Will it hurt anything to run my 2000 Excursion with no rear driveshaft? I have the ESOF t-case. I just got the rear shaft chopped but I cant pick it up till monday and I cant wait that long to drive it around.

Also, does anyone know which front driveshafts will interchange with the 7.3l excursion? Mine fits but I'm worried about how far I had to stretch it to get it to bolt up.

And lastly, Can someone with a 1999 alternator tell me which wires at the 3 prong plug are supposed to be hot and when (battery or key on)?

Thanks guys

 

So you want to drive in 4hi all the time?

 

Yes, but with no rear driveshaft

 

As long as the transfer case rear output shaft has a bolt-on flange and not a slip yoke, I don't think it would hurt. I had a rear u-joint fail on a Bronco once while on a fishing trip. I just removed the rear driveshaft, locked it into 4x4 high and drove home.

 

Its a bolt on flange so it wont leak, I just didn't know if it would hurt it since its a chain drive unit and not gear drive. I assume it won't but I didn't want someone to tell me it would blow it up or something.

 

In another thread a member just reported that he blow up transfer case by using 4WD with front hubs disconnected for prolonged times.
One experience doesn't make it a rule, but worth checking
Carrying infra-red thermometer and checking TC temperature comes to mind.

 

Iv drove an 02 F-150 with no rear shaft for about 3 eeks until I got anther shaft. Didnt seem to affect it

 

I suspect for just a few days it would be okay. I once saw an F-Something converted into a bus that was FWD converted because of the wheel base.

 

I would not fear driving on the front axle at all.

The only "quirks" I think you might experience would be a slight bump in the steering wheel whenever you have the wheels turned all the way in a tight maneuver. This could be caused by the nature of the u-joints. The CV shafts in a car apply power more smoothly. This is not to be confused with the more prominate bucking you experience when the rear driveshaft is installed as the front and rear axles scrub in a turn.

I also think hours of interstate speed might heat up the case, but I don't know if that's anything to worry about. My T-Case gets hot just driving in 2WD.

I say do it.

 

Yea , I been driving around all day and nothing exploded. I can feel a little bump when I get close to full lock, but I ease out of the throttle when I turn sharp.

 

I don't think you'd hurt anything, but at the same time I wouldn't go on any high-speed long distance trips.

 

Well, I have to drive 40 minutes to work tomorrow, but the fastest speed is a short stretch of 60mph. But maybe i'll keep it under 55

 

Of course just a WAG, but I think you'll be fine.

 

The torque steer is fun. One of the guys in the 7.3 section towed his 20some ft TT home with his ex in FWD after he blew the rear spiders doing a burnout contest.

I drove around without a rear shaft for 3 days while it was being rebult without issue, even doing 65 down the highway. My only complaint was all the "slack" in the front driveline. Darn thing would thunk every time I let off or got on the gas too fast.

As far as the front shaft, not sure. I actually had to pry mine into place because there was only another inch till it was compressed fully and the boot was to stiff to do that by hand.

 

Just check the temp of the front differential
I broke a u-joint on a Ranger and drove on the
front for a few days and the only thing I really
saw was some heating of the front diff. That
is because the front is not meant to pull the full
weight all the time. More load on the
gears = more heat. More speed = even more heat.
I would try to keep the load and speed down.

Sean