Paddy wrote on 08/27/13 at 14:56:56:

Just throwing out another idea, on my 54 3B F head, if the timing is slightly retarded, you can get a very subtle and rapid backfire thru the exhaust when you let off the gas and coast. It almost sounds like something rattling.
Matt
 

The two yokes on the shaft should be pointed the same way. So, if we went from the parking brake hub to the rear axle, the first joint you would set at vertical. The yoke attached to that, and the driveshaft, would be horizontal...the next set of cups would also be horizontal, then the final set attached to the diff would be vertical. The only way to alter this is to slide the driveshaft splines apart and slip it back together offset from where it should be. If you go 90 degrees out it will shake , as well as any other permutation that is not in line.

Some driveshafts only go together one way and on those you cannot get it wrong unless you break something or cut and weld. This applies to both front and rear shafts.

Here's a great Google find on driveshafts worth reading.
http://jniolon.clubfte.com/drivelinephasing/drivelinephasing.html

OK I understand now what in phase means.  I'll check that.  It's possible since I didn't know that I re-connected the propeller shafts incorrectly.  You know what they say about learning something new everyday.

One last shot at the above question that is not too clear.

Should the front propeller shaft and its u-joints be exactly parallel and in phase with the rear propeller shaft and its u-joints?

So that hypothetically, should I have four (4) joints on my two propeller shafts pointing at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and four (4) joints pointing at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock?

Thanks

This thread just came to mind...

http://www.cj3apage.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1374991505

Long shot but you never know....

Since you don't have lock-out hubs you could take the front drive shaft off to disengage the front axle and relieve the load on the T/C....but if it is inside the transfer case that may not make any difference...

If you were not fully disengaged and you are driving on asphalt you would almost certainly hear other noises, and you would feel it...

Paddy, how do you know if your 4whl lever is engaging or disengaging 4whl drive?

The only way I can think to test that is to jack up one front wheel and put the lever in 2whl drive. The wheel should turn. Put the lever in 4whl drive and the wheel should not turn. If you have lockout hubs they need to be locked to do the test.

Driving it on the road to test is not a reliable way to do that.

I still think your just hearing gear whine and rumble from worn gears. I wish a fellow CJ2 or 3 owner could drive or ride and listen to it.

With the TC in 4 wheel drive with all 4 tires on the ground you will not be able to turn the front drive shaft by hand. In 2 wheel drive you will be able to turn the front drive shaft. In neutral you will be able to turn both drive shafts.