Drive Shaft quesiton

[adsm08]

Ok, so I am getting ready to swap my FM145 for a M5OD. I already know that I have to switch my front shaft because the new t-case attaches to the front shaft differently.

I have an 87 Ranger super cab, 117 in (ish) wheel base, 2 piece rear shaft.

My donor is a 91 explorer, with a 1 piece rear shaft that I do have.

My question is this, will either shaft be usable in this swap as-is, or am I going to have to get one modified to work, and if so, how much and which way.

Thanks.

 

[kunar]

neither will work. get the 98+ one piece. its the right length and it removes that damn carrier bearing.

edit: if you are using the newer tcase (1354) you'll need a different front shaft, but i dont think the one from the explorer will work. it will probably be too short because the explorer had a d35 front end. your ranger has a d28 front.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, I know where there is a truck I can take the front shaft off of, I think its the right one. If not, I have acres and acres of junk yard to look through.

Are you sure that the 98+ shaft will work with the 7.5 rear? Also, I need this job to happen quick. I only have about 4 days to do it in.

 

[kunar]

Are you sure that the 98+ shaft will work with the 7.5 rear? Also, I need this job to happen quick. I only have about 4 days to do it in.

definitely. ive got an m5od and a one piece driveshaft in my 87. the only issue may be the flange on the axle end of the driveshaft, but the proper one is available, you just need to find it.

 

[adsm08]

ok, thanks. I have a good driveline guy that can get me just about anything I need. Not only was he able to get me a yoke that everyone else told me was discontinued and wholly unavailable when I snapped a u-joint a few years ago, he had the darn thing on the shelf.

Any ideas for a front shaft. I was thinking about trying to strip one out of an 88 that I know is mostly intact and in good shape. It was junked due to an electrical fire in the engine bay. It's d-shafts should be useable if they work.

 

[kunar]

ok, thanks. I have a good driveline guy that can get me just about anything I need. Not only was he able to get me a yoke that everyone else told me was discontinued and wholly unavailable when I snapped a u-joint a few years ago, he had the darn thing on the shelf.

Any ideas for a front shaft. I was thinking about trying to strip one out of an 88 that I know is mostly intact and in good shape. It was junked due to an electrical fire in the engine bay. It's d-shafts should be useable if they work.

if you are using a 1354, you need a shaft that fits a truck with a 1354 and a d28. i dont think that combination was ever used together so i really dont know what to tell ya. i used the 1350 in my truck with a shaft that came from an 87 with an automatic. i did have to do a little fab work to make my shifter fit the t-case right though. i have been told that ford made one that works with the 1350 and the m5od together, but i couldnt find it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

for a manual 1350 and M5OD look for an '87-89 4x4 2.3 ranger, that's the combo I have, but I've heard the manual shifter from a 1354 is the same as a 1350 which are out there mounted to M5OD's

if I wasn't still using my front shaft I'd sell mine to ya for cheap... in a few months once I gather the parts I'll have my 1354, D35 and exp8.8 installed so I'll have a lot of stuff available.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, I don't want to, but I might have to throw the 1350 back in for now and make it work. I'm gonna take 5 minutes to measure some stuff on the floor before I put it all back together, so I'll see what will and won't work then. If absolutely necessary I might be able to get my guy to build me something. If I show him what I'm working with he might even able to adapt one of the shafts to do what I need. I'm sure out of the 4 spare shafts I'll have at the end he can chop suey something together.