School me on driveshafts

[1984RESTOMOD]

1984 single cab long bed frame with D35 and 8.8 flat flange. 302>ZF5>BW4406. What vehicles will have a compatible driveshaft and if none where do I measure from to get one made?

 

[franklin2]

That is going to be a very short driveshaft compared to others. If you keep searching and searching, you may find one close enough.

On measuring the shaft, find a shop that does it first. They will tell you how they would like for you to measure. It most likely will be cheaper for you to bring the slip yoke or flange to fit the transfer case, and bring the flange for the rearend. And then bring a shaft that is too long and they can cut that one down to fit.

If your transfer case has a flat flange, they will have to put a slip yoke in the shaft itself. It has to grow longer and shorter as you go over bumps in the road.

P.S. Depending on what the shop says, they may want you to install the slip yoke half-way in the the transfer case, and bolt the flange piece on the rearend, and measure from yoke to yoke. You will have to wait and see what they want.

 

[1984RESTOMOD]

If you keep searching and searching, you may find one close enough.

Where does shaft diameter fit in the conversation? Aluminum or steel?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I think it’s mostly preference for shaft diameter and material. Wall thickness will probably matter more. I think 98+ Rangers all had 4” diameter rear shafts. My lowered 2000 with the 302/4R70w/AWD t-case and doing the Explorer 8.8” as spring under required taking about 1.5” out of my stock shaft and a different flange. I tracked down and bought a flange, cut out what I needed from the shaft, welded it back together as best I could, and had a driveline shop balance it out. I was a little off perfect, but the shop was able to do a little tweaking and make it work. Stock rear driveshaft thickness is actually surprisingly thin, less than 1/16” thick I want to say. If you’re gonna be rock crawling, you’ll want a thicker shaft.

 

[superj]

I think tom woodd is a favorite jeep drive shaft maker on the forums. Wrangler rear driveshafts are like 16 or 20 inches long so if you need short, look at those.

And lots of wrangler guys get cherokee front shafts and cut them down