Drive shaft length

[steveoelo]

this might sound stupid but anyone know if I can use a 2wd automatic drive shaft in a manual (mazda M50d) 2wd?

 

[RonD]

No, 2WD automatic drive shaft will be about 3" shorter than 2WD manual trans.
And regular cab or extended cab matters as well but still a 3" difference.

I think the 4WD drive shafts were the same, to make the front drive shafts the same, the 3" difference was made up for in the 4WD tail shaft housings for the Auto and Manual transmissions, but regular/extended cab rear drive shaft would still be different length, not front drive shaft

 

[4x4junkie]

Not only that, but the output spline size I recall is different between auto & manual 2WD transmissions too.

You need to find a driveshaft from a M5OD truck the same body as yours.