Hey Greg! Nice pic! Are those two guys dancing in the background?

I hope they are trying to get a good picture angle. I guess that would not be calender material, huh. Thanks for the complement.

I concur with Nash. The driveshaft shop told me they were offset on purpose for vibration reasons.

I think it's a great picture. I'm not a picture picker though. I'd have 12 pics so fast it would make your head spin. I think I've already seen the 12. But, you know about drama... suspense... I'm going to steal 12 pics and make a calendar.

Greg, just ZOOMED in on the photo in question......pretty cool! Lots of things going on behind that FGF! In my opinion, its the perfect pic for an FGF calendar.

Lee, seriously, let us know what u-joint part numbers were used by your local shop. I'm curious since my locals have used two different numbers over the past year here.

Jim2002, not to worry too much. The first set of U-joints my locals installed had NO grease fittings!! I noticed it a few weeks later when I removed the DS for the new leaf spring replacement!

I marched back into that shop like a horny bull with his tail on fire! The shop said not to worry because they were greaseless joints, but I said "I want to see GREASE and grease fittings!" They replaced them of course.

There may in-fact be greaseless u-joints out there for our original DS (teflon?), but I haven't found anyone that can explain the differences or improvements.

Hey Nash,
(Didn't mean to be slow here, it's been a long day.)
They were Spicer U-joints (at least that what they told me) The receipt says 3R U-joints (and what I think might be a part number says 5-3147X.)
Let me know if that helps. I can always call them and ask if you need more info.

I know for a fact the spicer part # IS 5-3147X. This is a Mechanics STYLE, 3R SIZE u-joint based on the cap retention style and dimension.
The no-grease u-joint is actually stronger because it has not been drilled for the grease to flow to the trunions and bearings. The spicer # for that one is 5-3011X. These need to be packed with grease as they are installed.
This brings up a point to be made for those that install their own joints. If you install a greaseable joint backwards it will of course fit, but when you torque the drivetrain, it will pull at the grease fitting location and is capable of pulling it a part.
If you are lubricating a greaseable joint, pump it untill grease purges from all corners. Except for a very few, the seals are made to purge and if you aren't getting grease out of one, it may not be getting grease.

Greg, I just put in that missing zerk as Jim pointed out in my pictures on page one of this subject. I was able to pump the gun about three times and that was it. From there on it was solid. No amount of reasonable force would get any grease to leak out of the joint. Is there something wrong with them?

I just checked my records and they were put on in 7/70 and have about 135,000 miles on them. I don't notice any problems.

It IS tight in there, and it does sometimes TAKE a lot of pressure, but...If I were guessing, I'd say that there is enough junk in the end of the trunions, between the lube passageway and the bearing caps that it may not be completely distributing grease. The only way to confirm this would be to take the joint a part and inspect it. If you go to that length, on 135k joints, I'd suggest getting a pair of Spicer brands and put them in. It is a good idea to mark the driveshaft and the pinion yoke to put it back in the same position.

I'll have to look at mine , but i have a drive shaft from a 1969 firebird 400. It looks in phase to me. I know it was the one from the car .

When I had my driveshaft shortened for a "new" transmission, I noticed that it was out of phase. I don't think it was 45 degrees, probably more like 15 or 20, but the senior guy at the shop that I went to said that it was that way for a reason and was very careful to put it back together as it was built.
I think it is probably because the engine is not quite in line with the rear end. From what I've been reading,all Firebird V8s are off-set towards the passenger side in front to allow room for the steering gear box to clear the exhaust manifolds.

i have a 400 drive shaft from a 69 bird and its not out of phase.