1987 drive shaft spacers

[brownbow22]

Alright so working on doing the rear drive shaft swap on the 87 ranger extended cab 4x4 with a 4 inch suspension lift, it has the msodr1 transmission.. I have a one piece drive shaft from a 1999 extended cab 4x4 ranger I'm trying to get rigged up but I'm 3 inches to short on length.. so I'm wondering if anyone knows where to get drive shaft space for the application.. or if I need to get them made at a machine shop.. I also understand I can add three inches to the drive shaft, have it extended.. any pros and cons on the 2 different methods??

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I've never heard of a spacer to lengthen drive shafts. I think it would be a real bad idea because there is too much torque being applied to the drive-line. Best is to find the correct length shaft for your needs, and if no luck finding one, take yours in to a drive-line shop and get it lengthened.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

They lengthen a shaft by removing the tube from the two ends and welding in the correct length tube. There are limits to length but i don't know numbers.

 

[brownbow22]

I think the salvage yard sent me the wrong drive shaft.. its three inches too short and according to all the other forums and articles I've look at over the days it seems like if it were the correct one it should bolt, for the most part except the few altercation.. bearing support, gas tank skid plant ect..

 

[4x4junkie]

Alright so working on doing the rear drive shaft swap on the 87 ranger extended cab 4x4 with a 4 inch suspension lift, it has the msodr1 transmission.. I have a one piece drive shaft from a 1999 extended cab 4x4 ranger I'm trying to get rigged up but I'm 3 inches to short on length.. so I'm wondering if anyone knows where to get drive shaft space for the application.. or if I need to get them made at a machine shop.. I also understand I can add three inches to the drive shaft, have it extended.. any pros and cons on the 2 different methods??

Did you mean M5OD-R1?

Double-check that, because 1987 4x4 came with a FM145, not the M5OD-R1.
If it infact does have a (swapped-in) M5OD-R1, then yes, the salvage yard likely sent you the wrong shaft.

The FM145 is 2" shorter than the M5OD-R1.