Has anybody tried putting a short bed/4-runner drive line on a lifted long bed truck with dual transfer cases? I think it would work but I want to hear from someone who has done it.
wasn't helpful.

 

The driveline will not work, as it is the wrong length. The long beds are about 12 inches longer, the dual case only adds about 6-8".

 

I don't understand your first sentence.
For clarification the wheel base is a little over 9" difference. 9.25".
Dual cases 6-8" plus 4" TG lift= around 7.5-9.5".
It seems to me that it would be a nice low budget drive line option.

 

isn't the 'long bed' a two-piece rear axle?
well, I know my 91 2wd is... so...?

 

My bad. Should have specified. It's for an 87 reg cab long bed. One piece drive line.
My 91 is a two piece as well.

 

4" lift does not equal 4 inch longer driveline.

 

I never said a 4" lift equals a 4" longer drive line. I'm said it equals about a 1-1.5" longer drive line.
So the section of t-case that is used is 4.25", the t-case adapter is another 2.5", and the 4" lift equals 1-1.5".
4.25+2.5+1.5=8.25"
So it seems that they are within 1" of each other.
Maybe a better question is;
How much of the slip yoke is exposed on a stock truck? Because you may be able to fully compress the slip yoke and run a stock short bed/4-runner drive line.

 

There is only about 3-4" usable inches of slip yoke to play with, and if you wheel and flex beyond that, it will pop out.

I would just get your driveline shortened (or lengthened, as the case may be) it would cost about the same as just buying a new one, and you have the peace of mind knowing its the correct part.

 

Buying a used drive line for $50 is cheaper then having it shortened and rebalanced. Drive line work in my area is around $400. I'm not asking for somebody to make a decision for me. I'm asking if anybody has done this successfully. Anybody?

 

Well i am TRYING to help you out here. I am TELLING you the drivelines are different lengths, I went through this SAME problem when I installed my dual cases in mine.

 

$400 to shorten a driveshaft?! All that needs doing is two cuts a weld and balancing. Unless they charge more per hour than Eliot Spitzer's call girl, it shouldn't cost $400.

 

I know the drive lines are different lengths. Thats what I want. Have you tried this with a long bed truck? Because, it seems that you currently only have 4-runners. It just seems so close that it could work. I just don't have access to a short bed drive line to try when the time comes. So I would prefer to have one waiting to go in, and be pretty sure it will fit(someone saying they have done this).
Thanks matt16 I agree it shouldn't.

 

your REALLY questioning Deathkitteh??
the only one on here who has done that and lived to tell the tale is Abe...

 

84-95 std cab wheelbase is 103",
84-88 std cab w/ longbed wheelbase is 112"
84-88 xcab w/ longbed wheelbase is 121.5"
89-95 std cab w/ longbed wheelbase is 112.2"
89-95 xcab w/ longbed wheelbase is 121.9"

that means the rear wheels can potentially be over 18" farther back with xcab/longbed and even if you're looking at the std cab / longbed it's 9 inches.
and a lift kit will not help your situation.
something you may be able to do to help yourself out a bit is:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...ftSpacer.shtml

 

Abecedarian:
Thanks for the link and chassis lengths. Those were the measurements I've been going off of. Long bed reg. cab(my truck) and short bed reg. cab/4runner(driveline to go in). Only 9" difference, exactly. with doublers and lift taking up 8.25" of difference. So it seems I'm within 3/4" of each other. Drive shaft being to long. I guess I will just buy the short bed shaft and report back. If it doesn't work at least I will have extra yokes for a front shaft.

 

Abe....
How do you figure that a lift kit will not help the situation. As you go up the shaft has to be longer. Otherwise there wouldn't be a need for a slip yoke.

 

exactly- as you lift the truck up the driveshaft has to be longer which the slip yoke can compensate for to an extent. you should not rely on the yoke to let you extend the shaft to mate to your xfer case as DC said above or you risk overextending it when the driveline droops and pulling the yoke out of the shaft.

 

Abe...
I don't think your seeing the whole picture. Short drive line in long truck WITH dual cases and TG 4" lift which seems to be more like 6". Check out post 7 for a breakdown.

 

Overextending the slip yoke wouldn't be the issue. Bottoming out the slip yoke would be the issue.

 

I get exactly what you said above.
I'm not sure how you're figuring that lifting the truck is going to somehow make the driveshaft longer since the axle is moving away from the transmission.