Another Build Thread - My '32

[J. Robinson]

Finally! Now I put the drive shaft in the chassis and bolt the rear U-joint into the rear end yoke. I clamped a piece of 1/16 x 1" aluminum strap to the truck arm to use as an indicator. (You could use about anything, wooden slat, heavy wire, etc.) If you have one, you could use a dial indicator, but it isn't necessary.

With the transmission in neutral and one rear wheel off the floor (both wheels if you have a posi rear), I rotate the wheel slowly while watching the shaft. If it's out of alignment (it was... slightly) it will show by touching the indicator on one side, leaving a scratch, and having clearance on the opposite side. Turn the "high" side to the top and rap it with a hammer (Not too hard! It moves fairly easily.). Try to hit it where the yoke and tube come together; hitting just on the tube will dent it and ruin the shaft. Keep turning the wheel/shaft and tapping with the hammer until it's perfect. Take your time - this is the most critical part of the entire process. You may need to move the indicator a few times to get a new scratch line. When you have it as near perfect as possible, put a tack weld opposite that first one. Now check it again. If anything moved, adjust it again with the indicator and hammer. If/when it's perfect put a third tack weld somewhere between the first two and check again. It should be good to go by now, but if anything moved fix it. If you have 4 tack-welds on it and it's still straight and true, weld it solid all the way around.

The last step is replacing the balance weight we removed earlier. After reshaping it a bit with a hammer and vise, I aligned it with the scuff line I made earlier and put 3 small tack-welds on it. We can call this one done.