I feel a slight rumble when up to speed. Finally went underneath and I feel the drive shaft maybe a little short. I can move it up and down a little when pushing on the u-joint. Disconnected at the pumpkin and can slide it in over 2-1/2" till it bottoms. Seems a lot, so I'm going to lengthen the shaft 1-1/8". Still leaves room to remove it.

It does have the boot and does not appear to be leaking. I'm used to having the yoke farther in. Does this sound right for the Ford with the Fordomatic? Thanx

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Hmmmm... What you didn't tell us is how you got under the car to do your check on how far the yoke was out of the transmission extension housing.



IF the car was picked up by a lift that grabbed the frame and the rear end was unsupported, the position of the rear end is much different than when the vehicle is sitting on the ground or going over the usual bump in the road or around a curve in the road.



IF you used a drive on type lift with ramps (wheel alignment type lift), or if you found an old style garage pit (now illegal, I believe) to get under the car, you would have the most accurate idea of how far the yoke is into or out of the transmission extension housing when it is sitting normally.



Hope this helps...


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I believe that the amount of the shaft sticking out of the trans should be a bout 1 inch. Wheels should be on the ground when measuring.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Have you checked the bushing in the transmission tail-housing for wear?  Also examine the yoke for similar wear.  Wear on either the bushing or the yoke will make it loose and promote some vibration issues as well as rear seal oil leakage problems.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I second what Ted mentioned about rear bushing/yoke wear. When I converted my 57 to a T5 I had a vibration at 60/65 mph. I could see I had a pinion angle problem with the T5 tailshaft housing sitting higher up than the 3sp. I corrected that with shims under the axle housing but I still had a small vibration. Checking a little further I saw the play in the tailshaft/yoke area. New tailshaft bushing & yoke cleared up the rest of the vibration.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

Thanks for the suggestions. Rear suspension was NOT in the relaxed state and was loaded with the cars weight. As for the trans bushing I'm not sure on it's condition. I do have a lot of photos of the trans being rebuilt but do not know if that part was changed. Yoke has no wear marks. After sliding the yoke in an addtitional inch it was more difficult to move, that's one of the reasons I am lengthening the drive shaft.

As additional note the front u-joint looked new but the rear did not. The company lengthening it could not properly balence the shaft with the existing rear one even tho it looked good to them (very reptible drive company). Waiting on a new one. They also suggested 1 to 1-1/4" of yoke exposed when on the ground.

Just another thing I've found on this restoration. Guess I'm just too picky. Now I just need to figure out how to get the canister oil filter thru all the steering stuff or change to the later one...Things seem to be alot different at 68 instead of 17..........JD 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Vibration/rumble now gone. Length must contributed to it. Rear u-joint was also replaced. By the u-joint it appears the 56 has a 55 pumpkin or complete unit. Only talked to the builder once and he said the rear end was not original.

Now onto the power steering minor leak. Desided to replace all pressure hoses. Any suggestions on the correct fluid. Same for Ford-O-Matic what should I use? Thanks.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.