Just wondering if anyone here is really familiar with the RX-2 drive shafts.

Are coupe and sedan shafts different in length at all?

Here's the basic story: I'm helping my friend with a '73 sedan put a later model 12A into his car with a later model 5 speed (80 I believe). My '73 coupe already has this same setup, so we've been using it as a template and for reference, etc. Lately though we've been running into issues getting everything to fit into his car.

Everything else we've measured is exactly the same: tranny length, engine block, etc. and the motor is sitting in the exact same place in relation to the motor mounts and all that. So, anway today we discovered that the driveshaft in my car is a little over 1" shorter on the front half when compared with his. My front section is around 12.75" and his is 14", which is preventing his from fitting properly.

So.. either the previous owner of my car had the drive shaft shortend (you sure can't tell by looking at it), or coupe shafts are 1 1/4" shorter than sedan shafts.

can anyone confirm?

Thanks,
Mike

 

was your car an auto before?
i know the auto shaft is shorter, and is want is needed to put later trani's with
bottom starter in. just get it shortened it doesnt cost that much to do.
matt

 

No, as far as I know mine wasn't an auto before but I've only had it 2 years or so. If the previous owner converted it from auto to manual I sure can't tell. What other ways are there to tell?

So I guess that's it, auto vs. manual instead of coupe/sedan. Anyone have an auto shaft lying around? Or I suppose like you suggested now, he'll have it shortened.. any rough ideas what that runs?

Thanks,
Mike

 

well there is a local machine shop in my town who i got the cut down a chev shaft for
me when i put a new 4L80E auto in my 89 truck, he charged me $75.00 to
cut it down and balance it. any drive line shop should be able to do it for that or less.
this is canadian dollars btw.
matt

 

I don't know where to look, but I'd search around to see if the wheelbases were different for the coupes vs sedans. I wouldn't think so, but it does seem reasonable. I'll bet Ausrotary folks (mates) would know.

 

I have a stock 2-piece driveshaft for an RX-2. let me know if you want the exact measurement and I will look into it this week.

 

Yeah, if you get a chance that would be cool.. for curiosities sake. His front section (just the tubing) was 14" and mine is 12.75"

Mike

 

End to end of shafts only. U-joint and its bracket (whatever you wanna call it), are not included
front 16 5/8" rear 26"

 

Hmm, that's weird. What car is that shaft from?

Mike

 

72 or 73 RX-2.