I think I see what you're saying. I'll add it to the "and for my next project..." lol!
Well, back in the shop and I got quite a bit done in one day. (well two days if you include tracking my fuel issue.
Long story short, every once in a while the pump wouldn't bzzzt for a second when you first turn on the key. Of course it wouldn't start and I thought it was the connector on the tank because I was messing with it. Anyway, rely is clicking fine, I have 4.4 volts to the pump harness at the tank. After digging, I find the roll over protection switch has been removed and the wires soldered together. (actually I was impressed, most just twist them together) Anyway, a bit of diagnosing and I had a relay with bad contacts inside.
Next, put the donkey on the hoist and pulled the driveshaft off and cut it;
Cut another driveshaft I had here and slide one inside the other. Both had 3 1/2" high yokes so I clamped them on a piece of angle iron to get them as close as I could and shimmed so its really close to perfect.
I timed both the yokes and the grease nipples so I could grease without turning the driveshaft....yes I'm anal....
I also pulled the crossmember out since I won't be using it anymore.
Bolted it back in and that's when I realised there are two different flange sizes. No real problem, but I wanted the slip joint to be up by the t-case, not at the rear end. Total length flangeto flange is 46 1/2".
Another fine picture by my potato.....
Of course once it was all together, I greased it up, and since I had the grease gun out, did the rest of the truck. But nothing is easy, I had to replace some grease nipples in the front end before I could finish. (of course)