Drive Shaft Offset?

Good evening,

I'm working on my 56 CJ-6. Bought it with a Chevy 327 installed and I just installed a T-15 and Dana 20 transfer case (off a 75). In addition I bought axles off a 75 so I have the centered rear Dana 44 which is installed.

Now that all the pieces are installed im looking to get different drive shafts to fit the new setup.

Strange thing is when I hold up the old drive shaft it appears to be crooked. Did all the measurements and concluded the driveshaft is offset(left to right) about 2.5 inches.

Question: Is this normal? What is an acceptable amount?will I have issues such as it binding or vibrating?

When I look at my 72 cj5 in the drive way it appears that one has an offset in the driveshaft as well.

Please let me know all your guys thought and opinions. Thank you!

 

This may help you.

 

The offset is not bad. My son-in-law has a cj6 that I installed a T-15/D20/Dauntless225 with an offset D-44. The sideways angle is very close to 9 degrees. That has been working for over 2 years now and quite a few miles with absolutely no problems. He dives it on I75 at normal speeds (70-75 mph) with no vibration. The D20 cross-member, like the D18 is drilled off center by factory and is normal. HTH

 

Without knowing the slope or combined angles of your Jeep .............it's pretty hard to tell how what you have will work or not. Compound angles are not good for driveshafts meaning offset horizontially combined with slope especially in the rear that runs all the time.........I would measure up all your angles and then talk with your local driveshaft person or someone like this: Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Tom Woods Custom Drive Shafts Custom Driveshafts Specialist

 

Fwiw my 74 is offset by about the same amount I think it has something to do with equal length axles. Works out that the center isn't centered. The pinion ends up being offset a little.

 

Thanks for the replies. Do you have any issues such as shakes/vibes, or driveshafts wearing out excessively fast?

 

i do u joints about every year but i wheel it a lot in the summer.