[gambit22]

My 77 Formula is almost ready to fly, but I've run into a hitch: when putting the driveshaft back on, it seems to be to long to fit into the rear differential! To be more clear, I swapped in a new TH350 for a busted one, the new tranny is all bolted in to both the engine block and the crossmember, all cables connected. But when we slid the driveshaft onto the tranny, we still need about a quarter of an inch more clearance before the U-Joint will slide back on correctly. Any suggestions?

[Brian Baker]

Something is not right.

If you are using the same driveshaft, same model transmission, and you have the yoke bottomed out in the tranny and you still need more to get it to mount to the rear...it makes no sense at all.

Something has changed...sit back and think about what.

[Uprmich]

Is it from the same style car? Long tail vs short?

[eberhama]

I had this exact same problem last month on my '78 T/A, when I went to install a completely new th-350. After many hours of head scratching and the use of progressivly larger hammers, I finally figured out my problem. The splines on the driveshaft yolk had become twisted down towards the bottom. This resulted in it not slipping on the new tranny(because of its non-mangled tailshaft splines), and my driveshaft being about ¼"-½" too long. I ended up digging out a spare driveshaft, and everything went together fine. Hope this helps save you some aggrivation.

[gambit22]

THanks for the help, everyone.

-I'll go check the splines today and see if they are mangled.

-It's the exact same transmission: short-tail and everything.

The only thing I can possibly conceive of as being wrong is that perhaps the transmission did not slide all the way into the torque converter or something along those lines. But it's all bolted into the bellhousing and the crossmember. I'm so confused! But I'll give it another look today and send you guys an update. Thanks again!

[gambit22]

Took a look again today; still unsure of the source of this problem. Does anyone know if the cut-outs on the center of the torque converter could be causing this problem? The part that connects to the transmission has two cut-away areas on the sides; maybe they did not slide into some corresponding tab on the tranny? THanks again.

[superdutybob]

The torque converter drives the pump in the transmission. If the converter is not all the way engaged with the pump you cannot draw the transmission up to the rear face of block. If you use the bolts to draw it up (bad idea) you chance breaking the drive lugs off of the pump in the trans.

I would compare the engagement of the driveshaft in the old trans with the new trans. assuming you still have the old trans.

Something sounds fishy to me.

[Brian Baker]

The whole deal sounds screwy.

Is the tranny bellhousing flush with the block? Even if it wasn't, it makes no sense that the yoke still wouldn't insert far enough into the tailshaft to allow you to mount the other end to the rear. The difference wouldn't be great enough to cause the yoke to bottom out in the tailshaft and not be able to mount it on the other end. Remember, as the rear axle rises up compressing the rear springs, the yoke is pushed INTO the tranny tailshaft.

Is the driveshaft yoke bottoming out in the tranny tailshaft? My guess is no. The only other thing I can think of at this point is the bushing in the tailshaft is dicked up, not allowing the yoke to fully engage.

[berrygoat]

Do you have jackstands under the frame or under the rearend housing ?

[gambit22]

Underneath the frame on the front end; just enough to get under the car