Does a 78 malibu and 87 SS MonteCarlo have same length shaft

[oldhead]

Need info..78 malibu,2 dr. and 87 SS monte Carlo,Both with Turbo 400s..Do they use the same length shaft....How about a 9" ford rear vs. an 8 1/2 rear same shaft????????OLDHEAD2

[speedtalk]

Those cars have the exact same chassis, so yes to the first question. No clue with the different rears though.

[Team Owner]

If they both had 400's and they both had the engine in the same place they would be the same lenght because the chassis are almost identical.

But if one had a 700 R 4 Transmission and the other had a 200 R 4, the crossmember would be in a different location.

Same with a 200 Metric - which is almost the same as a TH 350 - but the trans mount is offset.

I believe that the 700 R 4 Transmission was longer than the 200 R 4

The 200 R 4 is longer than the TH 350

Wouldn't it have been easier to just measure the driveshaft from the front U joint to the rear and then measure the other one? Than to post your question on the computer.

[oldhead]

Can't measure....Don't have the one car till I sell the one I have..The one I have has a $450 alum. hd. shaft...The buyer wants to pay extra, but I want it if it fits the new oneSTILL NEED ANSWER ON CHANGING FROM 8 1/2 or 7 1/2 GM> TO 9" FORD REAR......OLDHEAD

[SupStk]

Can't measure....Don't have the one car till I sell the one I have..The one I have has a $450 alum. hd. shaft...The buyer wants to pay extra, but I want it if it fits the new oneSTILL NEED ANSWER ON CHANGING FROM 8 1/2 or 7 1/2 GM> TO 9" FORD REAR......OLDHEAD

Ford yokes came in a variety of lengths over the years, which one do you have or need?

[oldhead]

Getting the 78 Malibu in 4 days(9 "rear)...Still no answer (for sure?) about the rear.....OLDHEAD THANKS

[Team Owner]

I didn't see the Ford 9 inch part.

You are going to have to re machine the shaft because it will definately be too long if you change rear ends.

Plus the U joint is probably different also. I never liked them dual purpose u joints where the inside bearing caps were one size and the outside was another to use between different designs between Ford and Chevy.

For aluminum we used old drive shafts off the Trans Am's of the 80's.
We just cut them down and made them work.