Update #3 - Took it to the drive shaft shop this morning. They say the shaft is definitely bent, was... I didn't write it down but I think he said 1000'ths off at the dent and still 40,000ths off 18 inches out from the dent. So he is going to fabricate a steel replacement. Will use my slip yoke and replace the u joints and other yokes? (again didn't write down as he was talking). He said he has done this procedure on other similar vehicles without issue.
Has anyone replaced the aluminum shaft with a steel shaft - Are there any issues with this? Other than a slight difference in weight are there any reasons not to replace it with steel?
could have been my drive shaft shop but back when I was a kid I had a drive shaft vibration and took it to a shop, they said oh yeah its bad, we will make you one. had them do it, it was worse than what I had. took it back they showed me on their balancer it was perfect. so I just used it like they for years. caused all kinds of problems. about the time forums got popular I had read that a v6 auto drive shaft was the same as a v8 manual camaro, so off to a junk yard I went. found the cleanest one I could find, maybe 20$ back them. slid it in and amazingly it was perfect. few years and 100s of nitrous passes later it got a bit back, off the the yard again.
never been to a drive shaft shop again. I file them under local starter and alternator repair shops. all a waste is time and money. it's great in theory to support small business like that till it's you're time or money lost by doing it.
when my 96 needed a drift shaft, back when I actually knew people at worked at dealers, told him to look up a oem one and grab it for me. I hate vibrations with a passion. so I'd get a oem one even if it's used over a built one from a local. I know there's big companies that will make you good ones for racing. but that even more money.