Metal Matrix Driveshafts No Longer Available

[FordNut]

Spoke with Dynotech today, trying to figure out the best approach for my tranny upgrade/driveshaft shortening project. I thought it may be better to just get a new one in the length I needed and then sell my old one. Nope. The material is no longer available to make them. You can get steel, 3.5" aluminum, 4" aluminum, or Carbon Fiber. So I guess I'll be getting mine shortened. Moral of the story, if you've got one it's irreplaceable. If you want one, sorry.

Side note, I asked if CF would be good and they said it's good for racing but not street/strip because it can be damaged by side impacts such as rocks or other road debris flying up and hitting it.

[Shora]

Spoke with Dynotech today, trying to figure out the best approach for my tranny upgrade/driveshaft shortening project. I thought it may be better to just get a new one in the length I needed and then sell my old one. Nope. The material is no longer available to make them. You can get steel, 3.5" aluminum, 4" aluminum, or Carbon Fiber. So I guess I'll be getting mine shortened. Moral of the story, if you've got one it's irreplaceable. If you want one, sorry.

Side note, I asked if CF would be good and they said it's good for racing but not street/strip because it can be damaged by side impacts such as rocks or other road debris flying up and hitting it.

Good info.

Is the 4" alum. rated near or higher than the matrix shaft?

[BlackIce]

Good info.

Is the 4" alum. rated near or higher than the matrix shaft?

The 4" 6061 aluminum shaft is almost as strong as the 3.5" metal matrix shaft. Since the metal matrix material hasn't been available for a while, I had to go with the 4" shaft for my Mark VIII and am very happy with it. I would stay away from the 3.5" 6061 shaft unless you have no plans of gear changes and/or dragstrip passes.

[Agent M79]

That's disappointing. Guess I'll have to stick to the mop handle.

[offroadkarter]

I know of someone who has a carbon fiber driveshaft on their MGM, they haven't had any problems on Nj roads :D

[Zack]

There will always be the Cop Driveshafts at the junkyard.

[Joe Walsh]

I know of someone who has a carbon fiber driveshaft on their MGM, they haven't had any problems on Nj roads :D

I've had a Carbon Fiber driveshaft on my Marauder for @ 3 years with no problems....of course, I don't take it off road too often.
It has seen plenty of 1/4 mile runs!

[Dennis Reinhart]

Spoke with Dynotech today, trying to figure out the best approach for my tranny upgrade/driveshaft shortening project. I thought it may be better to just get a new one in the length I needed and then sell my old one. Nope. The material is no longer available to make them. You can get steel, 3.5" aluminum, 4" aluminum, or Carbon Fiber. So I guess I'll be getting mine shortened. Moral of the story, if you've got one it's irreplaceable. If you want one, sorry.

Side note, I asked if CF would be good and they said it's good for racing but not street/strip because it can be damaged by side impacts such as rocks or other road debris flying up and hitting it.


I told of this last year the 4" 6061 is a good shaft I have one MMDS I have saved

[KillJoy]

There will always be the Cop Driveshafts at the junkyard.


Qhat is so special about them? Why are they better than ours? How do they compare to the MMX ones?

:dunno:

KillJoy

[FordNut]

Qhat is so special about them? Why are they better than ours? How do they compare to the MMX ones?

:dunno:

KillJoy
They are basically the same as the Dynotech MMX ones, they were factory installed on the CVPI for a number of years.

[duhtroll]

Which years?


They are basically the same as the Dynotech MMX ones, they were factory installed on the CVPI for a number of years.

[UncleLar]

Qhat is so special about them? Why are they better than ours? How do they compare to the MMX ones?

:dunno:

KillJoy
I'd like to know too if you don't mind Zack?

[RoyLPita]

I was told the 2000 CVPI has the MMX shaft.

[Dennis Reinhart]

it is a aluminum drive shaft, not a metal matrix drive shaft, and a 2000 will not fit a 03 Marauder

[duhtroll]

Damn, 'cuz there's a 2000 CVPI in my driveway that I could cannibalize.

[offroadkarter]

Some CVPI's have it but i bet you need the extended tailshaft housing so your transmission wont spew guts allover the highway.

I dont know what years it was exactly, and i dont think it was every car from that year, more likely the 3.55 equipped cars (which are hard to find)

[UncleLar]

After some research it seems all the 1999 and up til mid year CVPI P71's were equipped with 3.55 gears and MMX drive shafts that should fit in MM's.
Look for a drive shaft with the three color paint stripe code as follows behind the slip yoke on the front of the shaft,Pink,Green,Blue,in that order from front to rear. That comes from the guys on crownvic.net and they're as knowledgeable about their panthers as we are about ours.
Best bet if you do a boneyard crawl is measure the MM shaft first and if you find one of the above shafts measure it but I'm told it's the right fit for MM's.

