I have a 1989 Town Car and I want to swap in an aluminum driveshaft. I've been reading some posts here but i'm still confused about it. Are there any junkyard driveshafts that are fairly simple to make work or should I just take my steel one to a shop and just have them make one?
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if you can find a box Towncar with an aluminum shaft, you're good. I've never found a good one. They're rare enough but the few I've found were bent from forklifts86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers -
What's the advantage of an aluminum driveshaft? Weight reduction? Or is there something else?91 Mercury CP, Lopo 302, AOD, 3.08LSD. 3g upgrade, Moog wagon coils up front, cc819s in the back. KYB GR-2 police shocks. Energy suspension control arm bushings. Smog deleted.Originally posted by gadget73
93 F-150 XLT, 302, ZF 5-spd from 1-ton, 4wd.
Daily--07 Civic Coupe. Bone stock with 25k miles
Wife--14 Subaru Outback. 6-speed.
95 Subaru Legacy Wagon--red--STOLEN 1/6/13Comment
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weight reduction for sure and usually better balance (able to go faster) from what I've heard.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)
Originally posted by gadget73
... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.
Originally posted by dmccaig
Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.Comment
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wouldn't an aluminum shaft be easier to twist/break?Comment
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you'd think so but I've been told that the aluminum or metal matrix shafts are less prone to breakage than steel. I don't know if thats true, or if its just because the aluminum tubes are larger and thicker, and therefore stronger than the steel ones.86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley
91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry
1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal
Originally posted by phayzer5
I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousersComment
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Depending on the cross section (diameter, wall thickness) and weight of the shaft, an aluminum driveshaft has less rotational mass (less inertia), which means it takes less power to spin. Not that the driveshaft is the primary consumer of engine power in the driveline, but I suppose every little bit helps.
Theres also an obvious weight savings.
Also. Increasing the diameter of the shaft has a greater affect on strength than increasing the wall thickness. Thats why you see late model diesel pick- ups (GM) with 6" diameter aluminum driveshafts.**2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: 5.0/ 6 spd/ 3.73s, 20K Cruiser
**2006 MGM,"Ultimate": 4.6/ 2.73/ Dark Tint, Magnaflows, 19s, 115K Daily Driver
**2012 Harley Davidson Wide Glide (FXDWG):103/ Cobra Speedsters/ Cosmetics, 9K Poseur HD Rider
**1976 Ford F-150 4WD: 360, 4 spd, 3.50s, factory A/C, 4" lift, Bilsteins, US Indy Mags, 35s Truck DutiesComment
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If you plan to go with a 4:10 ring and pinion, they will cut down on the vibration.
In my case, my original shaft, appears to have been welded by an amateur, and was more than likely, WAY out of balance. I noticed a substantial differenceat interstate speeds when I swapped shafts.Owner of the only known 5 speed box wagon with a lift kit.
AKA, Herkimer the Hillbilly SUV.
Axle codes
Open/Lock/Ratio #
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G / H / 2.26
B / C / 2.47
8 / M / 2.73
7 / - / 3.07
Y / Z / 3.08
4 / D / 3.42
F / R / 3.45
5 / E / 3.27
6 / W / 3.73
2 / K / 3.55
A / - / 3.63
J / - / 3.85Comment
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