Questions about building a new driveshaft.

[team39763]

I'm tired of looking around for a stock driveshaft...I can't find one anywhere.  The one I bought a while back would work just to get me down the road, but it didn't actually fit.  The custom driveshaft shop wanted $500+(but it came with a lifetime warranty).  I can't blow that much cash on a driveshaft right now.  So I'm gonna get one built by a local welder and then have it balanced by the driveline shop.
  I found the Strange Engineering weld-on yokes with spicer style 1330 joints(U-1675).  I'm planning to get some good 3" tubing from the local hardware store and make sure it's flat/straight.  Here's my questions.
1. Are 1330 the size of U-joints our trucks come with?  - 82 C10 with 10bolt
2. Can chromoly ends be welded to mild steel tubing or do I need chromemoly tubing?
3. Will I need a new differential yoke in order to run a 3" driveshaft?
4. Does spicer style mean anything, can I just run the NAPA 1330 ujoints?

[joesgarage71]

 Just have the driveline shop lenthen the one you have now, the cheapest way out.
1-you mean 1350 joints? yes
4- spicer good brand name, NAPA has good parts too.
3-no if it will except the 1350
2-Yes

[VileZambonie]

Listen to him. You're making too much work for yourself.

[team39763]

I agree, I'm making it too hard.  I checked out shaftmasters and I think I'm gonna get them to build me a 3.5" steel driveshaft.  I considered aluminum, but I don't know about the durability when it comes to drag cars/trucks.
  So the stock u-joints are 1350?

[SUX2BU99]

I have no idea if it would work at all for you or not, but the Dakota R/T (98-03) had 4" aluminum driveshafts on them. Single piece, even on the ex-cab.

[joesgarage71]

There use to be this place that bought up used NASCAR parts in Mooresville NC, musclecarmotorsports.com I think they went out of buss. I bought a like new driveshaft from them (I was down there trucking), Spicer unit, new joints, slip yoke for my 475/400 paid 45 bucks for it took it home and had it lenthened for 60. Nope never had it balanced! My guy is so good you don't have to balance his work.
 So for $105 I had a like new 3.5" shaft for my elcamino.
  There are deals like this out there all the time you just have to look.

[team39763]

That shaftmasters place has a 3.5" chromemoly shaft for around $250, so I think I'm just gonna go with that.  I just realized how much of a hassle it would be to drive 100 miles to get a shaft lengthened and balanced, then drive back.  Rather than pay for the gas money, labor, and parts, I'll just buy this one for $250.
  I had looked into one of those aluminum Dakota shafts and even a newer van shaft, but everybody said they were too weak for drag racing.