65 American Driveshaft?

I don't know how to disconnect the driveshaft from the rear end on my 65 Rambler American. It's not a torque tube setup. It almost looks like it screws out of the pinion. If anybody can tell me what to do or I'm just not seeing something please let me know.  I would appreciate it. I haven't tried to disconnect it. All I did was look at it and say " What The He** Is That" and moved on to something else to work on.

Crap that sucks! Thanks Ray for the heads up. The driveshaft is bent slightly so it has to come out to be straightened. My machinist friend can straighten the thing on a lathe for nothing but that figures that I would pay for it somewhere else. I'll save that job for later. Do you think it would be Ok when I'm done putting it back together to tighten the big nut as much as I can then drive it to a big rig truck shop to have it tightened to spec?

ramblinfsj, Ray, there's good news! The "big nut" doesn't have to be touched to get the driveshaft out!

1. Jack the car up in the back and support the axle. Not the body, must be the axle! If you support the body the axle moves forward just enough to bind the driveshaft in.

2. Disassemble the u-joint. It's a bit tight, but with the trans in neutral it can be done. Take the clips and caps off the yoke that's on the axle then turn the cross and drop the shaft.

3. Install is the reverse, of course.


I learned this from an old Rambler service guy. Done it many times! That yoke on the pinion must be installed at a certain distance from the axle and then the tightness as well. The pinion shaft and inside the yoke must be clean and grease free. The car can sling the driveshaft out if it isn't clean and tight. Found that out the hard way! Vibration and starting/stopping will work it forward over a short time, allowing it to sling out when the suspension flexes and increases the space between the trans and rear axle. Slinging out in the back isn't really traumatic, just annoying after the first time or two. Took me a while to get the nut tight enough the first time I removed it.

If you need a driveshaft I have one from a 65 American I am parting out.  It looks good.  I'll sell it for $25 plus shipping.  BTW the big nut was used on the 1966 Americans which had the 199 engine too.  I have dealt with one before and unbolted the rear end like farna suggested.  It's a pain but can be done.  PM me if you want the driveshaft.

Ugh. I'm in the same predicament.  I need to drop the tranny to get at the clutch, and I'm waiting for my repair manual to arrive, but I'm just tackling it right now and got a little lost on how to get the drive shaft out.  :(  I need new bushings anyways, maybe just unbolt the rear end anyways, maybe cut the springs a tad, remove a leaf.