Whats the going rate for shortening a driveshaft? I think I got....shafted

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Carbie

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2022
Posts
5
Reaction score
3
Location
California
First Name
Carbie
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
6.2
Last year I was quoted $240 - $280 JUST IN LABOR to cut, shorten/lengthen, and balance a driveshaft. No U-joints, no slip yoke, and no new tube itself. I wasn't going to pay that, so I found a NOS driveshaft on eBay and had it shipped to my door for just under $200.

You did fine for $300.
wow, I have made at least 20 driveshafts and not had on problem with any of them. I used a piece of paper wrapped around it so the cut would be straight, drew a circle around the driveshaft used a hack saw, cut the end off and figured out how long it needed to be and did the same thing to cut off to length, timed the ears with the other end and welded it back on. Never had any vibration on any of them.
 

Dezzracer

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Posts
9
Reaction score
9
Location
Las Vegas
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1976
Truck Model
K10 Scottsdale
Engine Size
350
I paid $600 to have a custom made double jointed DS made. Which is the correct way to get the angles correct and eliminate DS vibrations on a lifted truck.
 

Craig Nedrow

NADAR UNDER THE RADAR
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2018
Posts
807
Reaction score
1,404
Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Elloit, love your 66. Doing the same to a 64 400 sport coupe, had it for years, did the body work like you, hope to paint it this next year and get it on the road. Thanks for the inspiration!!
 
Last edited:

timbritton

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2021
Posts
20
Reaction score
30
Location
canada
First Name
Tim
Truck Year
82
Truck Model
1500sierra
Engine Size
427
Just about right. I had mine shortened with new u-joints $250
 

Originalthor

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2021
Posts
1,009
Reaction score
3,371
Location
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
First Name
Scott
Truck Year
1989
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
5.7
wow, I have made at least 20 driveshafts and not had on problem with any of them. I used a piece of paper wrapped around it so the cut would be straight, drew a circle around the driveshaft used a hack saw, cut the end off and figured out how long it needed to be and did the same thing to cut off to length, timed the ears with the other end and welded it back on. Never had any vibration on any of them.
I worked for a farmer who use to make his own pto and drive shafts and they out lasted stuff from the factory. It was easier and quicker then driving to town and dropping off or waiting a week. 2 hours and we were back up and running.
 

Grumpy

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2021
Posts
348
Reaction score
940
Location
Saskatchewan
First Name
Daryl
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Brand new everything: tube, yokes & two u-joints. Balanced and delivered was just under $810 CAD..... so about $28 USD with exchange.
 

siataspring850

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2022
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
delaware
First Name
mike
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
c/10 step side
Engine Size
4.3
WARNING: Partial Rant

I'm putting together an LS with a 5 speed trans (NV3500) 2WD in a SWB. The truck did not come with a driveshaft/drivetrain when I got it. I found an S10 NV3500 on craigslist. The guy sold me an aluminum driveshaft for $25 too that I knew I'd have to shorten. I installed the trans and got the shaft shorten by a local machine shop for $95 but they could not balance it as they aren't a driveshaft shop. Sounded all like a good deal until the transmission turned out to be junk. I found another NV3500 from a Sierra and went to put it in. I knew the s10 trans had different gearing than the 1/2 truck transmissions, but I did not know the 1/2 trans was almost 2 inches shorted than the s10 trans, or that it took a different slip yoke, or that the shifter location is in a different location (I know, I'm amateur)....I now needed a longer driveshaft. Looking online, a new custom shaft would be about $500, so I thought I could do better getting one used and shortening it. Maybe I'd get lucky and find one the right length and with the right slip yoke at the junk yard. Not so lucky, but I found one I could shorten, and this one didn't have the dumb nylon u joint clips the first one had. I paid $75 for the shaft. Then I bought the slip yoke online for $80. I took the shaft to a driveshaft shop (now there is a local one where I moved to). They charged $300 for shortening it, adding 2 u joints, and balancing. Seems high to me, but if you can't tell already, I'm building blind over here. To be fair, if someone gave me $300, its not like I could shorten a shaft. Plus, they seemed to have done a nice job and even polished this thing. Its the shiniest part on the truck. Photos include the shaft next to the older shaft thats too short for reference.

Apologies for the rant. But did I get taken for a ride or is that price reasonable?

Thanks for listening/reading.

