Prop shaft length

[kevchard]

Does anyone know how to calculate the length my prop shaft needs to be? Do you measure from the splined shaft on the end of the gearbox to the flange on the diff? Do you measure the length with the car jacked off the floor, or fully laden with petrol passengers etc? Do you measure from the centre of the gearbox shaft to the centre of the dif flange?
Ths is going on a 'Cobretti', cortina based Viper.
Cheers
Kevin & Helen

[Purple AK]

Hi Kev & Helen.

Any propshalf maker worth his sort should be able to make the shaft if you give him the measurement from the back of the gearbox tailshaft housing to the face of the diff flange, measured at normal ride height. HTH

[TonyD]

I'd make the propshaft guy two drawings, one from above and the other from the side showing all measurements and, if possible, angles. This will give the manufacturer a good idea of the angles the prop has to drive through. A simple length measurement may not be enough unless the diff flange and the gearbox flange are in direct horizontal alignement.

Mind you I started off with a "skipping rope" for a propshaft so what do I know !!

Cheers,

Tony

[kevchard]

Thanks to the both of you. The diff is down and to the left of the gearbox (as viewed from above). It does not have a flange at the gearbox end, it has a splined bush thing instead. There is an engineering company around the corner from me that are willing to do the job, so i thought i would let them do it (and save me the postage to a 'normal' firm.
Cheers
Kevin & Helen

[wilf]

Telephone your proposed propshaft manufacturer - tell them what you are trying to do and ask them how they want it measured.

It gets very simple from there on.

Don't try to explain how "you" measured it. That way lies potential problems.

[kevchard]

Thanks for that, it seems obvious advice, but i didn't think of it.
It is easier to see what they want as apposed to the info that i can give them (without consulting them first).
The company is only half a mile from us, so i may kidnap a member of their staff on the way home and get them to have a look.
Cheers
Kevin and Helen