Front Driveshaft Question

[macd7919]

Hey guys, I've got a lot of help here in the past and appreciate it greatly. I have another question I'm hoping to get cleared up. Here goes:

I've got an M50D with a 1350 manual TC. The rear driveshaft fits fine but the front driveshaft is too short, I would say it's about 3 inches too short. Question is, is there a driveshaft I can purchase that will bolt up or do I need to get this one extended? The closest driveshaft shop to me is about an hour away so if I could buy one that would be much easier (and hopefully less expensive) so...anyone have any ideas? Thanks guys!

 

[macd7919]

Anyone?

 

[escort_gts]

what did the front driveshaft come out of?

 

[PlumCrazy]

Do you have a Ranger, Exploder, BII? What did the shaft come out of? Did you swap the tcase?

 

[macd7919]

Do you have a Ranger, Exploder, BII? What did the shaft come out of? Did you swap the tcase?

Oops, forgot that part, lol.

I have an 89 B2. I did the 2wd to 4wd conversion, the front shaft I have is out of a earlier gen (84-86) B2 and matches the transfer case (1350 that I got from the same 4wd donor vehicle). So basically the setup I have is:

89 B2
M50D
1350 Manual TC
Front Driveshaft from B2

I'm kind of new to this so if I'm stating this incorrectly or not answering the question just let me know.

 

[escort_gts]

the transmissions might be different lengths for the m50 and the fm146.

 

[macd7919]

the transmissions might be different lengths for the m50 and the fm146.

It may be but the original 2wd rear driveshaft bolted right up with no issue, slip fitting wasn't way out or anything it just fit really well. If the rear of the TC is in the same spot as it was with the FM trans then the front should be as well but the shaft I got is a few inches too short. Now idk if this matters but the donor vehicle had a TK transmission (I think), does the TK have a different length shaft than the FM/M5?

 

[escort_gts]

this i do know cause i have both a tk5 and an m50 sitting side by side in my garage. The tk5 is shorter by about 3inches.

 

[macd7919]

Ok, I think I see what the issue is. The donor vehicle had a TK trans which is 3" shorter than the M50 I put in. With the M50 the length is the same as the FM I took out so the rear shaft lined up just fine but the TK front driveshaft that came with the 4wd stuff is now 3" too short. So basically I need a driveshaft from an FM based B2. Does that sound correct?

 

[escort_gts]

yeah, good luck trying to find one. Been looking for one of those for a while. Might be easier to have one made, or modify one from a different vehicle.

 

[macd7919]

yeah, good luck trying to find one. Been looking for one of those for a while. Might be easier to have one made, or modify one from a different vehicle.

Really? Are they hard to find? Is there anything that identifies them or a particular model they came from?

 

[adsm08]

Do you need a slip joint front shaft or a bolt on yolk?

If you need the bolt in one you can go get it out of anything with a 4.0 from the early 90s.

I switched an FM145 to an M5OD and used the front d-shaft out of the donor explorer.

 

[escort_gts]

Do you need a slip joint front shaft or a bolt on yolk?

If you need the bolt in one you can go get it out of anything with a 4.0 from the early 90s.

I switched an FM145 to an M5OD and used the front d-shaft out of the donor explorer.

but he has a manual 1350. The 1350 has slip shaft.

 

[adsm08]

Some of the late 1350s had the bolt yoke. My t-case has the bolt yoke, it also has 1350 stamped on the front mating surface of the case.

 

[macd7919]

Some of the late 1350s had the bolt yoke. My t-case has the bolt yoke, it also has 1350 stamped on the front mating surface of the case.

Mine is an early 1350 I would believe, I want to say it's no newer than 86, at the earliest.

So if I understand this correctly, I'm looking for a shaft out of a 89-90 B2 or out of a 91-94 Explorer. Both shafts would need to be from a manual trans with manual transfer case, the Explorer shaft needs to be from a 4.0 as well.

If that's correct or someone could just list it out in layman's terms what I need that would be great, thanks a bunch! I'm looking forward to finally getting this thing back on the road!