In the past I have taken police crown vic`s with aluminum drive shafts and had shortened to E body length {conversion 1330 joints}. Has anyone done the same with the new rear drive challenger /charger{ may not be AL} ??

No idea on your question, but I'd like more info on E body:
What year Crown?
What's the diameter?
Weight savings?
Typical cost to shorten?
Harder/more expensive for aluminum?

Thx

Couldn't tell you what the Challenger driveshafts are, but IIRC both ends use the Mercedes style flexible disk instead of universal joints. Because the differential is bolted to the frame there is no need for the extra expense of u-joints.

R.

Police interceptor`s 97 up+ in that style. Also some of the earlier aero-star vans were AL, but longer. I believe they were 3.5 shafts. I can checkthe actual Diam. and thickness if you like .. as I still have the cut off section in the garage from ~ 2003.That is the problem with a lot of the other Al shafts out there.. they were too large in Dia. .Was a lot lighter than OEM steel, but I forget the actual #`s . Pricing was certainly economical vs new alum purchase I think it was ~$100 cut weld{ no issues with balance }and $50-60 for shaft{junkyard }. Worked well ... but needed the asymmetrical U joints to go 1330 ford shaft 7290 mopar yoke not really a problem{spicer } .

That's a great idea, RTshaker. Awesome when people figure stuff like this out instead of spending big dollars.

I have'nt seen a Charger DS, but even though the diff is fixed it should still have a slip joint for engine/transmission movement and should also have CV joints........which I believe is better and smoother, at least that's what the 4x4 crowd with lift-kits go to.

How about something like a newer Ford Ranger? Have you sized one of them up?

For new

http://www.manciniracing.com/6061aluminum.html

Site sponsor too.

Another cool part from those older Crown Vics and Grand Marquis is the tranny cooler. And it doesn't have to be a police unit. It will fit our radiator opening without too much modifications AND has a thermostat to control the temp.

I usually give $25 at the pick and pull yards for them. They have the power steering cooler as part of the unit, but is not a problem if you don't need it.

Grizz, obviously you haven't been under a Mercedes or late RWD
Chrysler.
Yes the driveshaft has a slip joint. On my Mercedes it's in the middle with a shaft support keeping it stable. The transmission and the differential have a 3-finger arrangement with a pilot stub sticking out. See this Craigslist ad:
https://jxn.craigslist.org/pts/5360673749.html
The transmission and the differential connect to the driveshaft with what looks like a heavy duty steering shaft rag joint.

There are no constant velocity joints in the engine-to-transmission driveshaft. The halfshafts from diff to wheel hub do have them, but tht's a different kettle of fish.

R