V8 Driveshaft help

[DeanMLFlame]

We've got and 84 Std Ranger with a 302, C-4, and a 7.5" rear end..the driveshaft has to be shortened we know that...We need to know what model, make and year slip yoke will fit our factory Ranger driveshaft (original trans was a C-3 if that helps) what driveshaft have you guys used that will work for us...as far and slip yokes and differential yokes..anything!

 

[carcraft302]

Drive shaft

I have a C4. I got a Yoke from a parts store. Went and talked to the folks at master fabricator, Measured the distances as they told me, took the old drive shaft and yoke in. Got hooked up with a drive shaft in about 20 min!

 

[DeanMLFlame]

so basically any C-4 yoke from any year or vehicle should drop right onto my driveshaft?

 

[Teddyzee]

I used my stock Ranger driveshaft and yoke. It was the same as the Mustang T5, 28 spline, I guess.

I don't know off the top of my head if the older trucks were different, but have you tried your stock yoke?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

From researching working on putting my 8.8 in my truck I learned that older (90 and older according to the article) have smaller u-joints than 90+ trucks.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.html

 

[Mac]

Surprising that the C-4 and the T-5 do indeed share the same yoke, maybe the AOD also. For the rear lange you can upgrade the pinion flange to use the larger u-joints. Denny's drive shaft has the part to use for under $35. Driveshaft length is always a hit or miss, too many variables like engine placement.
Dave

 

[DeanMLFlame]

yeah we tried the stock one but it was too small...so we went to the junkyard and got one from a mid 80's truck so it was probaly an AOD it was the right spline count but the hole the overal width was 1" wider so it won't swap onto the driveshaft we've got...I just read the link for the 8.8" explorer axle and from what i got...the '90 or newer shaft should be able to work for our C-4 with no modifications?...except for shortening of course! Am i right?

 

[Mac]

I had to go back and look at your first post, you did say a C-3, I was thinking C-5. The C-3 was only used in the Ranger I think for the first year. Uusally it was found on 4 cyl Pintos and such so it would have had way too small a yoke and u-joints. Think you are headed in the right direction.
Dave

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

yeah we tried the stock one but it was too small...so we went to the junkyard and got one from a mid 80's truck so it was probaly an AOD it was the right spline count but the hole the overal width was 1" wider so it won't swap onto the driveshaft we've got...I just read the link for the 8.8" explorer axle and from what i got...the '90 or newer shaft should be able to work for our C-4 with no modifications?...except for shortening of course! Am i right?

The pinion flange on your rear axle would be too small for a later shaft though. To change that you have to mess with your rear axle, not a real causal thing.

If you want to look for the small yoke a truck later than yours but earlier than a '90 is what you want. I don't know how anything compares 4wd to 2wd though, but that may be another option too.

Something off a fullsize with a AOD would be bigger than the little u-joint the put in a 80's Ranger.

 

[DeanMLFlame]

ok...so here's an idea that was passed around...We grabbed a correct fitting yoke off a fullsize truck but it was too big for the driveshaft...the shaft it came off of necked down to 3" (i think) at the weld seam(same as the ranger shaft) so is it possible to have my machine guy swap the ends of the driveshaft since he said they're press fit plugs then welded?...that way nothing changes for the rear and the front will fit?

 

[huntin_muddin_91]

I got x-cab 92 it come w a carrier bearing i eliminated that, used a longbed x-cab f series slip shaft (just so i knew i had plenty) likily i have a spring and driveshaft shop local, took it to them they guarenteed the work, took the yolks w/ a center to center of yolk measurement they guarenteed a even weld for balance reasons i got my shaft the next day w/ matching u joints for around 60/80 bucks could of been cheaper but i wanted spicer compared to neapco joints. good luck

 

[Mac]

When I earlier mentioned Denny's driveshaft, this is what I was talking about for the rear end connection. It bolts to your small pattern and lets you use either the 1310 or 1330 u-joint, not knowing which one you have.
Dave
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p26...oke_fits_ford_7.5_and_8.8_inch_rear_ends.html

 

[jmcleek]

Why not go to the junk yard get the rear shaft from a early 90s Explorer,tube size I think is the same,and the rear "U" joint should match a ful size truck yolk if you are going to shorten the shaft any way?
If you have a 2 peice shaft is both tubes the same size?

 

[Teddyzee]

Explorer shafts are way too short for a Ranger Supercab.

My stock (two piece) driveshaft was near 69" from the center of each ujoint. I know that's not the standard place to measure, but it suite my purpose.

I replaced it with a one piece aluminum shaft from a 2008 ranger Supercab manual trans 2wd coil spring truck, exact length.
I positioned my engine with the driveshaft connected, to avoid the need for any modifications. And yes I have an Explorer shaft here to compare.

On topic, the Fox Mustangs guys often re-drill the pinion flange for the larger bolt patter. wonder if there is enough meat on your flange to drill the new patter, and use a later Ranger/Explorer/Mustang/F150 driveshaft flange for the rear of the driveshaft? When I've seen this done, they did not tap threads into the flange, but use nuts and bolts to hold it together. Just a thought.

 

[jmcleek]

Sorry, didn't explain well enougth, the idea was to use the welded in yolk from one shaft to replace the one on the ranger shaft if the tube size was the same thus replacing the smaller "U" joint with a larger one.





















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