Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 12/8/2004

Question
I have a 64 chevy ss/409 and the drive shaft is making a lot of noise, I was told it is the  U - joints . Can you tell me if it is hard to do myself ?

Answer
hi moe, did some one put that motor in that car as I did not know that 409 motors were used in 64 as 389s and 409s were in earlier years. or I might be wrong ?? well any way as 63 and 64 chevys have a two pc. drive shaft. and You must know what you are doing when you do install the u-joints as you will drop the needle bearings all over as they have to be pressed in / so for you to remove it I can say if you never did it before you could do it but I recomend that you have someone that is qualafied as there are a few things that you must know as the pinion nut should be re-tourqed and the car has a two pc. shaft and you must  un-do the center part also and it is a bit trickey so I advise that you take it out and than take it to a shop so the new joints can be pressed on to it. and than when you put it on put it back the same way you took it off as you should mark it  and a spot under the car so it will go back the same way as some are balanced so put it in the same way it was taken out and you will be just fine. tighten the u-joints tight but not over tight as you will strip them. and toruqe the  big nut pinion . NOTE when you have the new joints on the shaft do not pull off the end caps if you do so the needle beerings will fall out than you will be in a lot of trouble. so if I were you I would put a pc of masking tape on them if the shop dosent do it first you can leave it on when you install it as they will only rot away.
good luck
roger