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Driveshaft woes

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Old Aug 19, 2016 | 04:41 PM
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Driveshaft woes

Greetings all. I've got a 1978 F100 swb 2wd with the glorious 300. She used to have a C6 auto trans but now has a C4 auto. As you might have surmised, my stock driveshaft is now aproxamatley 3 inches shorter than needed. Trying to find another Ford driveshaft but am open to other potions. The old shaft is 53 3/4 inches. How tricky should this be?
 
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Old Aug 20, 2016 | 01:53 AM
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Originally Posted by cannonman
Greetings all. I've got a 1978 F100 swb 2wd with the glorious 300. She used to have a C6 auto trans but now has a C4 auto. As you might have surmised, my stock driveshaft is now aproxamatley 3 inches shorter than needed. Trying to find another Ford driveshaft but am open to other potions. The old shaft is 53 3/4 inches. How tricky should this be?
Why not have a new shaft made at a shop? Find a driveline shop and they can make you up a new driveshaft whatever length you need. Otherwise you are just stuck going through endless junk yard driveshafts with a tape measure trying to find one that will work.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2016 | 10:37 AM
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Hi Cannonman, you'd probably get a lot more help in the forum for your year truck, instead of the engine (since it's non-engine related), so I'm going to move your post.

Good luck!
 
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Old Aug 22, 2016 | 06:37 AM
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It's a dumb question no matter where it's posted.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2016 | 07:10 AM
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I just asked that question in a different forum 2 days ago.

Use this link to get your measurements, and take those measurements to a local driveline shop or send them to the guys on the link.

Going through junkyards is fun too, though.

Dennys Driveshaft How To Measure Correctly for driveshafts that fit right
 
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Old Aug 22, 2016 | 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by cannonman
It's a dumb question no matter where it's posted.
Nothing dumb about it. Just moving it to where the knowledge base is better suited to getting you the answer you need.
 
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Old Aug 22, 2016 | 03:40 PM
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Hey Cannonman I just went through the driveshaft issue myself. Finding one will be a hit or miss thing if you go to the junkyard and start measuring. There are three options really;

1) Take your short driveshaft to the local drive line shop with you measurements and have yours extended (most likely under $200).

2) Take your measurements to your local drive line shop and have a new one made (most likely $300 +).

3) Buy a shaft of the same diameter at the junkyard that is longer than you need and build your own. I was able to do this for the front shaft in my 4x4 since I didn't want to shell out $300 plus when I have a lot of other things to buy.

The third option is only doable if you have a welder and some tools to ensure that the run-out of the shaft is as close to zero as you can get.

Good luck.
 
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