I have a '59 F100 short bed with a 223. Lost a couple of gears in the original OD transmission. Now I've purchased a T-85/R11 and am looking to install it. I already put in a three speed out of a '77, so I'm hoping the T-85 will swap right in.

What I need is a new driveshaft. The yoke on the T-85 is bolted to the output shaft so it is not the slip type yoke that is stock. I went to the junk yard yesterday to find a slip joint drive shaft, but couldn't come up with anything. All of the Ford trucks had two piece drive shafts. Looked at some vans, but they were slip type yokes. Any ideas on what I can use?

 

All you really need is the correct slip yoke for your new transmission. A good driveshaft repair shop can make the rest to fit your application.

 

Its a totally different driveshaft than stock. The driveshaft bolts to the transmission, so the slip part is in the driveshaft. I would like to find a telescoping driveshaft with all the right parts. That way I can take it to the driveshaft shop and have them shorten or lengthen as needed.

 

I'm not sure if I'm following correctly. Do you want to retain the 2 piece driveshaft, or eliminate the carrier bearing in the center and go with a one piece shaft? I thought you wanted the latter. And like I said, if that's the case, you just need a slip yoke for your trans and the driveshaft shop can make the rest. You already have the driveshaft yoke pieces from your existing parts. All you'll need then is a measurement. We can help you figure that, too.

 

70's F150 4x4's have the 1 piece slip yoke driveshaft you are looking for. Though, I'm not sure if the Ujoint series size is the same. Also, there's a risk the "used" driveshaft will be unbalanced. To have a new shaft made in the end, is often the same cost after factoring new ujoints and balancing. My 2 cents.

 

What's the T-85 O/D from?

This trans was used in 1964/71 F100's, 1963/67 Galaxie/LTD's, 1942/51 Lincoln's, 1955/56 Packards, 1955/56 Nashes & Hudsons, 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawks, 1956/63 Studebaker trucks and etc.

On the Ford applications, the driveshaft does not actually bolt to the transmission. It might look that way, but once it's dis-assembled:

The driveshaft's separate front slip yoke bolts to an outer flange, the front u-joint fits between the slip yoke/flange, then this flange bolts to an inner flange that is splined, the whole tamale slides onto the output shaft.

 

I was told by the seller that it came out of a Ford Truck. I haven't verified the numbers. Looks as if the yoke bolts to the output shaft.

 

There is no way the yoke can bolt to the output shaft, which towards its end, is nothing more than a splined shaft.

The front section of the driveshaft is splined, the front yoke's splines slid onto this, then its front section attaches by way of a u-joint to a flange.

This flange then bolts to another which is splined and slides onto the output shaft.

This was the setup my 1965 F100 352 with the Warner T-85N O/D had. I bought the truck new in March 1965, sold it last November.

 

Thanks Bill. I'll take a closer look and see what's there.

 

After scouring the junk yards the past couple of weekends I've come to the conclusion that this transmission was from a truck with a two piece driveshaft. All long beds I'm seeing have two piece drive shafts and a fixed yoke. Short beds including vans use a one piece driveshaft with a slip yoke.

Since my truck is a short bed it has a single driveshaft. I think I'll have to go to a driveshaft shop to get a telescoping driveshaft made. Was hoping to save some costs by getting something to use as a starter. Although most of the junk yard driveshafts are damaged since they use a forklift to move the cars.

 

later 70's 4x4's use a one piece driveshaft with a slip yoke on the front part of the shaft. It meets a rigid yoke on the t-case (U-joint in between). This is what I was referring to as a "start" to what you are wanting to do. I see you are in San Jose, so maybe 4x4's aren't abundant like they are up here.

 

Havi - I did see a couple of those, but was focused on a one piece drive shaft. I'll go back and look. Gonna be tough to find one that wasn't bent. At least I could salvage the yokes and slip joint.