I looked for a shortie for a while but they are pretty scarce or way more money so I've acquired a nice original 68 Ranger LWB that I am shortening. I've done some research and found good info on shortening the box and shortening the frame but have not yet considered the driveshafts (two pc). My plan is to stick with the original drivetrain (360- 3spd std) for now and then in the future I'll consider a new drivetrain. I'm left wondering do the shortie trucks also have a two pc driveshaft? Do I shorten the rear shaft? What's the right way to go?
(And yes I will be documenting this project for posting here)

 

I cant vouch for all of them, but my swb, 302, manual 3 speed truck has a 1-piece shaft in it with a slip joint on the one end. I didn't have the correct driveshaft for it when I bought it and didnt have any luck finding an o.e.m. one. When I checked into having one shortened and balanced, it wound up being just as cheap to have one made from scratch. I found a place online that made me one with all new parts and new spicer ujoints for $300 shipped to my door. It is a pretty nice piece. If you like, I can look back and see where it was that I had it made. Or depending on the timeline of your build, I may be able to sell the one that I have. I am going to be swapping out the suspension and drivetrain in mine and wont be able to use the shaft any more. I just dont know exactly when I am going to pull the trigger on that project just yet.

 

The easy answer is to look under your truck. If your existing transmission has a fixed output yoke (like an NP435), then you'll have to use a two-piece. If it's a slip yoke, then you have the option of going single. However, a long single shaft typically requires a larger OD tube or thicker walls to eliminate deflection.

 

I may be using the wrong terminology and don't want to confuse anyone. If your 3 speed is like mine, it has a fixed yoke bolted on it. The driveshaft is technically 2 pieces, the shaft itself with a spline on the one end and the slip yoke. The driveshaft shop that I dealt with called it a 1 piece since it doesn't have a carrier bearing.

Kinda like this:

http://rs1297.pbsrc.com/albums/ag23/...0?t=1388700861

 

I am assuming you have a 4X2. Just a hunch. I had a 50/50 chance. If so,Ford put 1 piecer's on short beds. I am assumin' the angle of the dangle would be to sharp 2 piece to rear axle.
360/3sp,9" R/G rear end the driveshaft was 59 15/16"
360/3sp, Dana 44 rear end the driveshaft was 58 29/32".
(360/3sp,Dana 60 rear end the driveshaft was 57 5/8".)

Note: Everybody went by center of U-joint cap to center of cap....except Ford. The above measurments were closest (Shortest) of U-joint cap hole in driveshaft to the other closest part of the opposing U-joint hole. In other words, the above measurements are shorter than center of cap to center of cap for the same driveshaft. Wish I could figure out a better way of putting this. Or paste pics of the Ford pages like ND (Bill) can.

 

Yes it's a 2 wheel drive and I had a quick peek underneath this morning and it looks like it has a fixed output yoke on the tranny. What kind of setup does the swb truck with the same drivetrain use?

 

I found this. The top pic is supposed to be a swb driveshaft for a 3spd std trans. It looks as if the swb trucks had two pc driveshafts as well. There's no comparison picture for the lwb truck so I don't know if one or both shafts are shorter or if the carrier position is different.
http://www.fordification.com/tech/im...riveshafts.jpg

 

There is no carrier bearing on a swb truck. It is a straight shaft with a spline on 1 end and a slip yoke that slides onto that spline. Just like the pic that you posted a link to and the pic that I posted a link to. Like I said before, technically it is 2 pieces, but the driveshaft shops that I have talked to still called it a 1 piece.

 

So there are no common parts between the two? I need to find a complete assembly from a swb? Or is what I have now basically the same only longer and I could shorten it?

 

There are probably no common parts with the one that you have. Even though it is a short wheelbase, the shaft is fairly long due to the short little transmission. If you like, when it warms up a little bit this afternoon, I will slide under mine and measure the weld-to-weld measurement. If you can find a longer one somewhere, you may be able to have it shortened and a slip shaft put on the one end of it. When I looked into doing that for mine though, the price wasn't far off from having a complete new shaft built. Maybe you will get lucky and the shops around you work a little cheaper than they do around me.

 

Measurements are included...> Ford Truck Part Numbers (Driveshaft - F100 2WD & 4WD) - FORDification.com

 

Okay so what trans and axle do I have. Trans code C. Axle code 17.

 

3.03 trans
3.25 9" 28 spline, open diff.

 

When I look at the parts listing you linked above I have choices (for F100 2wd/360/3sp) like:
Trans: M/D or O/D or N.P.G. & Warner
Rear: Dana 60.3 or Ford 3.3M or Ford 3.6M or Dana 44.3

 

Unless you find a 360/3-speed short bed in the boneyard, or find someone online with a used driveshaft, you're going to have to get a driveshaft made. Driveshaft shops are simply going to ask for a yoke to yoke measurement.