Aluminum Driveshaft

Benz510 · Apr 23, 2016

Hey stangnetters.

Got a question for everyone. Probably a dumb one. I was wondering if anyone knows how many different manufacturers make aluminum drive shaft for the fox? I know someone who's getting rid of things in their garage and has an aluminum Driveshaft in their position. He's not sure what brand it is and it doesn't have any kind of part number or anything.

It looks similar to a Ford Racing driveshaft but it's hard to tell. He's getting rid of it for $100. It looks like it's in good shape and almost brand new. I just want to make sure it's not a cheap pos. Kind of hard for me to tell at this point.

Any ideas on what to check for to determine the brand or if it's high quality?

Thanks

Gearbanger 101 · Apr 23, 2016

A lot of guys will use an aluminum driveshaft from an Aerostar as an alternative. They're pretty easy to identify. The FRPP driveshaft is 3.5" in diameter and the Aerostar shaft is only 3". Not a bad choice, but I'd insist on having it checked before dropping the cash. A lot of them were recalled due to balance issues.

stykthyn · Apr 23, 2016

Iirc the aerostar shaft needed to be modified slightly so any welds would be a dead give away.

Gearbanger 101 · Apr 23, 2016

stykthyn said:
Iirc the aerostar shaft needed to be modified slightly so any welds would be a dead give away.

Nope, no modification necessary. Just needs a different u-joint. Shaft must be from an AWD Aerostar.

Been running one under my car for 3-years now.

stykthyn · Apr 23, 2016

Gearbanger 101 said:
Nope, no modification necessary. Just needs a different u-joint. Shaft must be from an AWD Aerostar.

Been running one under my car for 3-years now.

Ahhh. I thought one end had to be cut.

Gearbanger 101 · Apr 23, 2016

stykthyn said:
Ahhh. I thought one end had to be cut.

Youre probably right if they used a RWD Aerostar shaft. I would imagine it's longer. The AWD one however bolts right up with the right U-Joint.

stykthyn · Apr 23, 2016

That makes sense

Benz510 · Apr 23, 2016

Gearbanger 101 said:
A lot of guys will use an aluminum driveshaft from an Aerostar as an alternative. They're pretty easy to identify. The FRPP driveshaft is 3.5" in diameter and the Aerostar shaft is only 3". Not a bad choice, but I'd insist on having it checked before dropping the cash. A lot of them were recalled due to balance issues.

Here's thr best pic i have of it. Looks fairly new.

Gearbanger 101 · Apr 23, 2016

Looks like it could be from an Aerostar. Hard to be certain from the pic. Your best bet is to get under your car and measure it from center to center, then make sure this one matches. If it does and it's only about 3" in diameter, it's from an Aerostar.

Boosted92LX · Apr 23, 2016

I have the frpp drive shaft in mine, and it did not come with the large damper on the slip yoke. That looks suspiciously like an OEM shaft.

Benz510 · Apr 23, 2016

I'm

Boosted92LX said:
I have the frpp drive shaft in mine, and it did not come with the large damper on the slip yoke. That looks suspiciously like an OEM shaft.

Probably going to pass on it then.

mikestang63 · Apr 23, 2016

Boosted92LX said:
I have the frpp drive shaft in mine, and it did not come with the large damper on the slip yoke. That looks suspiciously like an OEM shaft.

someone could have swaped an AOD front yoke onto it

Gearbanger 101 · Apr 24, 2016

And if it is an Aerostar shaft, you'll need to transfer the front yoke from your Mustang anyway.

If the dimensions are correct and the balance is ok, I wouldn't necessarily take a pass, but I'd certainly try to knock home down to about $80, or less.

Noobz347 · Apr 24, 2016

For $100, I'd buy the damned thing and figure it out as I giggled my way to a shop that can check the balance and install a new yoke and u-joints.

Boosted92LX · Apr 24, 2016

Here is my frpp shaft compared to the stocker.

Boosted92LX · Apr 24, 2016

mikestang63 said:
someone could have swaped an AOD front yoke onto it

Yeah, I guess you are correct, but the two main ideas of the upgrade are to reduce imbalance and rotating mass, and to put that yoke on a performance shaft would be less than...well, I'll be nice. There are small yokes out there that fit the AOD, so either it is a stock unit, or I gave the guy too much credit.

mikestang63 · Apr 24, 2016

Boosted92LX said:
Yeah, I guess you are correct, but the two main ideas of the upgrade are to reduce imbalance and rotating mass, and to put that yoke on a performance shaft would be less than...well, I'll be nice. There are small yokes out there that fit the AOD, so either it is a stock unit, or I gave the guy too much credit.

FWIW, I used the smaller yoke that came with the Ford aftermarket driveshaft with no issues on my AOD.

Aluminum Driveshaft

Benz510

Active Member

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Benz510

Active Member

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

Benz510

Active Member

mikestang63

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

mikestang63

Similar threads

Aluminum Driveshaft

Active Member

Straight Outta Locash

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Straight Outta Locash

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Straight Outta Locash

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

Active Member

Straight Outta Locash

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

Active Member

Straight Outta Locash

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

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