Drive shaft ?

[GUSS]

Hi all I we have 1984 gt 350 2.3 turbo 5spd has the 7.5 4 lug rear. Our question is drive shaft differences What drive shaft can we swap in to replace stock shaft. We see a lot of used aluminum drive shafts for sale but need some schooling on what would swap in stock? Thanks for any info.

[KevinK]

5.0 and 2.3 driveshafts are the same size.

[GUSS]

Splines and u-joints? Auto to manual?

[KevinK]

Manual to manual trans is a direct bolt in. I added the Ford Motorsport one to my SVO. It is slightly noisier with less mass and some harmonics. Not bad. There are some other sources too. I believe the auto Trans is different from the manual t5.

[GUSS]

thanks I am mostly looking for the less rotating mass makes more HP I just did not know about drive shafts on these cars. This is my 2nd mustang our 84 project my first was a 66 I did for my wife many years ago.

[Tigger]

I am running an AWD aluminum Aerostar driveshaft in my car. Just using the mustang yoke and flange. It was quite the weight reduction and inexpensive.

[0F0 CBR]

What year range of Aerostar driveshafts work for Mustangs?

[Tigger]

I believe any year AWD Aerostar driveshafts will work. Mine was out of a 94 if I remember correctly. The 2wd ones will not work.

My original shaft weighed ~16lbs (complete). The Aerostar one with my Mustang yoke and axle flange weighed in at ~7lbs. The Aerostar is the same diameter as the original.

[GUSS]

high do you have any pictures of yours??

[Tigger]

Sorry, I do not think so as this was 10 or so years ago but I will check my laptop when I get home. And I was wrong, the one I have is out of a 96. I believe the 96 and 97 AWD Aerostar vans have the welded ends. 95 and earlier ones have pressed in ends. What exactly are you wanting to see?

[GUSS]

I STARTED looking around and the ones I found were all steel and look very skinny . I would love a nice easy swap with the ends and u joints For half price.

[86-TC/SVO]

Aerostar's will work but are pretty thin. As long as you don't plan on hole-shots. There are aluminum drive shafts on Ranger's and Crown Vic's that are a heavier aluminum. U-pull its around here are about $20 for a drive shaft and the shop that did a few for me cost $75 to cut and balance each. More if universals need changed or has an issue with.

[Tigger]

I STARTED looking around and the ones I found were all steel and look very skinny . I would love a nice easy swap with the ends and u joints For half price.

Like I said, the one I got from the 96 Aerostar is pretty much the same diameter as the original steel one I took out. All I did was put the Mustang yoke and flange on it with new u-joints and bolt it in. It has been 10 or so years and 30K+ with no issues but I am not racing the car. I just drive it.

In my Pinto, I have a shortened one from a 2WD Aerostar and the diameter is much larger. It had the pressed in ends. I popped one side out and cut it to length and then had it welded/balanced. Only problem is my Pinto is lowered and now the DS is rubbing against the ebrake cable and hits the tunnel ever so slightly in a hard bump. Its going to have to come out because I love the stance but I cannot stand the interference. I am either going to put the stock DS back in or get another AWD one and modify it.