4x4 Missing
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
4x4 Missing
I just bought a 1988 F150 5.0 fi 4spd manual with overdrive 4x4. I bought the truck for 600 bucks because I needed a cheap farm truck. I crawled under the truck to change the oil today and noticed something strange. There is no drive shaft going from my transmission to my front axle. There is actually a hole in the side of the transmission and i can see where the drive shaft bolts to the front axle. Ive never owned a 4x4 truck and I dont know what that part is called or how much work it will take to get the 4x4 to work.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 4
From: Baltimore
Did to PO take the front shaft out to possibly 'fix' a 4x4 issue? If so, extensive work/investigating issues are ahead.
Or mabe the shaft/front end had issues, and they took out the shaft till they could be addressed at a later time...
Or mabe the shaft/front end had issues, and they took out the shaft till they could be addressed at a later time...
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Ill try to take pics of it when its light out. The truck runs fine and also shifts ok. It has the 4x4/low range on the floor and Im pretty sure it goes into low range so I dont know if that helps. I know I'll at least need to get the front locking hubs as well because the left front is broken. Where does the front drive shaft mount to the trans? There arent any bolts or treaded holes around the hole in the trans.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the help. I wanted to make a project out of this truck but I think I might be over my head.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
TNT is right. The drive shaft should go to a yoke on the front drivers side of the transfer case. That hole in the tranny is a PO attachment site and can be covered with a plate, fairly easy to find in a junk yard. Chances are that both were taken just to rob some parts, because that PO shaft is always turning and wouldn't shift and therefore couldn't drive the front axle. You should take the transfer case apart and make sure its not broken tho.
So on your to-do checklist:
1. Cover the PO hole.
2. Find a driveshaft
3. Check thru transfer case.
4. Repost if you have any problems
So on your to-do checklist:
1. Cover the PO hole.
2. Find a driveshaft
3. Check thru transfer case.
4. Repost if you have any problems
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
What exactly is a PO hole? Is it bad to leave it uncovered? Should there be damp oil spots around it? I took the truck for a drive tonight, shifted through all 5 gears fine, and then i put it in low range and it shifted though all 5 gears again. I checked the hole and there wasnt any oil around it. As for the front shaft, I was pricing some on ebay but i dont know if they are specific for each transmission/engine.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick, Ga
also one thing thats possible, if the rearend was changed and is now a different ratio than the front they could have pulled the front driveshaft to keep from having problems there. ive seen it done before...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
JHAM has a point. If the gears are different, and 4x4 is engaged on anything but sloppy mud or snow, something is gonna go in a big way. If that happened already, that could be why it doesn't have the shaft. And could've potentially broken that plate.
The PO hole is power output from the truck. Its used to run all kinds of things from air compressors to hydraulic pumps for a dump bed or wrecker. I don't know if it should leak or not, even tho I feel like it should. At any rate, you don't want all the dirt and grime getting in that case.
And for the driveshaft, I truly can't tell you for sure. I would imagine they are the same tho.
The PO hole is power output from the truck. Its used to run all kinds of things from air compressors to hydraulic pumps for a dump bed or wrecker. I don't know if it should leak or not, even tho I feel like it should. At any rate, you don't want all the dirt and grime getting in that case.
And for the driveshaft, I truly can't tell you for sure. I would imagine they are the same tho.