Stage One Front Propshaft

[buckbeaumont]

Hi guys,

I picked up myself a SIII Stage One 3.5 V8 recently and currently in the process of getting her on the road.

I was told that the Propshaft that was included in the tub was only taken off to measure up but upon having a closer look when I got home, the propshaft appears to be off a 4cyl Series III 😒

It seems buying a new front prop shaft for the stage one is quite an expensive exercise... Just wondering if anyone has any idea of where I may be able to get an affordable used one? Or any ideas about using one from another Land Rover that won't require a huge amount of modification to fit?

Also, for the time being if I am going to run the car without the shaft in place would you recommend the center diff being locked or unlocked?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Cheers

[101RRS]

You will not be able to drive the car with the front drive shaft removed and the CDL unlocked as all drive will just go to the front with nothing to the rear.

As far as I am aware the standard Stage 1 front drive shaft is a double carden unit so is pretty well unique - others may fit but not sure what - County??

Garry

[jerryd]

I have Stage 1 V8 axles fitted and have the double cardan front propshaft, should the smaller part of the shaft connect to the transfer box or the diff ??

Not meaning to hijack the original post [bigwhistle]

[101RRS]

Same as a D2 - the double carden should be bolted to the transfer case (I think - I am sure - lol)

[JDNSW]

Yes. The double cardan joint needs to go to the transfer case. As far as I know, there is no alternative to a shaft designed for the Stage 1, although it may be possible to modify a D1 or D2 or maybe non Landrover ones - I do not know how easy this would be - critical bits are the length (including movement allowed on the spline) and the type of fitting on the ends. Less obvious are limits on angle of joints.

The County is not a replacement, I don't think - they do not use a double cardan, but reduce vibration by not harmonising the joints. Something like this may be possible, but you would have to experiment, and the odds are you would end up spending as much as a proper one and still not have a satisfactory solution. Same applies to modifying a shaft off something else to fit, for that matter.