'69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

[Jack O.]

Is it unusual for a drive shaft to not have weights or evidence any ever existed? The driveshaft of my '69 BB has none and it doesn't appear it ever did - i.e. I see no weld marks. Unfortunately I have never driven the car with the driveshaft in place since someone replaced the trans with a later model requiring a different driveshaft so I can't speak to whether it causes any vibration.
Thanks,
Jack

[Paul O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Jack

Is it unusual yes could it happen yes odds thou would be against that from happening but you never know.

[Terry M.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Jack

Is it unusual yes could it happen yes odds thou would be against that from happening but you never know.

You mean like the wheels with no balance weights on them?

[Paul O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

You mean like the wheels with no balance weights on them?

Terry he is talking about a drive shaft with zero or no balance weights attached or any marks of a weight installed.

[Terry M.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Terry he is talking about a drive shaft with zero or no balance weights attached or any marks of a weight installed.

I know what he is asking about. You said "It could happen. Not likely, but it could." And I am suggesting the chances of that are right in line with all five wheels having no balance weights on them. DUH.
Go play the lottery.

[Paul O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

DUH me no read between the lines missed that one.

[Terry M.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

DUH me no read between the lines missed that one.

I sometimes get too obtuse. It happens.

[Jack O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Seems there would be some evidence of the weights if they had been welded on but one never knows. I read the archives about balancing the drive shaft and didn't come away with an absolute answer - some concluded that one should put the drive shaft on and see if there is a vibration rather than having it balanced first. There is a shop close to me that claims to do drive shaft balancing so I'll probably give them a call. Thanks for the input everyone.
Jack

[Gary B.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Jack,

You could take the drive shaft to a drive shaft shop/fabricator who will have the equipment to check if its in balance. If it doesn't have a problem that needs correcting, I'd assume you got the 1 out xx shafts that didn't need a balance weight. As far I know, the balance weight on a drive shaft can't be seen during judging, so it's not a judging issue. If it does need a weight, it ounds like now is a good time to get it balanced since it's off the car.

Gary

[Jack O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Yep, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks.

[Jack O.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Yep, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 Drive SHaft Has No Wieghts or Weld Marks

Seems there would be some evidence of the weights if they had been welded on but one never knows. I read the archives about balancing the drive shaft and didn't come away with an absolute answer - some concluded that one should put the drive shaft on and see if there is a vibration rather than having it balanced first. There is a shop close to me that claims to do drive shaft balancing so I'll probably give them a call. Thanks for the input everyone.
Jack

Jack------


Absolutely correct. There is NO WAY that these weights are going to come off without there being some "vestige" of their once-presence.

Something else to keep in mind: these driveshafts were originally balanced as an assembly with the installed u-joints. If the u-joints are replaced, the original balance (and weights) may no longer be valid. Whenever u-joints are replaced, the assembly should be re-balanced. In fact, have a competent driveline shop install the u-joints and do the balancing. It's usually not even that expensive.