One piece driveshaft

so I've got a Chevrolet driveshaft I wanna use, but it measures 2.7 inches on each end and my Toyota shaft measures 2.6 inches. Measures using a digital caliper. Will I be able to swap the ends?

 

Are you thinking of removing the Toyota tube yoke and welding them into the Chevy tube?
If so..
This will all depend on the inside diameter, not the outside. Good idea though if you have a lathe and a way to balance it. Don't just jam it in there and weld it up, it won't be straight.

I've been down this road before, not with a Toyota though. And I was only shortening a tube and replacing one end, easier to keep straight.
Unless you can find some factory specs on the inner tube diameter or the yoke diameter, you won't know until you cut them off. Grind the weld off around the tube and you should be able to smack the yokes loose with a hammer.

 

Yeah I'm gonna drop both shafts off at a local driveshaft shop I just don't want them to call and say I need a different shaft

 

I would almost guarantee that the inside diameter between the two will be different because Chevy is measured in inches and Toyota is metric. But it truly comes down to the press fit. I'm not saying it's not gonna match, just that there is a chance. If you pursue this and it works out please report with what the donor shaft came out of and what, if any, problems they had. Lot's of guys here, including me, would be interested in the outcome.

 

Whats the advantage of going to a one peice shaft? I would think you would loose ground clearance because its gona hang lower.

 

you are correct, it will hang lower.
Less maintenance is one advantage, only two joints to grease and replace. Lose the expensive double cardan joint.
Possibly easier to balance/less vibes but it will require a pinion angle change. The pinion flange will need to be at the same angle as the transfer case flange.
Vibes aren't much of a problem on a 1st gen anyway so that's a wash.

 

Well I'm gonna have the double cardan on the t-case side, also I'm doing this cause I've got a 2 inch lift and I'm rolling through carrier bearings and am tired of it binding in the soft rubber of the bearing

 

You shouldn't be going through carrier bearings with a 2" lift, most here are running 3" with no issues. Are you using OEM parts?

 

Couldnt just drop the bearing a little? 2" lift isnt that much so even without dropping you shouldnt be just going through them.

 

Yeah it shouldn't but it does, kinda just tired of messing with it plus a one piece driveshaft is appealing cause it is lighter also

 

interested in your results.

 

Plan on getting it done Saturday hopefully it works out