I LOVE IT!!

[Goofyexponent]

I finished the ZF swap this morning, but the shaft needs to be balanced as it shakes like hell.

But MAN, what a difference in the old girl. She isn't as lazy feeling as it used to be, smokes a little more (that needs to be fixed) and it seems to me like a whole new truck!

 

[phazertwo]

Thats awesome! What clutch and flywheel did you use?

PZ

 

[Goofyexponent]

Thats awesome! What clutch and flywheel did you use?

PZ

I used a factory clutch and DMF from a 7.3. Not terribly expensive either.....$150 for all of it!

 

[phazertwo]

Did you buy a new SMF?

PZ

 

[The Warden]

Congratulations!!

Did the shop not balance your driveshaft when they shortened it, or did they balance it and it's still off a bit?

I have yet to deal with resizing a driveshaft (my 4x4 ZF was the exact same length as my 4x4 T-19), but I'm going to need to resize them when I get my splitter installed...

 

[Goofyexponent]

Congratulations!!

Did the shop not balance your driveshaft when they shortened it, or did they balance it and it's still off a bit?

I have yet to deal with resizing a driveshaft (my 4x4 ZF was the exact same length as my 4x4 T-19), but I'm going to need to resize them when I get my splitter installed...

I had them shorten it, and I thought they were going to balance it...but I guess for $77 they didn't.

Did you buy a new SMF?

PZ

Not yet...I just used an old DMF used kit.....but when the DMF dies, I am going to lucky mod it (or weld it) and get a sprung disc and new pressure plate. Save a few $$ and have a solid conversion at the same time.

 

[RLDSL]

Before you go blaming the balance on teh shaft, have you checked your installed angles on your ujoints with the new shortened shaft ? it shouldn't have made that much difference, but you need to check, just to be sure. If your angles are too much, or too little, it will shake itself to death. the position of the output shaft of the new tranny will change teh geometry of your setup a bunch. If you PM me your email address I can send you the spicer Ujoint allignment guide

 

[BigRigTech]

U-joint angles are a must, I have a angle meter here to borrow...The shaft definitely needs to be balanced or your on your way to a trans taking a ****....I kinda thought that price was low compared to what Drive Products charged me to do the same.....But it runs and rolls, that's the main thing.....Did you find the F350 lift blocks?

 

[Goofyexponent]

Before you go blaming the balance on teh shaft, have you checked your installed angles on your ujoints with the new shortened shaft ? it shouldn't have made that much difference, but you need to check, just to be sure. If your angles are too much, or too little, it will shake itself to death. the position of the output shaft of the new tranny will change teh geometry of your setup a bunch. If you PM me your email address I can send you the spicer Ujoint allignment guide

I appriciate the offer, but I am 100% it's a balance issue. I am goign to PM you anyways jsut in case.

I blocked both front tires, jacked the rear up, and set it down on jack stands. Then I put the tractor up against the front of it in case it decided to get up and run away.

I fired it up, put it in 4th and went under to have a look....it was WAY out of balance . It had like a 3/4 = 1" wow right after the steady bearing...which I feel is a LOT!!!

I will know for sure if that was the problem or not as soon as I drop teh shaft off tomorrow. I might end up lowering the tailshaft 1" by offsetting the crossmember and gusseting, but I don't think it is an angle issue....they are almost identical to my buddy's 351 gasser 5 speed 2wd truck.

 

[Goofyexponent]

U-joint angles are a must, I have a angle meter here to borrow...The shaft definitely needs to be balanced or your on your way to a trans taking a ****....I kinda thought that price was low compared to what Drive Products charged me to do the same.....But it runs and rolls, that's the main thing.....Did you find the F350 lift blocks?

I looked EVERYWHERES for them blocks. I took a mad attack at the shop lookin for them, but I can't find them. I think they were in a bucket in your garage with about a million bolts and whatnot that we pulled off that F350. I gotta get longer U bolts made anyhow...I should do that tomorrow.

 

[BigRigTech]

If that shaft is that bad then make them fix it....I have no faith in PFT for their shafts, DP does a better job and they are fussy...Some monkey on the floor does it at PFT and they have some real monkeys working there too...

 

[94turboidi]

I had a shaft once that was really bad out of balance. I was able to balance it somewhat myself by blocking it up like you said and having it running. I used a piece of chalk and barely held it up to the shaft at both ends. The idea is that the side of the shaft that wobbles out the most is the heavy side..if I am remembering that right. Then you can take clamps or whatever, maybe stick on weights and put on the opposite side and keep adjusting it untill its balanced. I know this probably isn't the proper way but it was the only way I could get that truck to quit shaking me to death. I finally bought a new driveshaft and what a difference it made!

 

[Goofyexponent]

If that shaft is that bad then make them fix it....I have no faith in PFT for their shafts, DP does a better job and they are fussy...Some monkey on the floor does it at PFT and they have some real monkeys working there too...

My shaft is going to DP tomorrow....have it back tomorrow night. I don't even want PFT to touch my shaft again after the mess that I had come back today! I mean it was $77 wasted, but a lesson learned!

 

[BigRigTech]

Have you ever heard me say PFT and driveshaft in the same sentence?....Every shaft they have done for me has been spot on, dead straight and there was very little if any weights on them. The new shaft for the Merc' was $300 and it's heavier wall tubing too.

 

[GOOSE]

Good luck on the driveshaft woes. I will absolutely stand by my preferance towards manual trannys. I had a '85 K5 blazer and swapped the 700R4 out fot a SM465 4 speed and what a difference it made. 0-60mph times went from 19 to under 16 seconds(pig 305) and I went from 10 to 12 mpg despite losing my OD gear. I know it wasn't an IDI but not too many people have the experience of comparing an auto vs manual in the exact same vehicle. Good luck sorting out the gremlins.