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Topic: NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet? (Read 2971 times) previous topic - next topic

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Or am I going to have to pay for a custom piece?

I've been cruising around gathering measurements for driveshaft lengths in other cars, hoping something will be compatible and cheap. Only problem is, I haven't crawled under MY Cougar to find out what length it's SUPPOSED to be.

 --Ed
"1FSTCAT" - 87 Mercury Cougar XR7, 5 Speed, Powerdyne Supercharger.

"NTRCPTR" - 91 Crown Vic Police Interceptor - 460 POWERED. 14.15 @ 97 MPH, untuned.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #1
I've heard of people using cut-down Aerostar aluminum driveshafts...I can't remember what vehicles they were using them in though.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #2
I pulled an aluminum driveshaft out of a newer crown vic coupla weeks ago, and it was a big one, but it was also an ex-cruiser, too
I wanted to snag it, but it got sold before I could...
'84 Mustang
'98 Explorer 5.0
'03 Focus, dropped a valve seat. yay. freakin' split port engines...
'06 Explorer EB 4.6

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #3
this is who i'm going to get my driveshaft from.

http://www.pstds.com/
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #4
GAWD... It's Ed... Thought you were dead...

The biggest problem I see with the aluminum shafts is the diameter. Most seem to be in the 3 1/2"-4" range and there isn't enough clearance between my Flow Masters for it...

BTW I have a extra Bird D/S and aluminum Aerostar D/S laying out in the garage, I'll take some measurements before I put them away...

EDIT...

Aluminum Areostar... 55 7/8"  x  3 1/2 diameter.

'88 5.0 Bird AOD ...  49"  x  3" diameter

'88 TC 5 spd.........  47 7/8"  x  3 1/2(necked to 3'' on each end)

I knew the TC D/S was shorter but thought the difference was only 3/4" or so... Then maybe I'm compairing it to the '87 5.0 D/S in my TC, knowing Ford it may be different.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #5
Thanks for the measurements, Tom. I hadn't had time to measure the Cougar shaft, yet..

I hibernate in the winter, which is why you haven't seen me. :)

Here's what I have found in factory driveshaft lengths:

94-97 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L 4R70W 57" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
89-95 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L M5R2 53.80" driveshaft (M5R2 overall length 35")
89-93 Thunderbird/Cougar 3.8L AOD 57.80" driveshaft (AOD overall length 31")
94-97 Thunderbird/Cougar 4.6L 4R70W 58.20" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
93-98 Mark VIII 4R70W 58.20" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")
94-04 Crown Vic 4R70W 55.50" driveshaft (4R70W overall length 32")

Summit sells a ready-made shaft that's 49.625" for Camaro's, but the price is high enough that you might as well have one custom made.

There's bound to be a factory driveshaft floating around out there that will be the right size..

I don't know of any shops that will "cut one down" for a reasonable price.

 --Ed
"1FSTCAT" - 87 Mercury Cougar XR7, 5 Speed, Powerdyne Supercharger.

"NTRCPTR" - 91 Crown Vic Police Interceptor - 460 POWERED. 14.15 @ 97 MPH, untuned.

NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #6
Ed, I was going to go with this guy
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/

I talked to him over the phone and they seem pretty cool. Basically He told me that every car is different and you should follow the  measurement procedure on the order form and get one thats perfect.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]


NE1 found a common aluminum driveshaft, yet?

Reply #7
Very nice site. Thanks for the link!

 --Ed
"1FSTCAT" - 87 Mercury Cougar XR7, 5 Speed, Powerdyne Supercharger.

"NTRCPTR" - 91 Crown Vic Police Interceptor - 460 POWERED. 14.15 @ 97 MPH, untuned.