1992gen1_fan

Hi, the other day looking under my truck I got to thinking why could'nt I move the carrier bearing (in the rear drive line) into the center of the cross member? That would give the drive shaft a strait shot and would maybe easier on the u-joints. i also noticed how close the center u-joint is to the fuel tank, there is rub marks on the tank where something had tangled on the u-joint and had been hitting it.

Can this be done without shortening the drive shaft? Has anyone else done this?? Thanks