Kyle M's Ranger Rebuild

[CheapThrillB2]

Actually that D44 when in a stock truck they are at/about 5.5* caster.

No issue with 10*, it'll just steer and return to straight better lol.

 

[Kyle M.]

I'm good with it! I built extra caster in my arms for the EB axle, didn't know there was extra in thre HP axle


Thanks for the help tonight!

 

[Kyle M.]

Ooops

Descion time. I have a doubler to put in my truck which means I need to make a new rear drive shaft, but the problem is I have a wheeling trip planned in about a month. I know I can get it put together in that amount of time, I just don't know if I wanna do a shake down on my trip. So should I do the doubler now and hope all works out or should I just repair the shaft, then have it shortened when I am fully ready to put the doubler in??

It will cost about 1 bill to do the shaft.

Give me some insite

 

[kris97ranger]

Replace it with a temporary square shaft maybe?

 

[Andres629]

Well, it sucks doing a shakedown when you go on a trip, but if you repair the shaft, you're throwing away a hundred bucks. I say doubler time... how well do you trust your work? That's basically what it boils down to.

 

[88_Eddie]

it's just a little dent, take the torch and sledgehammer to it, you'll have it straightened out in no time! lol

but seriously, how long is that? i got 2 driveshafts off of craigslist a few months ago for free, one of them is short (i need the 8.8 flange off of it) the other looks almost exactly like that and i have no plans for it. you can have it for shipping if it'll fit

the one on the left

 

[Kyle M.]

Replace it with a temporary square shaft maybe?

Would be a good idea, but I would like the rear to be balanced.

Well, it sucks doing a shakedown when you go on a trip, but if you repair the shaft, you're throwing away a hundred bucks. I say doubler time... how well do you trust your work? That's basically what it boils down to.

Yeah I trust my work, but it's the doubler I don't trust yet.

it's just a little dent, take the torch and sledgehammer to it, you'll have it straightened out in no time! lol

but seriously, how long is that? i got 2 driveshafts off of craigslist a few months ago for free, one of them is short (i need the 8.8 flange off of it) the other looks almost exactly like that and i have no plans for it. you can have it for shipping if it'll fit

the one on the left

How long is it? I will have to measure mine, but I think it is about 56" or so? Just gave me an idea, I have a old mustang shaft sitting around, maybe that on is long enough? I will have to go look at that too.

 

[RangerSVT]

Kyle, what diameter is your driveshaft?? If your not going to use it/repair it, I could use the yoke on the driveshaft end, the part that the U-joint attaches to the shaft, my ear is busted on one side and has been welded by the PO, but has welded the cap with it and I don't trust his welding by the looks of it, plus it's got a bad vibration to it above 53 mph. If your not using it, would you mind cutting it off at say 6 inches ( anything past the weld is good) and send it to me?? Let me know if your okay with it and send me your paypal...BTW, how much did it cost to have that shaft made?? A shop down here wants 3 bills for one...
SVT

 

[88_Eddie]

it's 47.5" on the dot, probably too short

 

[Kyle M.]

Kyle, what diameter is your driveshaft?? If your not going to use it/repair it, I could use the yoke on the driveshaft end, the part that the U-joint attaches to the shaft, my ear is busted on one side and has been welded by the PO, but has welded the cap with it and I don't trust his welding by the looks of it, plus it's got a bad vibration to it above 53 mph. If your not using it, would you mind cutting it off at say 6 inches ( anything past the weld is good) and send it to me?? Let me know if your okay with it and send me your paypal...BTW, how much did it cost to have that shaft made?? A shop down here wants 3 bills for one...
SVT

Right now I am gonna keep everything I have, might make spare shafts out of them. I will let you know if something changes.

I had the orginal one piece shaft retubed once, cost me $110 out the door, then I had it shortended and balanced once, cost me $63. I could have one made or repaired for you and mail it to ya if you can't get better prices.

I am now thinking of retubing one of my old shafts that is too short with some thick wall tube then just have it balanced for 40 bucks....IDK yet.

it's 47.5" on the dot, probably too short

I will go measure mine. I might want yours anyway, good for parts. I will let you know

 

[wahlstrom1]

Just get some tube, and rework it yourself. I did mine, and I've done 140kph with it and no vibe's to really worry about, and thats without balancing! Just take your time and get it as close as you can.

 

[Kyle M.]

I think I will do that just for now. I will take my stock 2 piece shaft and make it a one piece with some 2" poop pipe and run it till I feel enough motivation to do the rest of this stuff. All I have been doing for the last 6 months is working on this pig! I just wanna wheel it, lol

List of things to do:
swap in doubler
fuel cell
finish my box
cage of some sort
bucket seats and harness
inboard leaf springs
swap in FW rear axle
drive shaft skid
belly skid



aghhhh, that is a lot of stuff!

 

[86 slo-vo]

and when you get done with that list there will be a whole nother waiting...its a never ending process but it atleast keeps me interested in it

 

[Kyle M.]

Yup, your right, I just gotta keep myself paced out so I don't feel overwelmed and rush things. I wanna enjoy it and not make a job out of it. Really the only thing I am worried about right now is rear axle swap, leaf spring inboard, drive shaft and skid. I know I can get all that done in a month.

 

[CheapThrillB2]

Measure from tcase to axle flange. I have a pile of driveshafts here at the house.