Answered my own question -
There is a distinct difference in length between the 1981 axle shaft and the 1986+ axle shaft. Looks like another trip to the parts yard! ![Undecided :-\](https://board.marlincrawler.com/Smileys/marlin/undecided.gif)
Anyone have the length for the stock 1986+ axle shaft?
yep 3 inches, if you try to put a early shaft in a ifs housing you'll get what you got, NUTTIN cause the shafts just barely touches the side gears