Pic of Aerostar aluminum driveshaft vs. 5.0L driveshaft

[ForceFed70]

Here's a pic of my aerostar driveshaft next to a driveshaft from a 88 GT.

The aerotar driveshaft is 3.5" diameter aluminum the 88 GT's driveshaft is 3.0" diameter steel.

The output yoke it came with doesn't work with my T5, but that's OK as I have the yoke from the 88GT.

The aerostar driveshaft came from a 1993 XLT, weighs 24lbs and will need to be shortened at least 12". The 88 GT's driveshaft weighs 29lbs. I think that once the aerostar driveshaft is shortened and has the lighter looking T5 yoke it'll weigh about 23lbs, making it about 6lbs lighter that the 88GT's driveshaft.

 

[hsr]

Here's a pic of my aerostar driveshaft next to a driveshaft from a 88 GT.

The aerotar driveshaft is 3.5" diameter aluminum the 88 GT's driveshaft is 3.0" diameter steel.

The output yoke it came with doesn't work with my T5, but that's OK as I have the yoke from the 88GT.

The aerostar driveshaft came from a 1993 XLT, weighs 24lbs and will need to be shortened at least 12". The 88 GT's driveshaft weighs 29lbs. I think that once the aerostar driveshaft is shortened and has the lighter looking T5 yoke it'll weigh about 23lbs, making it about 6lbs lighter that the 88GT's driveshaft.

Bottlefed,

Thanks for the post, pictures and dimensions. I was going to crawl under my car today and measure the Aerostar diameter of mine. Odd looking yoke with that large ring. More like a harmonic balancer. I don't have that. My yoke looks like the one on your GT shaft.

If/when you get that Aerostar one shortened, I'd be interested in knowning the tube wall thickness. I didn't keep the section removed from mine.

I certianly don't think it's too thin to weld. I've got friends that TIG soda cans together as practice.

 

[ForceFed70]

Bottlefed,

Thanks for the post, pictures and dimensions. I was going to crawl under my car today and measure the Aerostar diameter of mine. Odd looking yoke with that large ring. More like a harmonic balancer. I don't have that. My yoke looks like the one on your GT shaft.

If/when you get that Aerostar one shortened, I'd be interested in knowning the tube wall thickness. I didn't keep the section removed from mine.

I certianly don't think it's too thin to weld. I've got friends that TIG soda cans together as practice.

I'll make sure to get them to check the wall thickness when I bring it in to be shortened.

From what I understand, the driveshaft from a AWD aerostar is a direct bolt-in for the 5.0L guys. The aerostar I got this DS from was just a RWD model. The AWD version is probably what you have.

The output yoke has me a little confused as well.. It seems needlessly big and heavy. I wondered if that ring wasn't for balancing like that rubber ring on some of the 5.0L automatic driveshafts, but it's made from solid steel.

Here's another pic of the 2 driveshafts side by side... you can really see how much larger the Aerostar driveshaft is in this pic...

 

[1320stang]

I've got an aluminum Crown Vic driveshaft for my '65, but I have no idea of the diameter or length. It's inside the car in a boz right now, but it's raining pretty heavy and I don't feel like going outside to check it out right now.

 

[bnickel]

the big ring on the end is an inertia ring, a lot of fords have them. my great grandmother's old galaxie 500 that i took the engine out of for my car had one of those as well. i think they were just supposed to help keep the driveshaft from ringing and singing. it's possible that it was help to keep the big heavier cars moving once they got going, not sure on that though. like i said though i've only seen them on bigger, heavier cars and i guess the aerostar would fall in the category of bigger and heavier

 

[RMODEL65]

i had one on my svo not a good thing when it came apart car feels like its gonna rattle to pieces

 

[brin0357]

Look on almost every ford truck, they all have those rings. At least all the mallcrawlers I have seen do.

 

[development1]

Hey Bottlefed70,

I am in the lower mainland as well, where abouts did you pick that Aerostar driveshaft up? The Pick a part in Chilliwack has driveshafts for 29 bucks, and mine looks exactly like yours.

 

[Helmantel]

The aerostar driveshaft came from a 1993 XLT, weighs 24lbs and will need to be shortened at least 12". The 88 GT's driveshaft weighs 29lbs. I think that once the aerostar driveshaft is shortened and has the lighter looking T5 yoke it'll weigh about 23lbs, making it about 6lbs lighter that the 88GT's driveshaft.

Those things are rather heavy. I just weighted a steel one out of a 65 4 speed 289 car and it's only 15 pounds. This thing is rather light duty, because it has a 25 spline yoke and a 2.75" diameter and of course it doesn't not have the (rear axle) mounting flange either. All the differences add up, but I wouldn't have guessed it to be half the weight of a (shorter) 88 GT driveshaft.

 

[NasaGT]

Just for weight reference: the stock steel driveshaft on my 02' Mustang was 21 lbs and the FRPP Aluminum driveshaft that I replaced it with was 13 lbs.

 

[ForceFed70]

Don't invest too much into those weight numbers I posted.

Over 50% of the weight of the aerostar driveshaft is in the differential and transmission yokes(wich will need to be changed anyway). Also the aerostar driveshaft is currently at least 12" too long. It'll loose a little weight in the shortening process.

I'll try to get weight numbers for the shafts only once I get them seperated.

 

[ForceFed70]

Hey Bottlefed70,

I am in the lower mainland as well, where abouts did you pick that Aerostar driveshaft up? The Pick a part in Chilliwack has driveshafts for 29 bucks, and mine looks exactly like yours.

I went to the pick a part in Kelowna. $29 sounds about right. Cost me $54 (taxes included) for the driveshaft and a 2 speed electric fan from a taurus.

 

[hsr]

Don't invest too much into those weight numbers I posted.

Over 50% of the weight of the aerostar driveshaft is in the differential and transmission yokes(wich will need to be changed anyway). Also the aerostar driveshaft is currently at least 12" too long. It'll loose a little weight in the shortening process.

I'll try to get weight numbers for the shafts only once I get them seperated.

You actually won't even use a yoke on the differential end of the shaft.

I can post the part numbers for my Spicer u joints if you need them.

 

[66forfun]

"I can post the part numbers for my Spicer u joints if you need them."

please do! I am making the swap AOD/8in now too

 

[hsr]

Spicer U joints installed in my '91 Aerostar driveshaft fitted to 8" rearend.

Front 5-153X M169DQ
Rear 5-153X M228DQ

 

[ForceFed70]

Spicer U joints installed in my '91 Aerostar driveshaft fitted to 8" rearend.

Front 5-153X M169DQ
Rear 5-153X M228DQ

Very helpful! Thank-you.

 

[66forfun]

thanks, just picked up one....they hit me for 45.00 though

 

[chromedog]

so the aerostar awd is a bolt in for a 65 coupe with an aod, correct? (i just want to make sure before i fork over 50.00 for one!)

 

[hsr]

so the aerostar awd is a bolt in for a 65 coupe with an aod, correct? (i just want to make sure before i fork over 50.00 for one!)

No. They need to be shortened.

 

[ForceFed70]

No. They need to be shortened.

Agreed.
They are only bolt in for the fox body guys....for classics you'll need to have it shortened.