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Topic: 351w with c4 driveshaft (Read 2097 times) previous topic - next topic

351w with c4 driveshaft

I have a 87 tc that came with a 5 speed but I have swapped it out and put in a 351w with a c4. My problem is my driveshaft is about three inches to short. I was wondering if anyone has done this swap and what drive shaft they used or did they have one made. I was wondering if a factory 5.0 with an AOD driveshaft would be longer.

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #1 –
The 5 speed and AOD D-shafts are within 3/4" of one another... Guessing you'd need one from a earlier Bird that used the C5....

Someone posted a chart of tranny lengths recently, dig around a little here in Drivetrain Tech...

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #2 –
Right.  The AOD is longer than a C4, and so you'll need a longer driveshaft.  I haven't hooked one up yet, so I don't know the length yet.
1987 TC

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #4 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;277935
The 5 speed and AOD D-shafts are within 3/4" of one another... Guessing you'd need one from a earlier Bird that used the C5....

Someone posted a chart of tranny lengths recently, dig around a little here in Drivetrain Tech...


So a 3.8 AOD car and a 5.0 AOD car have the same driveshaft?
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #5 –
ThunderJet302...I would say YES they are the same length. I was able be re-used my V6 one with my V8.
1988 Thunderbird
306 HO w/ A9P processor
AOD w/ Transgo Reprogrammer
Full Digital Dash w/ twin Cyberdyne A-pillar gauges 
245/50/16 Tires on Snowflakes
Engine swap - CA smog compliant

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #6 –
I'm curious as to what that C4 came out of...when my buddy went straight six/c4 to 302/T-5 in his '71 Maverick, we reused the OE shaft like it was made to be.
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #7 –
Quote from: thunderjet302;278081
So a 3.8 AOD car and a 5.0 AOD car have the same driveshaft?


not necessarily.  I measured the two I have.  The 5.0 AOD from an '87 XR7 w/8.8 and the 3.8 AOD from an '88 Tbird with 7.5 are different.
1987 TC

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #8 –
I see the chart from the other post and the t5 and c4 are very close in length. I used v8 engine mounts (from motor to motor mount) from a 87 5.0 cougar and 87 motor mounts from a tbird. Do you guys know if there are short tail shaft c4's. I got the c4 from my stepdad and he said he thought it came from a 2wd pickup truck. I was able to modify my t5 crossmeber to make it work. Is it possible to get the engine mounts backwards and have the engine to far foward. I used a 351w swap oil pan from ford racing and the engine placement looks perfic between the two humps on the oil pan.
Any help would be nice so I don't have to buy a custom driveshaft

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #9 –
I swapped my aod to c-4 c-5, and i used the same driveshaft. It fit perfectly. Tranny crossmember just didnt line up right. Was 1" or so to far back!!!!  this is mustang though! driveshaft was same lenth,same spline as aod, Almost a direct swap!!!
1987 T-bird SportCoupe,302,5spd,8.8,3.27s,pbr brakes,spindles,2003 rear,18inch 06 gt rims!!!!:evilgrin:
2006 Gt Mustang,3v,5spd,8.8,3.55s,GT500rims.
1990 T-bird LX,3.8,aod,loaded,stock!!
1999 Trailblazer(wifes rig)

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #10 –
i'm going c4 soon, is my stock driveshaft going to work?
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #11 –
it should but if you still have the 7.5 then that will need to GOOO

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #12 –
I'm planning on swapping my drive shaft because I have another car with it already pulled out, and my car has bad u-joints. When I get around to it, I will measure both and do a side by said comparison.

My car is a 88 5.0 with the AOD. The other car is a 87 3.8 with the AOD, so I guess I won't have any problems there thinking about it.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #13 –
i still have the 7.5 and for some reason i cant break it....6000rpm nuetral drops on a daily basis and its still holding strong.....

will my driveshaft still work with a c4 and 8.8 though?
Currently Birdless but never Foxless

86 Mustang GT

351w with c4 driveshaft

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Dougy_Fresh;295102
i still have the 7.5 and for some reason i cant break it....6000rpm nuetral drops on a daily basis and its still holding strong.....

will my driveshaft still work with a c4 and 8.8 though?


It's going to be hilarious when your torque boxes start to tear away from the body and you lose control driving down the highway and die. :makefun:
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads