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.

 

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!

 

It's a dumb question no matter where it's posted.

 

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

 

Nothing dumb about it. Just moving it to where the knowledge base is better suited to getting you the answer you need.

 

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.