knew something wasn't quite right... a bit too much vibration thru the doors and in the "seat of the pants". sure nuff, my driveshaft was not quite "true"...

had a new one made and WOW... no more body vibes, no more problem with the "seat of my pants"... this thing is smooth now!

just a reminder to check the big and small things, I guess...

hope this turns the light on for someone!

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

I'm afraid I might have this.  I had the car up on jackstand and was running it without tires to warm up the tranny fluid and rear end fluid before draining.  And she vibrated quite a bit.  I am hoping when she is on the ground and has a load it won't be so bad...but maybe it is an unbalanced shaft?

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

Sorry, I just rechecked your post. No wheels and tires! Anyway it could be brake drag. When running with no wheels did you put a lug nut on to hold the brake drums in place?  Check the universal joints.

After sitting for soo many years you may have some flat spots on the tires. Were any of the tires flat? I would check tires and wheels. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

with a vehicle as old as the ones we love, checking the driveshaft for "trueness" probably ought to be SOP when restoring... mine was apparently "repaired" somewhere back in time before I bought the car.  when done with the restoration, I just starting driving it without taking this one fairly simple step.  After chasing the bad feeling down several alleys, I finally got around to having the driveshaft checked... wish I would have done it earlier!

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

Nate:

If the jackstands were under the frame, and the rear axle hanging free, the U joints may have been working at an extreme angle and binding as they turned, causing a vibration.  There is a possibility of a frozen U joint also, same symptoms.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Hoosier, yes the jack stand were on the frame and the suspension was fully unsuported and hanging.  I hope that was it!  Jeez...I can't wait to drive her on the street.  But the title is a 2.5 hour drive away...won't be getting there for a while.  I might just have to be a rebel and take her around the block.

Nate - Madison, Wisconsin

 

56 Ford Customline Sedan

 

Your post jogged my memory. Back in the day, to balance a driveshaft we used two large hose clamps at a 120 degree angle to each other and a piece of chalk to mark their location. If the vibration got worse then you rotate the location of the clamps on the drive shaft and try again until it gets better. At the location that the vibration is the lowest you can add more weight ( added clamps) for best results. Hey it works. Pete