I hope this is not the wrong place for this question but I have attempted to find the answer and have had no luck. I am in the process of installing an AOD into my 56 Mainline. The question I have is, can anyone advise on the driveshaft? Is there a U-Joint that will allow me to use the 56 driveshaft with the AOD yoke or what are my options? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
One factor on whether or not the original driveshaft will work with just a conversion u-joint depends on the length and position of the aod vs the removed ******. Driveshafts can be modified, not all that expensive to do, but certainly more $ than if you have one that will work with just a u joint change. In my '57 I have a 4R70W ****** (AOD morphed to AODE, which morphed to 4R70W), and the unmodified aluminum driveshaft out of the donner Mark VIII worked perfectly with just a 1" taller yoke added to the differential when I had that redone/modified. Not suggesting that is your best way to go, just saying there are options to explore. Others may have done the exact swap as far as components go. Engine/****** placement come in to play here as well, so just because someone else did the exact drivetrain doesn't necessarily mean you can use their dimensions/calculations for the driveshaft to fit your car.
BTW, almost any combination of "legs" on a ujoint is posible, you just need to bring the info for both components you are trying to join to your parts store. I do not know if the OAD ( or AOD, lol)yoke can be made to fit the 55 driveshaft, my guess would be yes, but I have worked with neither.
Thanks for the reply, I do have to set the motor and trans back in the car to get the driveshaft measurement. I do hope to be able to use the original shaft. I think it will be close. It'll be a few days before I get to do this but I'll post my findings. Thanks again
If you are keeping the stock rear end you can use a 1982-86 Crown Vic driveshaft and a Neapco 2-0291 conversion rear u-joint and it will bolt right up. (Unless your donor 5.0/302 & AOD came from a Lincoln which mine did I had to shorten the shaft 1.5") In your case you need a conversion u-joint from the AOD yoke to your '56 drive shaft. Try using the Live Chat here: https://www.drivetrainamerica.com/neapco-2-0291-2c-1310-conversion-u-joint/
Yes I'm running a 302, I just got back from Napa and they have ordered a conversion u-joint, we'll see how it fits. The joint won't get here until Wednesday, it's a good thing I don't need it right now, I still have plenty to do. Thanks for the drivetrain contact.
If you haven't installed the drivetrain yet, you may be getting ahead of yourself with the conversion ujoint if the driveshaft turns out to be an unusable length
I know, I'm just trying to do a little pre-planning. My hope is that it's either to long or it fits, in a dream world..right.
I've had the drive-train in once and failed to measure it, I guess that's why it's called a hobby. LOL I think it's an obsession. It does keep me sane.
If you used the Fox body Mustang motor mounts like it shows in the Sticky FAQ if you swap them side to side one way will put the engine closer to the firewall the other way moves it forward. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/289-302-351w-swap-mounts.41498/
I used the Mustang mounts, installed them so that the motor is further away from the firewall and YES the driveshaft is too short. I will let you guys know if the u-joint would work or not. Now on to finding a driveshaft. 57 inches center of eye to center of eye. Any ideas?
Just learned tonight about Southwest Speed selling driveshafts on Amazon for $ 219 !! Seems too good to be true but I looked it up myself. Found it on the Hamb main board. Check it out.
Great information, it does seem too good to be true. Can anyone say if the pinion yoke from an 8 or 8.8 inch rear end will fit the original 56 rear end? I would to go ahead and make that change if I'm going to have to do the driveshaft change. I plan on an 8.8 later. Thanks, for the info.
fwiw........having an existing driveshaft shortened in this area is about $65 I'm told. Lengthened ia around 100.
When I did my '54 I have the mounts set so it is closer to the firewall this puts the AOD right on the stock trans cross member using a ANCHOR 2253 mount (see picture) the drive shaft is a 1986 Crown Vic unit with a NEAPCO 2-0291 conversion rear U-joint that will bolt it up to the 1949-56 style rear ends with no alterations unless your AOD came from a Lincoln like mine I had to shorten the drive shaft 1.5" this works on 1954-56 cars.
My trans mount worked out within an inch of the original mount location and yes the trans is out of a Lincoln. Thanks for the link, I'm sure I will need it. Are most of the later model shafts using the 1310 u-joint? I'm going to the old Pick and Pull Thursday to scout out a driveshaft, if the rain will hold off.
From what I could find out the 1982-86 Crown Vics interchange, you might want to see if there is a Ford only salvage yard that has them already pulled and tagged some Pick N Pulls move cars around with those giant forklifts and mess up the drive shafts.
I checked in at NAPA today and the u-joint they ordered did not work, the parts guy was out of suggestions.
Well, I have decided to order a shaft, after giving it some thought I think it will work out best. Thanks to everyone's input.
Disappointing to hear about your Napa experience. I suspect the guy just didn't know how to find or put together what you need. It's not that big of a deal actually, just need all of the dimensions. There is only a handful of the main center sections, the rest is done by interchanging caps. My O'reilly's guy could have ordered what I needed, but I was in a hurry, so we ***embled what I needed by me buying an extra u-joint that had the cap size and configuration I needed
So after doing some research here is what I found out most 1952 and up Fords use the Moog 280 front U-joint (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...7sg5t_BzIPB7-0EkKIvUjxRx_WE9VDkhoCzKgQAvD_BwE) And so does the 1984 Lincoln MK VII which is the donor engine & AOD in my '54 the front yoke is this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-C4-AO...rentrq:d759ec091650aa16a5217e88fff95b01|iid:1 Which uses the same MOOG 280 U-joint. So get this U-joint and yoke and install it on your drive shaft and it should be a done deal.
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