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Figure about $100 bucks a pop to have them cut, re-welded, and balanced. Some shops will do it for less but $100 is a good ballpark. I know you want to conserve pennies otherwise I'd mention these guys: www.highangledriveline.com
never did on any of my trucks and i have/had 6-8" custom lifts on them. i am about to make my own d/s though for the front of my big truck so that i don't have to worry about it on the trail.
and yea, jesse is the best to talk to about driveline stuff! but it is all $$$ blintg bling
Your rear shaft MIGHT be OK, but the front should be lengthened. I had a new rear shaft made cuz mine was trashed, and I had 'em lengthen it about 1" or so. The front I left stock and the splines start to show out the end of the yoke at max. extension.
Granted, this is a 3" lift on a 78 F150, but the guy at the shaft shop said anything over 4" should get longer shafts. Otherwise, the splines poke through the seal and allow water/dirt in there and destroy the splines.
It really depends how much travel you have in the suspension. You'll probably be OK, but you can check by jacking up the frame and checking the slip yoke position. Or, measure the yoke-to-yoke distance before and after the lift and see how much it increases. If it's under an inch, you should be OK.
then new driveshafts or re-worked shafts are optional! i would wait until you start to have problems though and then call jesse at high angle driveline!
-cutts-
what about my truck. Sorry to barge in. 1994 F150 Reg Cab Long Box. I'm thinking about a 6" lift too, but if that's the case I might as well leave it stock.
a 94 and a 96 will be very close to the same setup so no you shouldn't need new shafts either unless you plan on running the Con or getting a 1000 on the ramp