What is involved in installing a divorced 205?

[muddybuddy]

cool idea, more u-joints to worry about. which setup is considered stronger? married or divorced?

 

[imiceman44]

cool idea, more u-joints to worry about. which setup is considered stronger? married or divorced?

Divorced is longer, but on LWB trucks or vans that is an advantage. Makes the rear shorter, and the front longer.

 

[divorced]

cool idea, more u-joints to worry about. which setup is considered stronger? married or divorced?

In stock form, I would say a divorced setup is stronger and more reliable. Although there are 2 more u-joints to worry about, there is no coupler (as used with a married 205) to worry about wearing out or breaking. The input and both output shafts are 32 spline on a Dodge divorced case. There is no front CV shaft.


A divorced case isn't practical for many people though because of the loss of ground clearance. It really depends on what your specific needs are. I don't do rocks, so the clearance issue wasn't a concern for me.

Pro's of a divorced case:

1. Good driveshaft angles when you have more than 6" of lift without using a high $$$ CV shaft (I hate CV shafts).

2. The front and rear shafts can be made identical so if you break the back one you can swap the front one in until you get a new shaft.

3. I can change to any 2wd transmission, automatic or manual, without spending $11 million for an output shaft change and varoius adapters and couplers. I could even put a Ford engine/transmission in and all I would have to do is get the intermediate shaft made ($100).

 

[Jackedup86GMC]

Divorced has already said this, but the main reason for me to switch is the driveshaft angles. I live in South East Texas, so I don't do rocks. But we do have alot of mud. So clearence isn't an issue for me either. Thanks again to Divorced for posting all those great pics!

 

[muddybuddy]

In stock form, I would say a divorced setup is stronger and more reliable. Although there are 2 more u-joints to worry about, there is no coupler (as used with a married 205) to worry about wearing out or breaking. The input and both output shafts are 32 spline on a Dodge divorced case. There is no front CV shaft.


A divorced case isn't practical for many people though because of the loss of ground clearance. It really depends on what your specific needs are. I don't do rocks, so the clearance issue wasn't a concern for me.

Pro's of a divorced case:

1. Good driveshaft angles when you have more than 6" of lift without using a high $$$ CV shaft (I hate CV shafts).

2. The front and rear shafts can be made identical so if you break the back one you can swap the front one in until you get a new shaft.

3. I can change to any 2wd transmission, automatic or manual, without spending $11 million for an output shaft change and varoius adapters and couplers. I could even put a Ford engine/transmission in and all I would have to do is get the intermediate shaft made ($100).

so could you technically run a divorced doubler? like have a married 203 to the tranny, then a short shaft to a divorced 205? i know the 203 front output might get in the way, but if you were using a divorced 205 then it wouldnt matter right? might be too redneck and ugly, but it would be a cheap way to get 4:1...could that work?

 

[imiceman44]

so could you technically run a divorced doubler? like have a married 203 to the tranny, then a short shaft to a divorced 205? i know the 203 front output might get in the way, but if you were using a divorced 205 then it wouldnt matter right? might be too redneck and ugly, but it would be a cheap way to get 4:1...could that work?

yeah and I believe you are not the first to think about it, I said it 2 years ago and someone said they had done it already.

 

[Jackedup86GMC]

I don't see why it couldn't work in a LWB. It would be way too long for a K5 though.

 

[muddybuddy]

that definitely seems like the cheapest way to get 4:1. agreed it would definitely need to be a long bed.....maybe my next truck