• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Custom Driveshaft


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Any good builders out there online?

Needing a goofy length, nothing really special beyond needing a typical RBV telescoping one about 55" from cross to cross.
 


Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Tom woods custom driveshafts. They do excellent work, Ive had several shafts made by them over the years. Ordering from them is really simple to. They give excellent detailed instructions on exactly how to measure everything before you order.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
Tom woods custom driveshafts. They do excellent work, Ive had several shafts made by them over the years. Ordering from them is really simple to. They give excellent detailed instructions on exactly how to measure everything before you order.
Thanks, they do have a nice site.

I would like to find a one piece shaft from an extended cab or sport-trac... Ranger ones get mangled at the JY though and ST's are scarce.

Aluminum vs steel which is better? Can have either shortened if I can snag one?
 

Bird76Mojo

Well-Known Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
2,633
Reaction score
1,264
Points
113
Location
IL
Engine Type
V8
Aluminum vs steel which is better? Can have either shortened if I can snag one?
A competent shop can shorten and balance either one. I had my Explorer Limited aluminum shaft shortened and balanced locally for a little over $100 for my 1987 V8/T5 truck.



GB :)
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,991
Reaction score
2,794
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
Same - I had shafts shortened and modified for front and rear. $225 cut and balanced with new Spicer u joints.
 

donaldcon

Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
265
Reaction score
19
Points
18
Age
38
Location
Lancaster, Oh
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
I shorten mine myself. If i need a longer one o source a to long one from junkyard and shorten it

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I shorten mine myself. If i need a longer one o source a to long one from junkyard and shorten it

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
That is proving difficult, the yards around me move vehicles with payloaders and the rear dirveshafts always takes a nasty beating.

They are up inside the frame more on an Explorer, they seem to survive better, in my research a Sport Trac is the same length as an scab Ranger.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
I dont know how the yards operate in your area (our yards destroy driveshafts too) but I have called before and said "hey i need this shaft can you pull one before you move the truck with the loader". They have always been nice and called me back when the right truck came in. I have to pay an extra 20 bucks since they pulled the part though. Might be worth a shot to call...
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I dont know how the yards operate in your area (our yards destroy driveshafts too) but I have called before and said "hey i need this shaft can you pull one before you move the truck with the loader". They have always been nice and called me back when the right truck came in. I have to pay an extra 20 bucks since they pulled the part though. Might be worth a shot to call...
I outta try that.

I live an hour away from them but they get a lot of later model supercabs in.

For ofrroading which one is better? It looks like the aluminum ones are pretty popular from the factory.
 
Last edited:

4x4junkie

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
10,749
Reaction score
580
Points
113
Location
So. Calif (SFV)
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Bronco II
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9L V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
35x12.50R15
The steel ones already seem to have an affinity for rubbing up against the fuel tank & it's skid plate when the suspension is flexed, the aluminum ones are even larger diameter still.

For that reason alone I'd look for a steel one over aluminum.

(not sure if one can be custom-built to a smaller diameter due to it's length, but if so, that'd be an even better way to go if much offroad use is in the cards)
 
Last edited:

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
I dont know how the yards operate in your area (our yards destroy driveshafts too) but I have called before and said "hey i need this shaft can you pull one before you move the truck with the loader". They have always been nice and called me back when the right truck came in. I have to pay an extra 20 bucks since they pulled the part though. Might be worth a shot to call...
Asked them today and they said no. :annoyed:

The steel ones already seem to have an affinity for rubbing up against the fuel tank & it's skid plate when the suspension is flexed, the aluminum ones are even larger diameter still.

For that reason alone I'd look for a steel one over aluminum.

(not sure if one can be custom-built to a smaller diameter due to it's length, but if so, that'd be an even better way to go if much offroad use is in the cards)
I don't have a skidplate on the fuel tank, really my powertrain is pretty short and the driveshaft is headed downhill well before the fuel tank.



From what I could tell on them between an '03 with a steel shaft and a '98 with an aluminum shaft the shafts themselves are about the same diameter, the ends taper a bit more on the steel one though. Note how the major OD of the driveshaft compares with the yoke:





I do like how the older aluminum shaft looks compared to the steel one though...
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
For a trail truck sure. I would probably just use PTO shafting though, probably cheaper and plug and play. I don't have the stuff to make sure it is all aligned correctly or balance it though.

For as stupid common as these trucks are and given than I am after a shaft for about the most common configuration (extended cab 4x4) it can't be that hard to sneak up on one. Then it is about $50 to have it shortened and I am done.
 

4x4junkie

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
10,749
Reaction score
580
Points
113
Location
So. Calif (SFV)
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Bronco II
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9L V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
35x12.50R15
That shaft doesn't look at all like the one we put into a friend's '93 SC... His has the same diameter (about 4" dia. IIRC) it's entire length. It was said to have come from a '99 Ranger (my brother's '98 4.0L also has the same shaft as well). It's definitely smaller than the aluminum shaft.

We trimmed the hell out of the skid plate... it rubs against the tank's mounting bracket now (but fortunately not the tank itself).

He has 6" lift springs (Skyjacker FR36) + shackles on it, so just by looking at things you'd think it would never hit, but it does (happens when the driverside rear suspension is stuffed upward).

I would say try to get someone with a forklift to pick the right-front tire up off the ground until another tire lifts up as well, and check your clearances (lifting the right-front will cause the rear suspension to twist more than if you just pick it up at the LR).
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,213
Reaction score
17,528
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
That shaft doesn't look at all like the one we put into a friend's '93 SC... His has the same diameter (about 4" dia. IIRC) it's entire length. It was said to have come from a '99 Ranger (my brother's '98 4.0L also has the same shaft as well). It's definitely smaller than the aluminum shaft.

We trimmed the hell out of the skid plate... it rubs against the tank's mounting bracket now (but fortunately not the tank itself).

He has 6" lift springs (Skyjacker FR36) + shackles on it, so just by looking at things you'd think it would never hit, but it does (happens when the driverside rear suspension is stuffed upward).

I would say try to get someone with a forklift to pick the right-front tire up off the ground until another tire lifts up as well, and check your clearances (lifting the right-front will cause the rear suspension to twist more than if you just pick it up at the LR).
Do any two trucks actually have the same kind of driveshafts?

Holy cow. Had steel forever, went to aluminum back to steel but now we have different diameter steel shafts. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top