Lightweight driveshaft options?

[sureshot007]

Are there any sources for aluminum or other lightweight driveshafts? Maybe there is another car/truck that has the same length shaft that I might be able to source from a junkyard?

[jimoshel]

Any aircraft supply Co will have aluminum in different sizes, shapes and grades. If I remember right Lamborgini P400S had an aluminum driveshaft. Goodluck finding one of them in the JY. If you have a military facility or tech type colledge close by check when they have surplus auctions. Get lots of good stuff there.

[89eliminator]

i think some (all?) of the newer GM duramax diesels had aluminum rear driveshafts. i know i seen one turned into a pretzel at the local diesel pulls last summer.

[sureshot007]

How about some specs on the stock longbed driveshaft? Maybe then I can try to find an appropriate replacement.

[jimoshel]

Read the thread above you in this forum. Looking for stock driveshaft lengths

[HOrnbrod]

http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20131

 

Tom Woods will make an alloy shaft for you. I had one made up for LWB. Give him a call - good guy to work with.

 

http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

[sureshot007]

http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20131

 

Tom Woods will make an alloy shaft for you. I had one made up for LWB. Give him a call - good guy to work with.

 

http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

If you don't mind me asking, how much did it set you back?

[HOrnbrod]

Many years ago. Best to call with your measurements and ask Tom.

[sureshot007]

Thanks for the info, I'll give him a ring tomorrow.

[WBKrazy]

there's a few that use aluminum driveshafts.... some crown vics and all the police interceptors, 88-present chevy trucks, and i think maybe 97-up F1fixme's do as well....

[HOrnbrod]

88-present chevy trucks

 

Some of these w. the 1310 series u-joints will work on the longbed MJ. May have to be shortened depending on Chev model and MJ tranny and rear diff. But a good cheaper option if it will adapt.

[sureshot007]

Well what if I was tossing a ford explorer 8.8 in the rear - should I not bother with the driveshaft adapter and see about running a ford driveshaft?

[Wildman]

For a local source, you might want to check out Fleet Pride over on Walden, near the thruway :brows:

 

They could make one with your supplied yokes.

[sureshot007]

One of my other friends mentioned them as well. I was really hoping for an "off the shelf" solution. Avoiding custom parts means I can find a replacement when broken at an event.

[Wildman]

Then get 2 made at the same time :D

 

Yea, I know what you mean, the only problem is, finding the right donor, both in length and with the correct yokes :hmm:

[Pete M]

Well what if I was tossing a ford explorer 8.8 in the rear - should I not bother with the driveshaft adapter and see about running a ford driveshaft?

 

 

I don't understand the question. You'll still need a flange adapter. either the bigger Explorer on or the smaller Jeep one.

 

 

The cop crown vic driveshaft idea sounds intriguing. IIRC, the crown vic uses the correct Jeep u-joint size on their version of the 8.8 and if everything works out right, you just need to grab a couple of cop crown vic driveshafts and have them shortened together (and get the proper 8.8 flange adapter at the same time). car-part.com shows a gazillion of the things available across the country.

[comanche09]

The cop crown vic driveshaft idea sounds intriguing. IIRC, the crown vic uses the correct Jeep u-joint size on their version of the 8.8 and if everything works out right, you just need to grab a couple of cop crown vic driveshafts and have them shortened together (and get the proper 8.8 flange adapter at the same time). car-part.com shows a gazillion of the things available across the country.

 

I researched driveshaft donors extensively a little while back. Unfortunately, the aluminum crown vic DS use a slightly larger U-Joint. Ford Aerostars are another example. The regular (steel) crown vic DS uses the same 1310 Series U-joints. One could run "bastard" u-joints to use the aluminum ones, however.

[HOrnbrod]

Well what if I was tossing a ford explorer 8.8 in the rear - should I not bother with the driveshaft adapter and see about running a ford driveshaft?

 

AFAIK, Ford never used an alloy RWD driveshaft w. 1310 u-joints. Your best bets for a lightweight shaft are all GM. The early (94 and below 1st generation models; the later models had 2-piece shafts) S10s or S15s, or the 93-94 up Chev pickups or Suburbans. All will have to be shortened for your MJ and may or may not need new yokes depending on spline count and u-joints. There's no stock lightweight bolt-in driveshaft available for the MJ that will not require modifications that I have found.

[pilotblake]

Why? And what is a comanche group 2 rally truck :dunno:

[Pete M]

Nothing horribly wrong with the adapter U-joints. I ran 2 of 'em for years (adapting to the ford axles under my 88). :thumbsup:

[sureshot007]

Why? And what is a comanche group 2 rally truck :dunno:

Why am I looking for a lightweight driveshaft? Trying to reduce rotational mass as much as possible to free up as much horsepower to the wheels as possible (within reason, I'm no going to spend a million dollars on this).

 

Rally is: http://rally-america.com/whatis.php

Group 2 is a class for 2wd, with under 3 liter, naturally aspirated motors.