The Ford Barn

Bullerman · 03-12-2025, 08:03 AM

Can someone tell me the driveshaft length on a 50 Ford Custom. With the three speed. It seems like one in the car is a hair too short.
I have a vibration above 45. I changed universal joints.
I took it to a shop yesterday. He is going to check and make sure it's not bent. He asked me if it was the driveshaft that came in the car.
He said it looked like the part that goes up in the transmission was a little short. Just trying to find out what length it should be.

Shoebox · 03-12-2025, 08:59 AM

Looks to be about 57 inches.

Bullerman · 03-12-2025, 08:56 PM

I measured mine today. It measures 591/4" from the oil seal to the face of the yoke on the rear end. I don't know if this is the correct drive shaft in the car yet.
Got to do some more measuring. No sure the yoke is sticking far enough into the transmission.

pistonbroke · 03-13-2025, 08:24 AM

It depends on the type of rear end. Stationwagons and sedan deliveries had Spicer rear end with a longer pinion. Tim

50fordcoupeman · 03-14-2025, 12:08 AM

I was told that where the front of the driveshaft slides into the transmission is a sleeve (bushing) that may be worn enough to allow a vibration to happen. Good luck.

Bullerman · 03-14-2025, 08:28 AM

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I gave him the length I measured. The shop said it could be another 1/2" into the transmission.
As of yesterday he hadn't checked to see if it is bent. He said he couldn't check the full length because the way the rear universal joints are made.
If it's not bent I'll check some of the other things suggested. Thanks

Bullerman · 03-15-2025, 09:03 AM

Still waiting on the shop to check it to see if it is bent.
Don't really want to have another drive shaft made. If that would fix the problem I wouldn't mind though. If it's not universal joints or driveshaft it's something more serious.

flathead4rd · 03-15-2025, 01:24 PM

I had the same vibration problem when I changed to a T-5 Mustang trans in my 50. Took my driveshaft to place that makes custom drive shafts. They put a slip yoke for a Mustang on my shaft and all was well after that. I appears the Mustang slip yoke is just a little longer than the original 50 Ford one. Check the length of the Mustang yoke compared to your original one. Mine is 5 inches long.

Bullerman · 03-16-2025, 08:05 AM

I see a lot of people change out the transmission to something else. This one will just be drive around town. I kind of like the old three speed on the column.
Out on the road the dang vibration is about where I want to drive. If it was at 75 I wouldn't care. Lol. Hopefully next week they can check the driveshaft.
I had new king pins, bushings and new tires put it on the front. I feel like there in nothing in the front end causing my problem. I told the shop about the vibration. He also said it my be the driveshaft.

03-12-2025, 08:03 AM	#1
Bullerman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 149	Driveshaft length Can someone tell me the driveshaft length on a 50 Ford Custom. With the three speed. It seems like one in the car is a hair too short. I have a vibration above 45. I changed universal joints. I took it to a shop yesterday. He is going to check and make sure it's not bent. He asked me if it was the driveshaft that came in the car. He said it looked like the part that goes up in the transmission was a little short. Just trying to find out what length it should be.

03-12-2025, 08:56 PM	#3
Bullerman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 149	Re: Driveshaft length I measured mine today. It measures 591/4" from the oil seal to the face of the yoke on the rear end. I don't know if this is the correct drive shaft in the car yet. Got to do some more measuring. No sure the yoke is sticking far enough into the transmission.

03-13-2025, 08:24 AM	#4
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 714	Re: Driveshaft length It depends on the type of rear end. Stationwagons and sedan deliveries had Spicer rear end with a longer pinion. Tim

03-14-2025, 12:08 AM	#5
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 874	Re: Driveshaft length I was told that where the front of the driveshaft slides into the transmission is a sleeve (bushing) that may be worn enough to allow a vibration to happen. Good luck.

03-14-2025, 08:28 AM	#6
Bullerman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 149	Re: Driveshaft length Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I gave him the length I measured. The shop said it could be another 1/2" into the transmission. As of yesterday he hadn't checked to see if it is bent. He said he couldn't check the full length because the way the rear universal joints are made. If it's not bent I'll check some of the other things suggested. Thanks

03-15-2025, 09:03 AM	#7
Bullerman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 149	Re: Driveshaft length Still waiting on the shop to check it to see if it is bent. Don't really want to have another drive shaft made. If that would fix the problem I wouldn't mind though. If it's not universal joints or driveshaft it's something more serious.

03-15-2025, 01:24 PM	#8
flathead4rd Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 571	Re: Driveshaft length I had the same vibration problem when I changed to a T-5 Mustang trans in my 50. Took my driveshaft to place that makes custom drive shafts. They put a slip yoke for a Mustang on my shaft and all was well after that. I appears the Mustang slip yoke is just a little longer than the original 50 Ford one. Check the length of the Mustang yoke compared to your original one. Mine is 5 inches long.

03-16-2025, 08:05 AM	#9
Bullerman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 149	Re: Driveshaft length I see a lot of people change out the transmission to something else. This one will just be drive around town. I kind of like the old three speed on the column. Out on the road the dang vibration is about where I want to drive. If it was at 75 I wouldn't care. Lol. Hopefully next week they can check the driveshaft. I had new king pins, bushings and new tires put it on the front. I feel like there in nothing in the front end causing my problem. I told the shop about the vibration. He also said it my be the driveshaft.