Overdrive drive shaft?

[bluemg]

I have a drive shaft, when fully extended it is 32 inches from flange to flange. When collapsed it is 30 inches. I'm I correct in assuming that this is the drive shaft for a rubber bumper, tube type rear end, with overdrive ?

 

[PAUL161]

To my knowledge, there's no difference in drive shaft length for overdrive transmissions in rubber or chrome cars. I doubt it, but it's possible that the early OD units were shorter. I don't know that for a fact. PJ

 

[rick_ingram]

To my knowledge, there's no difference in drive shaft length for overdrive transmissions in rubber or chrome cars. I doubt it, but it's possible that the early OD units were shorter. I don't know that for a fact. PJ

x2

 

[CZ_Dave]

Never noticed a difference in length. I have installed overdrive trans in some of my cars and still use the same driveshaft.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

All can be interchanged

Marv

 

[David_DuBois]

Interesting. Moss lists three different drive shaft lengths,
DRIVE SHAFT ASS'Y., 30" std. banjo type axle
DRIVE SHAFT ASS'Y., 31.125", std., O/D tubed type axle, RD/GT from (c)138401on
DRIVE SHAFT ASS'Y., 32" O/D tubed type axle, RD/GT to (c)138400
Why do you suppose they do that if they are all interchangeable?
Cheers,

 

[PAUL161]

As usual, Dave has a good point. Researching this for my own curiosity, Here's what I came up with.

MGBs before Nov.1967 to #138400, took the Moss 268-100, 32" shaft. Indicates with OD

After Nov.1967 from #138401, took the Moss 268-090, 31.125 shaft, std & OD

All MGBs with banjo rears, takes the Moss 268-080, 30" shaft.

There's a slight misunderstanding here on my part, as I read, all MGBs prior to 1968 had banjo rears, yet Moss states that numbers proceeding 138400, 1967 back, takes a 32" shaft and banjo rear cars takes a 30" shaft. A little confusing to this old brain. Maybe one of you fellows can make a little more sense out of this. PJ

 

[bluemg]

The reason I asked is my 79 B with a standard 4 speed has a 32 inch shaft, which appears that it has been running tightly compressed.
I am installing a 72 O/D transmission, and measured the O/D shaft (from the 72) and was surprised to find that was also 32 inches expanded, and the same when compressed.
Then I read the Moss catalog, which Dave and Paul pointed out, and became totally confused.
However with so many thinking the shafts are interchangeable it doesn't sound like a fatal error to intermix them.

 

[billspohn]

All MGB GTs had the late style rear axle while the convertibles continued the banjo style diff until 1968.

The early non-synch transmissions were 1 1/8" shorter in OD form and thus needed the longer driveshaft.