26.5" Collapsed Rear Drive Shaft - Was it ever stock?

[RubberDuck]

Was a 26.5" collapsed length rear drive shaft ever stock on a CJ7 ? Just picked up a 79 Renegade with some previous owner mods (T-15 Transmission w/Dana 20 instead of T-150 ). There were no drive shaft. I had a front that fit from a parts jeep that I have, but not the rear. It's 27.5" from U joint to U joint, so I figure 26 or 26.5 collapsed would be about right.

Hoping I don't have to get something made.

 

[Torxhead]

Driveshafts are measured u-joint center to u-jount center and give a little clearance for articulation. Modified CJs sometimes need a CV joint instead of conventional u-joint for the steep angles on the driveshaft that result from high clearance leaf springs. The best info on how a driveshaft should be set up is on Tom Woods Six States Driveline webpages in the technical section:
Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Driveline 101

 

[RubberDuck]

No big suspension mods, I just meant that it's a non-stock Transmission and Transfer Case combo. Measured center to center it's 27.5, so typically you'd want about an inch or so of play in either direction, correct? That's why I was wondering about the 26.5" collapsed length.

 

[73CJ]

26.5" sure doesn't need a CV shaft. Then you will need to rotate the axle as well.

CJ5 is around14" andCJ7 run around 20.9"

 

[Torxhead]

It would take quite a bit of compression to shorten a driveshaft 1", you might want to be concerned with spring wrap, since that can pull a driveshaft apart. If you have changed the Transmission location and length, that can affect the angle of the Transfer Case ,driveshaft, and pinion relationship. If you do not experience any driveline vibrations or excess u-joint wear, you are probably good to go.

 

[RubberDuck]

Looking online, it looks like the 26.5" collapsed length was stock on CJ-7s from 76-79 with a T-150 and Dana 20 Transfer Case . The T-15 was similar in size to a T-150 I think. There's not much lift on the jeep (probably an inch shackles and an inch body) and 30" tires. Driveline seems to line up as it should with no crazy angles.

Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts 5356508 - Rear Drive Shaft for 76-79 Jeep® CJ with 6 & 8 Cyl - Quadratec

I suppose I could just buy that, though I'm hoping I can find one used. At least now I know what to look for.

 

[Torxhead]

If you don't need a top of the line driveshaft, you might try a local driveshaft shop or even a junkyard, just bring your tape measure.

 

[RubberDuck]

CJs, or anything AMC era for that matter, are very tough to come by in local junk yards. I frequent all of them regularly There's tons of Cherokees and mid 90s Grand Cherokees. Don't know what other vehicles to look at that might work, I'm really only familiar with CJs and 60s era mustangs. With such a narrow window of years and 1 tranny/Transfer Case combo that this came stock on, it seems like it might be a bit of a needle in a haystack at local junkyards.