How does someone lose a driveshaft?

[txcomanche87]

Hi guys,

 

The drive shaft is missing in our 87 comanche. The bodyshop guy that's been working on it recently moved shop but accidently left the driveshaft behind. He went back to get it, but the landlord had cleared everything away. I've contacted driveshaftstore.com but they say they don't have it. I've looked into rockauto but I'm not so sure that's the correct part. Ebay has tons of cheapo chinese parts I'm not sure are worth the try. can anyone point me in the right direction on which is the correct part?

 

1987, 2.5L 4cyl manual trans 1JTHW6414HT150886

When I run the VIN to get the technical details it says it's a 4wd but it's not.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Short bed or long bed? Are there any local places that could build a new one? Usually you can take the measurements to them and they can make a new one. 

[Pete M]

for a rear shaft, your local driveshaft place, or adams driveshaft or dennys driveshaft online will make you one better than stock.  

 

for a front, that's shared with XJs of the same drivetrain so I'd source a junkyard one.

[txcomanche87]

20 hours ago, TheDirtyJeep401 said:

Short bed or long bed? Are there any local places that could build a new one? Usually you can take the measurements to them and they can make a new one. 

Dirtyjeep401, it's a short bed. is there a difference? That's why I did not buy from rockauto, there were different sizes options for the manual trans. do you know the correct length for short bed or how to take the correct measurement since the original is gone?

 

19 hours ago, Pete M said:

for a rear shaft, your local driveshaft place, or adams driveshaft or dennys driveshaft online will make you one better than stock.  

 

for a front, that's shared with XJs of the same drivetrain so I'd source a junkyard one.

Hey Pete M,

 

Dumb question but do the 2wd have front and rear driveshafts or only the 4wd? I looked at your post from a while back "looking from driveshaft lengths of stock trucks", I'm having trouble understanding what I'm looking at, do you recall the length for the shortbed 2wd, I4, 2.5 manual option?

 

https://comancheclub.com/topic/18925-looking-for-driveshaft-lengths-of-stock-trucks/#comment-194782

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Long beds have a longer wheel base compared to the short bed. The 4 speed is a AX4 it is basically the same thing as a AX5 just with 5th gear so the drive shaft is the same. Automatics I’m not sure of off the top of my head. They should be posted somewhere on factory lengths. 4x4 rear drive shafts will be shorter than 2WD ones. 
 

My 87 parts truck that’s a short bed I believe still has the shaft under it. Don’t know where you are located, but I have no use for it. All I own is long beds. Or I can try to crawl under it and get some measurements off of it. 

[Pete M]

2wd only have the rear shaft.  

[gogmorgo]

If the body shop lost your parts, sounds like replacing them is a them problem. You can point them in a direction, but they should be the ones doing the leg work. Not you. 
For what its worth Rockauto only has the front shafts listed. 
To interpret the driveshaft length chart for you,

swb,_2.5,____ax5-ax4,______2wd,_____d44= 57.5"___.d35= 58.5"
Short wheelbase, four-banger, manual, with Dana 44 rear axle 57.5”, with Dana 35, 58.5”.

That length is between the centres of u-joint caps. 
I'm not at home right now but I can crawl under my 2.5/manual/2wd/d35 shortbed and double check, but I’m pretty sure I did that once and found it to be accurate. My memory isn’t 100% reliable but I’m pretty sure I did it once. 

[txcomanche87]

On 6/27/2023 at 8:32 PM, gogmorgo said:

If the body shop lost your parts, sounds like replacing them is a them problem. You can point them in a direction, but they should be the ones doing the leg work. Not you. 
For what its worth Rockauto only has the front shafts listed. 
To interpret the driveshaft length chart for you,

swb,_2.5,____ax5-ax4,______2wd,_____d44= 57.5"___.d35= 58.5"
Short wheelbase, four-banger, manual, with Dana 44 rear axle 57.5”, with Dana 35, 58.5”.

That length is between the centres of u-joint caps. 
I'm not at home right now but I can crawl under my 2.5/manual/2wd/d35 shortbed and double check, but I’m pretty sure I did that once and found it to be accurate. My memory isn’t 100% reliable but I’m pretty sure I did it once. 

Definitely a 'them' problem but the guy happens to be a family member. a good guy. He already tried getting a replacement but it was too big, he said. so here we are lol. Thanks for explaining the numbers, I see how to read them now.

 

On 6/27/2023 at 2:20 PM, TheDirtyJeep401 said:

Long beds have a longer wheel base compared to the short bed. The 4 speed is a AX4 it is basically the same thing as a AX5 just with 5th gear so the drive shaft is the same. Automatics I’m not sure of off the top of my head. They should be posted somewhere on factory lengths. 4x4 rear drive shafts will be shorter than 2WD ones. 
 

My 87 parts truck that’s a short bed I believe still has the shaft under it. Don’t know where you are located, but I have no use for it. All I own is long beds. Or I can try to crawl under it and get some measurements off of it. 

Hey Dirtyjeep, if I can't source one locally, I'll DM you. We might be able to come to an agreement. Gogmorgo, above, mentioned a length difference between the Dana44 and the Dana 35, do you know which one you have? Because of work and a trip after, I'll be out for a few weeks, I'll hit you up later.

 

Allota good info you guys are giving me. I'll see into Adam's or Denny's driveshaft but those look so well built it might be over kill. you guys put mud tires on yours ours will only ever move a couch, at best lol, but still an option. thanks y'all.

[gogmorgo]

If you already have one in hand a local driveshaft shop should be able to lengthen or shorten it as necessary. Unless by too big you mean it’s not going to fit either end even if it was the correct length.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

On 6/30/2023 at 10:40 AM, txcomanche87 said:

If I can't source one locally, I'll DM you. We might be able to come to an agreement. Gogmorgo, above, mentioned a length difference between the Dana44 and the Dana 35, do you know which one you have? Because of work and a trip after, I'll be out for a few weeks, I'll hit you up later.

 

It’s a Dana 35. If it had a 44 in it, it wouldn’t still be under that parts truck.