Teaching myself a new skill

[HalvinSeggs]

Hello everyone, I’m currently diving deep into restoring an 84 ranger 2.3L XL. I am stuck on the driveshaft/slip yoke. I’ve been researching for the last week or so and have yet to come across any information that will lead me to finding the one that fits into my transmission. I saw on a thread on here that the 84 ranger d/s length should be 57”. The transmission is E47A7003F7 with male 25 spline output shaft. Is there anyone that can point me in the right direction. Any other year ranger I can pull one off at a junk yard? eBay? Third party vendors? I’m stuck. Thanks in advance.

 

[superj]

welcome!!

once some of hte other guys get on, they can tell you all kinds of stuff to help. i know nothing but am glad to see another person enjoying their ranger

 

[HalvinSeggs]

Thanks! I hope so

 

[don4331]

OK, there would be 2 driveshaft lengths in '83 to '85 2wd Rangers - one for the 6' box (>90%) and one for the 7' box (other <10%). ('86-88 Rangers get a 3rd for the Supercab)

Rangers were design so that both the automatic and manual transmissions ended at the same location. And all stock 2wd Rangers have the same 25 splines on their slip yoke. So, transmission doesn't matter. There is some variance with the size of u-joints (but that can be addressed if required).

If you only need slip joint, salvage yards are great. If you're looking for complete d/s, you will need to be careful - they often lift the truck on the d/s and so bend it.

Good luck

 

[HalvinSeggs]

OK, there would be 2 driveshaft lengths in '83 to '85 2wd Rangers - one for the 6' box (>90%) and one for the 7' box (other <10%). ('86-88 Rangers get a 3rd for the Supercab)

Rangers were design so that both the automatic and manual transmissions ended at the same location. And all stock 2wd Rangers have the same 25 splines on their slip yoke. So, transmission doesn't matter. There is some variance with the size of u-joints (but that can be addressed if required).

If you only need slip joint, salvage yards are great. If you're looking for complete d/s, you will need to be careful - they often lift the truck on the d/s and so bend it.

Good luck

Thank you. This is incredibly helpful. I did notice one driveshaft I was going to take from a scrapyard having a dent in it. Didn’t put two and two together until I read a comment about that on here. Makes sense. I ordered a driveshaft off eBay and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to work bc it is only 42 5/16” long and even though I’ve taken the engine/trans out of the truck, I measured from the dif to where about the back of the trans would be and it’s definitely longer than that but oh well, I’ll just return it.

So, my fears were correct, I’m just going to have to wait to find an 83-85 6’ bed XL to pop up in a scrap yard near me and hope the d/s and spline are there and intact.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Wheelbase length is only part of it, transmissions we're all over the place for length too.

 

[HalvinSeggs]

Wheelbase length is only part of it, transmissions we're all over the place for length too.

Yes that seems to be the case. So many variations of the Toyo kogyo transmissions and I just happen to have what seems to be the rarest one. So that being said, do I search for a new trans with the driveshaft attached in your opinion?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yes that seems to be the case. So many variations of the Toyo kogyo transmissions and I just happen to have what seems to be the rarest one. So that being said, do I search for a new trans with the driveshaft attached in your opinion?

Longer driveshsft that will connect between your trans and diff... $75-150 at a driveline shop to shorten it and balance it.

That is exactly what I did with my V8 swap.

 

[HalvinSeggs]

Longer driveshsft that will connect between your trans and diff... $75-150 at a driveline shop to shorten it and balance it.

That is exactly what I did with my V8 swap.

Forgive my ignorance if I should know this but what longer driveshaft should I be on the lookout for? From only an 83 to 85 ranger?

 

[don4331]

Wheelbase was increased in '98+ Rangers = longer driveshafts.

 

[HalvinSeggs]

Wheelbase was increased in '98+ Rangers = longer driveshafts.

So I can pull d/s from rangers up to ‘97? Am I misunderstanding

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Forgive my ignorance if I should know this but what longer driveshaft should I be on the lookout for? From only an 83 to 85 ranger?

One that fits your transmission and rear pinion. Could be out of a Toyota. If it goes from A to B that is all you really need. Then just have it cut down to fit.

My driveline is way shorter than it was originally. My rear axle is swapped too. So I found a driveshaft out of a later Supercab Ranger that would fit on my transfer case and swapped rear axle and had it cut down.