Extending a driveshaft?

[MJCRO]

So I got the 87' 325e/es driveshaft for my M60 swap since I'm using a 5 speed ZF. I'm short 1.5" in length with the guibo attached. My motor is in rear position using Garagistic's mounts. According to other people using the 5 speed, wasn't the large output flange eta driveshaft supposed to be a plug and play part?

Anyways, does anyone have any information on possibly extending a driveshaft? Maybe with longer bolts in combination with washers possibly? I've been searching in the tri-state for driveline specialists, could a cut and re-weld work?

[alco]

Do not under any circumstance use longer bolts and washers. That is a recipe for disaster. Source an E36 328 (stick shift) drive shaft. Also note that the driveshaft is meant to extend, if yours is fully compressed you need to pull it out a bit.

[iansane]

I'm not sure I'd trust even an "extended" driveline that had an extension welded on. I had to have an aluminum shaft extended a couple years ago and a local place, Drivelines Northwest just cut off the whole shaft, reused the yokes and basically made a new shaft to my length spec. Expensive, yes. But more more confidence inspiring.

[Vtec?lol]

the drive shafts slip yoke should extend 2.5" or 3"
Take the collar nut off the rear half and remove the little bushing inside. Spray it with lithium grease and put it under the car and re-check fitment. If the teeth are deep enough in there then reinstall the collar nut and you should be good to go.

[MJCRO]

Thanks guys, yeah I assumed extending it physically wouldn't make any sense, just wondered of the possibility. I'm a noob with driveshaft fittings, but I'll check out that slip yoke @vtec and come back with results. It's such a little distance, I hope this works

[MJCRO]

Here's a picture of mine. So when unscrewing the nut, is it just the normal lefty loosey? There's also a c-clamp on the end of the nut, holding the bushing in place I assume. Do I need to remove the clamp before the unscrewing the nut? This thing is on tight, I need to find a bigger wrench since my vice grips are just sliding off from the paint.



Also a picture from another forum.

[Vtec?lol]

yeah you've got plenty of adjustibility

it's regular old lefty loose

Use a pipe wrench on the flat hex part of the nut so you don't mar it up to bad and bent it. There's no c-clamp or anything else. Just loosen it up and stretch the shafts apart.

[MJCRO]

yeah you've got plenty of adjustibility

it's regular old lefty loose

Use a pipe wrench on the flat hex part of the nut so you don't mar it up to bad and bent it. There's no c-clamp or anything else. Just loosen it up and stretch the shafts apart.

Sweet, thanks vtec! Gonna try it out later tonight.

[MJCRO]

Just mounted it up. So slap a crap load of lithium grease on it and call it a day? I'm about 1.5" out to what I needed for it to fit, totally in love with this trick.

[Vtec?lol]

Sweet! Did you measure and make sure you have enough length for the teeth to slide in? I would mark them and check to see.