[Bob Carriere]

HI Alex.

Those enclosed driveshaft tubes a much more avaialble here in North America and they regularly come up on Rbay as NOS stock.

Around here any young hot rodder who installs a large V8 in an old GM truck usually scraps the enclosed tube/driveshaft system as being too weak ofr larger engines.

I have a complete 1940 Chev one ton truck that has the complete power train. It is in bad rusted condition. Crawling underneath it has the same 4 speed tranny as a CMP...... left hand bellhousing clutch..... and fully enclosed driveshaft. It would not be difficult to replace the rear cover of the civvy 40 model with the open system of the CMP. A new driveshaft and suitable yokes and u-joints could be found to fit the new set up.

The ease of doing the conversion is demostrated by other C8 owners who have done exactly that.

Too bad the NOS parts here in North America are so heavy to ship overseas.

I would not trust the welded joint in your truck. To get your truck on the road you could do the conversion and at a later date if you ever find all the parts needed for the original set up..... replace the parts......to return to original set up. All of which can probably done from underneath the truck.

Good luck.

Bob C