I am in need of some help. I put a 5" skyjacker(?) lift on my 83 pickup. I was under the impression that my stock shaft just needed to be lengthened. After looking it over, I saw that it would make a great paper weight. The one I got from the shop is long enough but it will not drop enough to get to the axle, about 2” short. I was told that an IFS shaft does not flex as much as a solid axle’s. From my transfer case to my axle is 10” on flat ground.

Will a stock shaft that has been lengthened work with the angle to the front axle? I know I’m not the only one that has tried this set up, so please give me your input and thoughts.

Thanks,
Bru

 

Not sure what you have in there now, but if it is a CV from and IFS shaft, see:
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/cvmod/

Other options are to use a u-joint in place of the CV joint. Why? U-joints have much more angle capability than a CV joint and they are shorter to boot, making the shaft angle less. Or run a high pinion front diff. or move the front axle forward or install a 2nd transfer case (all of which also lessen the front driveshaft angle). Or rotate the front axle housing:
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/rotated_housing/

 

I had an 84 that I did the same size lift to and 4crawler has it. I moved my front axle forward 6 inces and used a ujoint. This did multiple things for me. First since I moved the rear axle back at the same time 7 inches I gained 13 inches of wheel base and also increased my approach angle a good bit to boot.

Pete

 

I had thought that you could use the stock shaft without having to move the axle. I was thinking of pushing my axle forward but not yet. A buddy put 4” YJ springs (gaining about 6”) on his 85 and was able to use his stock shaft so I figured I’d be OK.
Back to the drawing boards.
Thanks
Bru

 

Figure out what is hanging up the front shaft. Still not sure what you have up there, but you can open up the CV joint to move a little more. Around 35 degrees is about the max on the Toyota CV. See what you are getting now and if less than that, you have room for improvement.

 

I think they sold me a jacked up CV. I don't think it is close to 35. I talked to a couple of places today and they said that the stocker works after it has been lengthened.

Thanks
Bru