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

siataspring850

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2022
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
delaware
First Name
mike
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
c/10 step side
Engine Size
4.3
thanks for sharing your experience. Wondering how the NV3500 worked out for you, did the shifter line up or did you have to modify the floor? Myself I didn't know they came in two different lengths and/or the slip yokes were different. So, I learned a little today.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,107
Reaction score
4,942
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Elliot,

How long is that shaft? I'm surprised you don't have a two piece shaft with a manual trans in a 2wd long bed? As soon as I swap my T case over from the 208 to 205, I'll be needing new shafts. According to my measurements, that puts it at like 65+ inches. Nobody will make me a shaft over 63 inches due to whipping (vibration) issues. I'm planning on a two piece setup cause I ain't spending 700-800 bucks on a big fat aluminum shaft.
There's no way that's right. My 350/TH400/NP205 in a K25 pickup uses something like a 53" shaft. How big of a lift do you have on it? I didn't need a new shaft with the 4" lift and will likely come out about even when I swap in the 4L80. Maybe that makes sense on a Crew Cab?
 

Elliot W

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Posts
147
Reaction score
250
Location
CT
First Name
Elliot
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3
thanks for sharing your experience. Wondering how the NV3500 worked out for you, did the shifter line up or did you have to modify the floor? Myself I didn't know they came in two different lengths and/or the slip yokes were different. So, I learned a little today.
Glad my experience helped at least one person. The actual length difference was closer to 1.5 inches, the Sierra trans being shorter than the s10 trans. I think both were technically the gen 3 NV3500–they both had internal slave cylinders. I think the Sierra was a 2006 but not sure about the s10 year. The shifter location on the Sierra trans is about 5 inch forward of the s10 shifter, so I did need to punch a new hole in the floor. Also, the shifter is different between the two, so you can’t unbolt the 4 bolts on the s10 shifter and bolt it to the Sierra trans. Obviously the gearing is a little different as well. Who would’ve thought that these same transmissions would have so many differences.
 

siataspring850

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2022
Posts
12
Reaction score
0
Location
delaware
First Name
mike
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
c/10 step side
Engine Size
4.3
I did some homework on the s-10's a few years back seemed like the smaller engine have lower 1st gears in them. All good information thanks again. I might just change my rear axle to a 3:73 and keep my 3 speed OD just because its different
 

Bennyt

Full Access Member
Joined
May 17, 2019
Posts
998
Reaction score
1,348
Location
Surprise
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Elloit, love your 66. Doing the same to a 64 400 sport coupe, had it for years, did the body work like you, hope to paint it this next year and get it on the road. Thanks for the inspiration!!

Elliot- you did a nice job, I like it.


Elliot/ Craig...you guys on the stevesnovasite.com? I'm, 63ssiisfv2dfw over there.
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
3,629
Reaction score
6,538
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
There's no way that's right. My 350/TH400/NP205 in a K25 pickup uses something like a 53" shaft. How big of a lift do you have on it? I didn't need a new shaft with the 4" lift and will likely come out about even when I swap in the 4L80. Maybe that makes sense on a Crew Cab?
I'd like to discuss this further. I may be mistaken on the 65 inch statement but I am sure it was 60+. I only have a 2 inch lift so that's not an issue.
Is your 205 a fixed output yoke or a slip yoke? My fixed slip yoke 208 that's in it now is 7 inches longer than the 205 that's going in. Also the nv4500 mounts directly to the T-case so there is no adapter which reduces the overall length another 2 inches.
In addition, the FF 14 bolt it has now is 1.5 inches shorter than the SF 14 bolt it came with. All these mods results in a lot more space between the yokes. See what I'm saying?

@Frankenchevy What T-case you got in yours?
 
Last edited:

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,107
Reaction score
4,942
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
I'd like to discuss this further. I may be mistaken on the 65 inch statement but I am sure it was 60+. I only have a 2 inch lift so that's not an issue.
Is your 205 a fixed output yoke or a slip yoke? My fixed slip yoke 208 that's in it now is 7 inches longer than the 205 that's going in. Also the nv4500 mounts directly to the T-case so there is no adapter which reduces the overall length another 2 inches.
In addition, the FF 14 bolt it has now is 1.5 inches shorter than the SF 14 bolt it came with. All these mods results in a lot more space between the yokes. See what I'm saying?

@Frankenchevy What T-case you got in yours?
Mine is also a 14BFF. Its a slip yoke NP205. The shaft I took out of the donor K2500 Suburban with a 454/4L80e/NP241 and 14BFF was only a 54" driveshaft and is longer than my stock K25 one by a few inches I think.
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
3,629
Reaction score
6,538
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Interesting. I pulled the shaft (s), 2 piece and crossmember with carrier bearing and mount out of a factory 89 suburban in anticipation of needing it for my swap. Then I started thinking it would be easier to use a one-piece but when I figured the length, it became an issue. Your slip yoke subtracts about 7 inches from your length.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,750
Posts
901,125
Members
33,282
Latest member
rb275d
Top