Have you broke a front drive shaft?

[Michael F]

I have a skinny 79 front drive shaft on my 81 that I installed when I swaped it's 258 for a 360, the 81 shaft was to long as you all know, after the swap and I can have it shortened, I just want to know if I need the larger diameter 81 front shaft. Thanx

------------------
Michael Forman
81 Cherokee Laredo WT
51,000 orig. miles
360/727/208/3.31/31x10.5AT
79 Cherokee Chief WT (snow plow)
360/400/QTw/LR/31x10.5
My family has 7 FSJ's!!!

[scotty]

yes. if you plan to abuse it at all,you will break it. i have broken 3 of those skinny driveshafts in my IFS amc eagle with a 219 xfer,258 six,904 auto,and only 31 inch tires! i had a 2 inch diameter front shaft in my grand wag until i swapped in the dana 300. im currently using a skinny "stick boy" driveshaft,and i worry about it enough that i baby it.as soon as funds permit,im going to have a fatter shaft shortened. i beat on the 2 inch one with both a 219,and a 207 xfer case,with a 258,auto,and 38 inch tires for over a year with no problems.



------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

possible small block chevy "test" swap in near future

[scotty]

one other question-why did your engine swap move your drivetrain enough that your other driveshafts didnt work?did you also swap trannys,or xfer cases? the 727 should have bolted to the sme place with either a 258,or a 360,i thought.both my j20 and my grand wag have the crossmember in the same set of holes,and are using the same mount. i havent actually stuck it up there yet,but it looks like the 360 j20 will take the old front shaft from my 85 258 grand wag...



------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

possible small block chevy "test" swap in near future

[Michael F]

On the 81's with a 208 tcase when you go from a 258 to a 360 the cross member moves from the rear set of holes on the frame to the front set, and from the front hole to the back hole on the c/member for the trans mount. On my 79s it has both sets and it uses the back set and back trans mount hole for a 360/400/Qtrac, what they did for a 258 I do not know. The 258 is longer than the 360 and fits into the indentation in the firewall, that moves the trans back 4". I used the motor mounts and other parts for the 360 from a 79 and the 727/208 linkages and emergency brake cable from an 80 up J10 truck, the drive shafts came from the 79 Qtrac and measured the exact 4" I needed ( more and less ). The J10 was set up just like my Chero needed to be with the 360/727/208 combo. Now that you mention it how did the shafts work if the 79 uses the rear set of holes!? Are they in the same spot?

------------------
Michael Forman
81 Cherokee Laredo WT
51,000 orig. miles
360/727/208/3.31/31x10.5AT
79 Cherokee Chief WT (snow plow)
360/400/QTw/LR/31x10.5
My family has 7 FSJ's!!!

[Dean]

Now I have a question, are there different length front drive shafts(DS)? I and putting a 4" lift out of a '84 GW with 360/229 into a '78 with 401/BW QT. Is the '84 DS longer and will make up for the lift? Thanks, Dean.

------------------
'78 Wagoneer Limited
401/Q-trac W/low range
Stock for now.........
have '84 parts rig,
4" rancho lift, 3" body
lift, '78 j20 axles. Whoo
hoo, future 3/4 ton wagoneer.

[River Beast]

Dean,
I can't give you a "textbook answer".. but here is what I would do... about the length that is...unless you want to dig up some shafts from a boneyard or have one made.

I recommend you check your driveline length AFTER you install the lift. I have a 78 Wag and the 4" Skyjacker kit maxed out my front shaft... didn't know it until too late. I picked up a shaft from a Chero of the same year and the the shaft was thicker and slightly longer with more slip travel in the slip joint. Don't ask me tech research stuff on the front shafts now.... I don't know which will work and which won't... I guess I got lucky... cuz I did obtain another shaft from an older Wag (72) with the same setup (400/QT) and the QV joint of the the shafts had a slighty different bolt pattern that I am using the CV off of to make another shaft.

The shop should be able to "beef" your shaft up at a reasonable cost. Good luck.

Best bet is to lift the rig, drive it to a reputable shaft shop and let them measure you min and mx length and mod your existing shaft. If all goes well... a tube lengthening should be only around $100 witha balance.

------------------
Todd
78 Wagoneer "River Beast"
360/TH400/QT
Dana 44's (soon to be locked w/ 4.88's and 38x14.50's)
7" SOA conversion
4" Skyjacker Softride
3" Trailmaster Bodylift
My FSJ site: http://www.geocities.com/~spazz4life (http://www.geocities.com/~spazz4life)
My E-mail: spazz4life@yahoo.com
"Where there's a hill...there's a way!"