8.5 change! now drive line to long

I have 69 nova that has a 350/th350 and I have just replaced the 8.2 with late 70s 8.5 rear end. Everything fit in just fine except the drive line is to long now. What do I have to do now? I know I have to shorten it now but by how much? I also heard something about the rear u-joints are different? Please help this is all I have to do to get this thing on the road.

You should have no trouble finding a reliable driveline shop in Tacoma or Seattle, and they can modify your drive shaft. They can also tell you whether or not you need a new u-joint for the 8.5" rear. For a LOT more info on measuring and angles, check this site out.

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Driveline-101.shtml

Good luck,

Dave

I had the exact same problem...in reverse. There was a (too wide) 8.5 in the car when I got it, I replaced it with a stock '65 8.2 unit...then the driveshaft was too short. Get out your measuring tape, hit the junkyard, or get it shortened.

Hey!

I jjjuusssttt got through this. I pulled out my 8.2" for the sake of an 8.5 out of a '71 Camaro. I took my driveshaft out, dropped the car with the new rear in, and measured from the rear seal of the trans to the centerline of the yoke on the rear. Took off 3/4" and had new U-joints installed, and the shaft balanced. Worked WONDERFULLY!

Good luck to you, hope you get the same results I did!!

I jjjuusssttt got through this. I pulled out my 8.2" for the sake of an 8.5 out of a '71 Camaro.

Isn't the 8.5" out of a '71 Camaro too wide? I thought the '70 and up Camaro rears were at least and inch or so wider than the Nova 8.5" rears.

Jeff

Here's how to correctly measure the driveshaft:
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/html/a.html

Use a 71-74 Nova, Apollo, Ventura, Omega TH350 driveshaft and it will work just fine.