2.3 man driveshaft vs. v6 man driveshaft

[Cutlass327]

Anyone know what the difference would be? Finding a drive shaft for my 4 cylinder with m5od is next to impossible, so would one from a v6 with m5od fit? If not, what's the difference??

[Foolee]

the only difference is length, go check out a 98+ ranger driveshaft in the boneyard and get your self a aluminum one.

http://therangerstation.com/Magazine/June04/offroad.htm

[RacinGas]

Some 92+ Rangers came with aluminum driveshafts, the 92 STX we have has a 8.8 and aluminum driveshaft.

[jareeb]

so is there a ranger with an aluminum driveshaft that will fit on a stock 2.3l 94 ranger?

[Skyy_4life]

so is there a ranger with an aluminum driveshaft that will fit on a stock 2.3l 94 ranger?

if the length is correct.

[beluga420]

I've been told the end of the yoke that goes into the transmission are not the same size for the 98+ trucks...

[jareeb]

if the length is correct.

okay. well for some bull sh*t reason wi is getting a ton of rain so im gona have to wait to go to the junkyard :(

[RacinGas]

Where you located at jareeb? we got a shit load too

[Cutlass327]

Foolee, thx for the link. It's just too bad that the article is for 4wd.. the 2wd supercab (like mine) wasn't as informative - It didn't tell me what I wanted to know, what to bolt into my 88 supercab with 2.3l/M5od...

Main thing I wanted to know was if I was to get a v6 2pc, would it fit in place of mine? I have the rubber donut instead of a front u-joint, and it is starting to give in to the excessive tq it wasn't designed for..

[Skyy_4life]

best bet would be go onto the ranger station and see if the splines on them are the same for the years. we have one in pull a part here in a 3rd gen ext cab. and same trans, so im assuming they will work depending on the year.

[fordnut71]

cutlass i would go to a drive shaft shop an have a 1 piece made up. bring them the old shaft an have them use the ends you need. all you should have to do is cut out the hanger bracket between the frame rails. just check your pinion an tranny angles to see if they are in phase.

[Cutlass327]

I was just kinda hoping to hear the v6 had larger U-joints and no rubber donut, and bolt right in....

[RacinGas]

Could you post up your drive-shaft length and ill try to jump under and see how long the one in the M50D long wheelbase STX we have is. I doubt I'll be able to drop it and check the splines without getting a rouse from the old man.

[fordnut71]

isnt the mustang shaft a drop in for the ex cab trucks? i thought it was a straight drop in.

[RacinGas]

Now that you mention it I have heard that before.

[Foolee]

best bet would be go onto the ranger station and see if the splines on them are the same for the years. we have one in pull a part here in a 3rd gen ext cab. and same trans, so im assuming they will work depending on the year.


Pretty much all Ford transmissions use a 28 spline yoke. Not all 28 spline yokes are make equal though. I bought a 03" extended cab aluminum shaft and had it shortened. The yoke on the new shaft was 1/2" longer so the machinist made my custom shaft 1/2" shorter center to center. Apparently 2WD Explorer shafts are a direct bolt in though for 2WD Regular cab/short box rangers. the only trans that are different are the larger HD transmissions like the C6 which are 31 spline.

[Cutlass327]

Well, since I don't have a front u-joint I measured from the rear of the transmission housing to the center of the pinion u-joint and got 72 inches. Anyone know about the mustang shaft length?

[Cutlass327]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h65/Cutlass327/IMG_20110625_165829.jpg

That is the rubber donut I am trying to get rid of, besides the little steering column sized u-joints..

[fordnut71]

wtf is that thing, never have i seen 1 of them.
fox body mustang uses a 45.5" drive shaft measured at the u joints.

[RacinGas]

Just got around to reading your, post will try to climb underneath the truck tomorrow and check it out. If you were near here and a 95' 2 piece would fit I'd just give it to you has a brand new carrier and u-joints in it I changed out last winter.

Is that a 1 piece driveshaft? if it is that rubber donut there is from the inside of a balancer. The 98 had one and dad slung it off at the boat launch a 4000rpm clutch dump broke the rubber in-between the drive-shaft and the outer metal weight. Unless it is vibrating the drive-line I'd just leave it alone.

Also found this pretty neat thread on TRS
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1051346

[Cutlass327]

No, it's a 2pc. that is what they used in the place of a front u-joint, it is to help reduce driveline vibrations in the 4 cyl models I guess. I was reading on TF where I think it is the XR4TI uses them too. Mine is starting to tear, and I've already wiped out 2 u-joints in this truck. I'll try to remember to get a pic of the u-joint beside a tape measure this weekend of the last failed one. They are tiny..

[Foolee]

go to the boneyard, get a 1 piece aluminum shaft and a 92' 4.0 8.8" and get her done. ;)

[Cutlass327]

Tempting, but finding anything pre-99 anymore is getting harder around here... scrap prices..

[fordnut71]

try
car-parts.com

[jareeb]

what years do the 1 piece aluminum shaft come out of and would the drop right into a stock 94 ranger 2.3l?