66 Riv driveline blues

New to this forum. Name’s Mike. Got a 66 Riviers GS, been in the family since ‘69. Wife’s grandfather bought it, was his pride and joy. Was a love hate relationship. From the get go, had problems with the rear end, was in and out of the dealership several times, never fully corrected and is still to this day is not correct. Currently not having any luck finding correct shims to set up rear end. Pinion’s running too shallow. Probably going to need carrier shims after pinion depth is set. Another problem which reared it’s head, driveshaft is damn near impossible to get balanced. It’s the factory shaft with the rubber isolation in the tail shaft. Is there any way to eliminate/replace this? Thanks

 

Honed out large pinion bearing for setting up. Already sent back several shim sets because of wrong application.

 

Kinda like this one? I just did this one for another member on here. Original 3:42 posi. I believe this one is for a few years later car.

 

Brian, Need to get some shims to set up rear end. Keep getting sent the wrong ones. Where can I get a set.

 

Last time my Rivs shaft was in the shop I have them eliminate that 2 piece rear section and replace with a solid tube. My car has always had a slight vibration and I've just learned to live with it.

 

Local dealership was the only one in this before I opened it up. Washer for bearing cap floating around in there!

 

I’m trying to do just that, but machine shop is reluctant to do it. Other than machining a pilot to receive the tube, is there any other mods needed to do it?

 

Take it to a driveshaft shop. Not the local machine shop. Place I used was in Jacksonville

 

It is a driveline specialty shop, which makes it more difficult to understand.

 

You need 1.875 pinion shims.
Mopar 489 case has them
I can help with any GM rebuild kit from 1955 and newer application. Full size Mid size H body...etc.
Just PM me or Brian...I am sure we can wipe something up.
Jim
JD Race

 

Jim, Went down a rabbit hole, come up with an online company called, ratechmfg.com, they sell rear end shim kits by size. Ended up there late last night. Check their site out.

 

Holding the rabbit. These are the pinion shims that I use.

 

Brian, Got my shims ordered up. Any idea where to get a cardan joint centering kit, believe a Moog mog-603 is what I need.

 

Like I said I have them laying around from other kits. You only use 1-2 shims to do a job so i have extras. I rarely buy anything anymore after 30+ years of working on rears.
See Brian Whipped something right up.
Mine would not have a part number as I have them left over from doing Mopar 489 kits. Jim

 

I had to figure it out years ago and so I researched the different OD/ID dimensions of shims,to see what would work with the larger Buick pinion. I believe they are intended or advertised as Mopar shims. I hung onto the part number since it works.