NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Topic: NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet? (Read 3319 times) previous topic - next topic

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

March 31, 2006, 01:29:34 PM

Or am I going to have to pay for a custom piece?

I've been cruising around gathering measurements for driveshaft lengths in other cars, hoping something will be compatible and cheap. Only problem is, I haven't crawled under MY Cougar to find out what length it's SUPPOSED to be.

--Ed

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #1 – March 31, 2006, 01:38:02 PM

I've heard of people using cut-down Aerostar aluminum driveshafts...I can't remember what vehicles they were using them in though.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #2 – March 31, 2006, 08:04:16 PM

I pulled an aluminum driveshaft out of a newer crown vic coupla weeks ago, and it was a big one, but it was also an ex-cruiser, too
I wanted to snag it, but it got sold before I could...

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #3 – March 31, 2006, 08:07:34 PM

this is who i'm going to get my driveshaft from.

http://www.pstds.com/

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #4 – April 01, 2006, 10:44:11 AM

GAWD... It's Ed... Thought you were dead...

The biggest problem I see with the aluminum shafts is the diameter. Most seem to be in the 3 1/2"-4" range and there isn't enough clearance between my Flow Masters for it...

BTW I have a extra Bird D/S and aluminum Aerostar D/S laying out in the garage, I'll take some measurements before I put them away...

EDIT...

Aluminum Areostar... 55 7/8" x 3 1/2 diameter.

'88 5.0 Bird AOD ... 49" x 3" diameter

'88 TC 5 spd......... 47 7/8" x 3 1/2(necked to 3'' on each end)

I knew the TC D/S was shorter but thought the difference was only 3/4" or so... Then maybe I'm compairing it to the '87 5.0 D/S in my TC, knowing Ford it may be different.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #5 – April 03, 2006, 03:37:51 PM

Thanks for the measurements, Tom. I hadn't had time to measure the Cougar shaft, yet..

I hibernate in the winter, which is why you haven't seen me. :)

Here's what I have found in factory driveshaft lengths:

94-97 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L 4R70W 57" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
89-95 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L M5R2 53.80" driveshaft (M5R2 overall length 35")
89-93 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L AOD 57.80" driveshaft (AOD overall length 31")
94-97 Thunderbird/Cougar 4.6L 4R70W 58.20" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
93-98 Mark VIII 4R70W 58.20" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
94-04 Crown Vic 4R70W 55.50" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")

Summit sells a ready-made shaft that's 49.625" for Camaro's, but the price is high enough that you might as well have one custom made.

There's bound to be a factory driveshaft floating around out there that will be the right size..

I don't know of any shops that will "cut one down" for a reasonable price.

--Ed

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #6 – April 04, 2006, 09:17:24 AM

Ed, I was going to go with this guy
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/

I talked to him over the phone and they seem pretty cool. Basically He told me that every car is different and you should follow the measurement procedure on the order form and get one thats perfect.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #7 – April 05, 2006, 02:57:39 PM

Very nice site. Thanks for the link!

--Ed