so this flange/splines should fit right in....?

 

they should.....like i said before, i can't believe that your driveshaft didn't just bolt up.....whenever i put my 1 piece in, it bolted up with no problem.....

 

i think thats because your steel shaft was the same size as your old 2 piece shaft correct? The "OD" diameter. beings the aluminum shaft is like 2-3 times bigger, thus needs the bigger flange, u-joints etc......

 

flanges & u joints are the exact same.....the diameter of the shaft is just for strength on the aluminium shafts.......

there isn't a different part #'s for ujoints between the steel and aluminium shafts.......a manufacture makes installs as easy as possible....that way they dont have to have 5 or 6 different transfercase output flanges for a certain year Ranger.....they can have 1 transfer case with different driveshafts though......

even the manual shift t-cases have the same output shaft...

 

when i go to install the shaft i'll get pics of the whole installation. also get comparison pics too. Of the flages and what not. I'll do a write up and such for the "Aluminum" solid piece driveshaft swap. Basically the same as others, just involving gear pullers and flange swap. But yeah def pics so I can show you guys what I mean. get a better pic of it

 

There are two different size flanges in use, from what I have heard, though I've only encountered the larger ones. This is especially true on the axles.

 

looks like i got the bigger one lol.

 

the larger flanges are on the rear ends.....there are 2 different ones....the older 7.5 axles had a smaller flange that the 8.8.........the newer 7.5 axles have the same flange that is on the 8.8's........my steel 1 piece driveshaft came off a '00 truck with a 7.5 axle.......

are you sure you had the driveshaft in there the truck the corret way Shane? i know it is a dumb question, but it is possible.......the slip yoke goes up by the tranny no the rear end....

 

Nah man I understand, Yeah I fliped the driveshaft both ways. Both flanges are the larger size. Thats the first thing i did. Was flip it around to make sure i didnt have a serious brain fart.

 

i'll get some pics when i do the install. I'll sow measurements and such like that. That will be in the write up too.

 

hmmmmmm i guess my truck already had the larger flanges......maybe it was the new pieces on the '97s....

 

yea i had that noise once.. couldnt figure it out

crawled under and saw a nice etch all the way around the drive shaft.. then couldnt figure out how, and my friend poined out the gas tank skid.... prob is it rubs where one of the supports is, how do u shave that??

 

i was actually thinking the same thing.

 

theres about alil more than a 1/4" lip before you get to the arm holding the skid plate up. but thats mine. dont know bout 99's

 

there are 2 ways......

1. take the skit plate off and do it with a torch....
2. leave it on and use a cut off wheel in a air tool.....mark a line and follow it....

 

agreed with the tourch. im doing that but going to put some sheet metal around the gas tank so nothing will blow. kinda like a protective sheet i guess.

 

ur using a torch.. while the skid is ON THE TRUCK??

dude take the bolts out and do it safely haha, that and u dont have to worry about molten metal falling on you..

if it wasnt frozen over here, i would go out and look lol

 

yea that is just nuts to do it with a torch on the truck.....please take it off...

 

That or a grinding wheel (throwing sparks in the right direction) more than likely. If you take the bolts out. they have nuts on the back side of em an will be a huge PITA when you go to put them back on. I looked at that 2 weeks ago. I was like wtf

 

that sucks.....mine have the clip nuts that clip around the frame........

 

it would be a heck of a lot safer to through the sparks.......heck i used a grinder to grind off my rivits on the spring hangers a couple weeks ago......had the bed off so the filler neck hung down almost in the way.........

 

**** i wish i had them. these nuts are gay. thats when i was like " welp, thats staying on. i'll grind it off where it sits than"

 

Going to attempt the swap on friday night. I think I have everything now.

 

you better punk......if you dont do this on friday and post pictures, i am going to drive up there bonk you on the head and take your aluminum driveshaft...

 

lol Thats why I'll start it friday. That way I have allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll weekend. The biggest thing now is hoping the splines match up.........