Some of you guys have converted to toploaders I presume, I have a question concerning the driveshaft. The toploader has a slip yoke at the rear of the trans and the long bed trucks utilize a slip joint between the front and rear driveshafts, with a rigid yoke at the rear of the trans. What is the best way to utilize the toploader, a new 1 piece driveshaft with the slip at the back of the trans? Is the driveshaft too long? What was the purpose of the center bearing anyway? What about shifter location, does hole need to cut into the tunnel cover or floor? Thanks to all.
Happy Thanksgiving

JWR
72 F250 CS 390 NP-435

 

Been there, done that to THREE of my trucks.

The shortbed is no biggie.
The long bed, I cut the driveshaft(original) and install a slipyoke on the front. I then re-install it. Never had a problem. I think the deal with driveshaft is the length. You can't make a big enough diameter one to make the distance. Use the original one.

They make TWO different length toploaders and TWO different gear ratio's. I run WIDE ratio boxes becuase of the deeper first gear(2.78 instead of 2.32 for close ratio box). The two lenghts don't really mean anything in our application, but since I have only had the short boxes, that is what I have stayed with. One is ~24" oal(not including input shaft), the other is ~27".

I would pick the shorter only because you basically want to install the shifter farther forward so it does not interfere with your seating. I have buckets in both of my trucks to avoid problems. If you get a "custom" bent shifter handle I suppose you could get it out of the way.

I think the longer tranny has the mount to far back for good use in a pickup. The shorter one has TWO mounting locations, some tailhousing have both, some only drilled for one. The type of tranny mount also is different between car application. I use the same type as my truck. A direct bolt in.

I usually buy a "universal" mount 4 spd shifter and make it work. Depending on how handy you are is weather it is easy or not. If you would like some pictures of my install, let me know.

The crossmember usually has to be moved up a bit if changing from automatic. I think the 3 spd would be the same location. The mounts should also interchange.

The hole for shifter usually comes up right at edge of tunnel and drivers floor. It all depends on shifter application used. Mine is spaced out a bit, so it come closer to floor. Other models might acutally come straight up through tunnel.
Hope this give you some insight.
Larry

 

I did this in a 71 short bed. The shifter location on most toploaders will hit the seat. Buckets will make it easier. I assume a one piece driveshaft would work but can't say for certain. Mine didn't have a tunnel cover; it was an automatic.

 

Hey, thanks for the info, yes pictures would be great freighttrain.
I have already converted the truck from c-6 to NP-435. I was going to work the bugs out of it and am comtemplating the next step. I have a 428 CJ and figured the Np just couldn't be shifted "appropiately" at the red light. In any event, freightrain, you basically have two slip joints in the shaft now, correct? You have had no problems with destroying the hanging bearing under these circustances, correct? I also have both wide and close ratio 24" toploaders, what dia clutch and brand of clutch did you use? Thanks again

72 F250 CS 390 np-435

 

For what it's worth you can't use a one piece shaft on a long bed. It is just too long for a single run.