[Fourth Horseman]

Can anybody give me a ballpark figure on what a carbon fiber drive shaft costs for our cars?

[FordNut]

Around $800

[Fourth Horseman]

Around $800

Thank you.

[TooManyFords]

Brian,

Are you looking for a 4" Steel for use with a TH400? I just had one made last week and today I ordered parts that make it about 30" too long and the wrong u-joints at the tail end. Rather than cut it up I could sell it for what I got in it and have another made...

John

[FordNut]

I'll get my MMC shaft shortened to fit with the 4R100.

[J D]

I should have posted this earlier as I doubt anyone is still watching, but this was discussed to greater detail in a topic I remember a few months ago: here (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45068)


Also no one ever answered UncleLar, WHAT IS the critical for the MMX DS w/4.10s?

[Wires]

What? So I finally did something right. I don't know how that happened.


I told of this last year the 4" 6061 is a good shaft I have one MMDS I have saved

If times get hard, Dennis will be holding an auction for the last one!

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

duplicate------------

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

it is a aluminum drive shaft, not a metal matrix drive shaft, and a 2000 will not fit a 03 Marauder

Some of the service replacement CVPI shafts were indeed metal matrix. Here is a Ford TSB stating that some of the CVPI's had an MMC (metal matrix composite) shaft. FOr a 99 it shows the part # for the MMC CVPI service replacement shaft is XW7Z-4602-AA.

The TSB below states that "The MMC driveshaft can be identified by the pink/green stripes around the driveshaft tube. The aluminum driveshaft will have pink/blue/orange stripes"

http://www.p71interceptor.com/rearsprings/tsb99181.pdf


:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[UncleLar]

I've been told the MMX driveshaft has Pink,Green,and Blue stripes in that order from front to rear at the front of the shaft behind the slip yoke.
Evidently ALL 99 and early 2000 CVPI's had 3.55 gears and should have the MMX driveshaft regardless of Traction Lock or open rear ends.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Finally the information comes out despite attempts to quash it. So go get yourself a 99+ CVPI shaft from a junkyard car, verified by the paint stripe code as being the mmc service replacement, as long as it is not bent. Presto, you now have a 3.5" diameter metal matrix composite driveshaft. $15 at your local u pull it instead of however much an aftermarket one is.

[duhtroll]

I'll be taking a look under my early 2000 CVPI as soon as it stops raining. :) Might haveta do a swap.


Finally the information comes out despite attempts to quash it. So go get yourself a 99+ CVPI shaft from a junkyard car, verified by the paint stripe code as being the mmc service replacement, as long as it is not bent. Presto, you now have a 3.5" diameter metal matrix composite driveshaft. $15 at your local u pull it instead of however much an aftermarket one is.

[Drock96Marquis]

AMMC/AMMX/MMX/MMC (whatever you'd like to call it, Ford says MMC) driveshafts were factory installed on very late 1999 and 2000 model Police Interceptors, and retrofitted to some earlier 1999 CVPIs as a service replacement for the driveline vibration/speed limiter reflash TSB. These years also had a 3.55 rear axle ratio as standard equipment (hence the upgraded driveshaft)
2001+ models do not have the MMC shaft, even those optioned with the 3.55 RAR (from the factory that is). There was supposed to be a larger, 4" aluminum shaft in development for the new CVPIs to raise the speed limiter back up to a respectable level to compete with the Impala and Charger, but I don't know what came about with that.


UncleLar is right on with the color stripes. In order from the slip yoke - pink, green and last blue. You will also note the Alcoa, Police, and (on most) MMC printed labels.



Some CVPI's have it but i bet you need the extended tailshaft housing so your transmission wont spew guts allover the highway.The Marauders, like the CVPIs (and Town Cars) already use the extended tailshaft housing.

As for a 99-2000 shaft not fitting a 2003, the lengths are the same, slip yoke o/d and spline count are the same, companion flange is the same. Shouldn't be an issue. :shrug:



Qhat is so special about them? Why are they better than ours? How do they compare to the MMX ones?As mentioned above, they are made using the same material (MMX)

They are lighter and stronger than your stock Marauder aluminum shaft, or any other CVPI aluminum shaft for that matter.
Like all CVPI drive shafts, they also do not use the dampener on the yoke like your stock MM shaft does. Not sure if there is any real benefit to that other than less rotating mass a possible increased NVH :lol:

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Shouldn't be an issue. :shrug:

But if you tell people that the MMX driveshaft you can get for $50 or less from a junkyard *won't* fit then they are forced to buy a new "custom" one.