Pinto Car Club of America

hello everyone! i read on here a thread awhile back that changing a 6 3/4" rear out for the 8" rear that the driveshaft would have to be shortend by 1". is this so and has any one had problems with vibration issues? the reason i ask is because i took mine to be cut and rebalanced. and he told me that i may have some issues with vibration and not being able to guarantee the balance bcause of the shaft being two peice and having the rubber in there. is this right and is there anything i can do to keep this form happening?

thanks glen 

Glen,
  Not sure of your whole setup but....

I converted my '73:

2.0, C-4 Auto, 6-3/4"

To:

2.3, T-5,  8"

The good news is that the original driveshaft fit perfectly.

As I said, I'm not sure of your configuration/ parts availability, but if you have a similar arrangement the cost of the driveshaft modification might be near that of the T-5.  I know the local Pick A Part runs a 50% off sale about ever 4-6 weeks.  A T-5 (even without providing a core) is about $100 out the door!

Anyway, just an idea. Sometimes the right mix/match gets more bang for the buck.

Otherwise I'm sorry to say I can't answer your question.
Tom

Hi Pintoman1,
The two piece shaft was there to cut the shock to the driveline with gear changes. It breaksdown with time/use like any old rubber. A company near me (Driveline Service, Ca.) takes them and burns out the rubber, pulls them apart, then re-welds them shorter to one piece. Big ha$$le. The two piece type is VERY heavy. I decided to go with a shortened ALUMINUM drive shaft out of a ford Aerostar minivan. Saves LBS and puts more power to the ground PLUS it's one piece to start. You can also look for a Pinto with an 8 inch rear from the factory as a possible replacement. Like the previous post, not sure of your current combo to be of more help...
71HANTO

hi have the 2000 with the standard 4spd trans. with the standard driveshaft. the rear is from a '77 wagon that had a v-6 in it. i put the rear in my '73 runabout. i changed the axles out for 5-lug and the rotors for 5-lug.