Ranger Driveshaft Lengths i to i

[yellowoctupus]

I'm looking for a 47-47.5" driveshaft and have finally found one. As anyone knows who has parused the internet for 'Driveshaft Length Charts' or anything similar knows, it's almost impossible to even find ballpark info on general driveshaft lengths. So, after crawling under just over 50 Cars, trucks etc at the local Upull, I found that a 1995 2wd 2.3 Ranger has the correct length driveshaft at 47.5". I'm having one helluva time finding one at the yard that isn't all dented up from the oafish forklift drivers at the yard. (I measured the D/S from the center of the two U joint bearing caps. Not weld to weld. I saw a bunch online measured weld to weld. WTF.

What other years should be compatible? Are there other 47.5" D/S that I missed that might have larger U joints? (the one I measured had 1310's)

Thanks for your help!!

 

[adsm08]

4 things

1) Any year 2wd Ranger after 1988 that had that same body setup and wheelbase should have the drive shaft you want.

2) Forklift damage is the reason 75% of junkyards don't even list drive shafts in their catalogs.

3) Measuring weld to weld is the standard method, not measuring from the center of the cap holes like you did.

4) If you buy one of the damaged ones you found it should cost less than $100 and take maybe 2 or 3 hours to have it re-tubed at a local machine or drive line shop.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Transmission makes a difference too. Auto trans are like 3" longer.

-PlumCrazy

 

[yellowoctupus]

Autos are LONGER? I thought it was the other way around? Obviously, I should have paid more attention to bed length and ext cab vs. regular cab. (I forgot to write it down on my notes on a most of them... d'oh!)

Here's just the Ranger/Exploder ones I measured the other day:
(note, these are VERY ROUGH dimensions +/-0.5)

90 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
93 Exploder 4dr .............2wd A/T 51.5 Aluminum
95 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
90 Ranger (bed?) stdcab 2wd M/T 50.5 Steel
87 Ranger ....................2wd M/T 57.0 Steel
92 Exploder.................. 2wd A/T 54.5 Steel
95 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
84 Ranger ....................2wd M/T 57.0 Steel

3) Measuring weld to weld is the standard method, not measuring from the center of the cap holes like you did.

That's what I'm seeing a lot of. Doesn't it seem counter-intuitive? I understand if you're making one that it would be a necessary measurement, but otherwise, wouldn't the "tube yoke" dimension add in a lot of variance to the center to center measurement? Last time I had one made (for my 4.6+280z) I gave him my center to center, then subtracted the center to yoke flanges on both ends which gave us the weld to weld.

1) Any year 2wd Ranger after 1988 that had that same body setup and wheelbase should have the drive shaft you want.

Did any 2wd shortbed, std cab autos come with an aluminum d/s that you know of? I've never run an aluminum one, but the general consensus is that they are a bit smoother as far as vibrations are concerned. (I'm not OVERLY concerned about the 5# weight savings, or the rotating inertia business.) And when you say 'body setup' do you mean body style, (generational bodies ie. 89-92,93-97, etc, or just 'standard cab, short bed' body style?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[PlumCrazy]

My bad. I meant auto trans itself is longer. The shaft is shorter.

-PlumCrazy

 

[yellowoctupus]

My bad. I meant auto trans itself is longer. The shaft is shorter.

OH ok, thanks for clarifying.

I'm hoping I can find one online, as it's not holding up my project yet, so I do have some time to get it. Looks like once in a while you can get a deal on a used 'Nascar' or circle track aluminum shaft, generally for under $100. Just gotta keep my eyes peeled, or get lucky at the yards.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

4) If you buy one of the damaged ones you found it should cost less than $100 and take maybe 2 or 3 hours to have it re-tubed at a local machine or drive line shop.

$180 to retube/lengthen my rear driveshaft vs $50 to shorten the front...

 

[yellowoctupus]

Can you get aluminum driveshafts shortened? I would think you'd have to get it re-heat treated, but I've never tried. $50 sounds pretty reasonable to get a shaft shortened / balanced.

 

[adsm08]

Transmission makes a difference too. Auto trans are like 3" longer.

-PlumCrazy

I am fairly certain that the M50D, A4LD, and 4R/5R transmissions are all the same length.

Sources and Citations:

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/A4LDto5Speed.html

Since the lengths are the same between the transmission, the transfer case linkage bolted right back on

$180 to retube/lengthen my rear driveshaft vs $50 to shorten the front...

That is just what I was quoted by the place I use. Then again, I get a discount because of my employer.

 

[brinker88]

PROPER driveshaft measurements are different depending on what type of output is on your transmission / t-case as well as the collapsed/extended length.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Just went through it with my 5 speed swap. The M5OD shaft was about 3" longer than my 4R/5R.

-PlumCrazy

 

[yellowoctupus]

Man, that must be one heck of a discount. I called my local shop (only one w/in an hour I think) and they charge $106 for a balance only, $125 for a shorten and balance. I confusedly asked him again, if I brought in a full shaft already cut and rewelded, brand new u joints etc. already installed, and he said yes, it would still be right around $100. Then I tried to ask the guy then if they would do a shorten only for $19 but he got kinda indignant at that point. This is the main reason I was trying to find a full d/s that I didn't have to shorten/rework etc.

 

[yellowoctupus]

as far as the m/t to a/t discussion goes:

95 Ranger 6ftbed stdcab 2wd A/T 47.5 Steel
90 Ranger (6ftbed?) stdcab 2wd M/T 50.5 Steel

3" difference

You might be thinking about 4wd only, as the length difference might only be in the tailshaft housing. ( - tailhousing +tcase= same length? Maybe so.)

 

[jcook1994]

if your looking for a driveshaft they have places that can make you one. I went to standard auto right near richmond va and told them the length i needed gave them the measurements and it fit perfectly i converted my 2 piece driveshaft to a 1 piece

 

[yellowoctupus]

2004 3.0 5sp driveshaft length

Anyone know what the center to center on a 2004 3.5 5sp 2wd driveshaft is? There's an aluminum one up on eVILBAY that I'm considering:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150963264288?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Any help is greatly appreciated!