[DeTomaso] Slippery Slope: Shift Linkage U-Joints, Replacements

Charles Engles cengles at cox.net
Tue Jan 27 19:39:40 EST 2009


Dear Will and Chris,


                How many u-joints are there in the Pantera linkage?  Without looking, I think that there are, umm..., about three??


                               Curious,  Chuck Engles



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <wkooiman at earthlink.net>
To: "Chris Difani" <cdifani at pacbell.net>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Slippery Slope: Shift Linkage U-Joints, Replacements


> I'm doing the same thing, except I sourced it all from Quella.  His price for the u-joints was in the $70's.  I figured I could save a little by figuring it out myself, but this way I know it's right.
> 
> He also rebuilt the shifter, plus he noticed my turn-buckle was bent, so he straightened it.
> 
> Some of my original u-joints were fine, some had slop.  I'm replacing all of them, though.  There's no sense in having it all apart and doing a half-anal-lubed job.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Chris Difani <cdifani at pacbell.net>
>>Sent: Jan 27, 2009 3:02 AM
>>To: detomaso at realbig.com
>>Subject: [DeTomaso] Slippery Slope: Shift Linkage U-Joints, Replacements
>>
>>Guys:
>>
>>This is another report from the slippery slope.... really, really far down the slope....
>>
>>I've been looking at my shift linkage rod, the piece that extends back from the ZF, to the rod that extends out of the firewall.  The piece that has the length adjustment in it's center, has ends that are 14MM in diameter, with 36 splines, and may have a small, very, very stiff u-joint on each end.  
>>
>>Those small u-joints are the subject of my report.  
>>
>>My linkage u-joints are, well to be charitable, I'll simply call them "stiff".  They're in relatively good shape for 35 year old mechanisms, but even after a thorough and enthusiastic cleaning, they remained stiff beyond hope.  Or at least stiffer than I want them to be.  So I started to look into replacements.  I was surprised to find that the 14MM by 36 spline size is relatively common (or at least they're listed in catalogs).  I found them in Summit, Jegs, and a few other vendors.  They came in both stainless, and nickel plated steel.  And what was the best news, was that these new u-joints are not the "block" type of small u-joint like our OEM units, but rather a full needle bearing style of u-joint.  
>>
>>Then of course, there's the price.  They aren't cheap.... but you knew that already (when you're this far down the slope, cost is secondary!).  I bought the nickel plated versions, made by Flaming River (part number FR-1761 or Summit part number FLA-FR1761) and they were $68 each to my door.  One peculiarity about these items is that Summit, and Jegs both wait until they get an actual order before they order the part in from the manufacturer.  Even though the online catalog says "will be in stock in 12 days", it won't really ever be "in stock" until someone actually orders one.  I didn't realize that, so I waited for a couple of months for the part to "be in stock", so I could order them.  I finally got disgusted with Summit, and ordered from another vendor, Hot RodUSA.  They had the u-joints dropped shipped from Flaming River, plus they beat Summits price.  
>>
>>I received the u-joints 4 days after placing my order, and they are very nicely made.  Extremely well made, well finished, and very precise.  In terms of dimensions, the Flaming River u-joints are almost identical to the OEM units, being at most, 1.2MM smaller in diameter, and 1MM shorter in overall length.  The fit onto the shaft splines is excellent.  
>>
>>The "action" of the new u-joints is flawless.  There is no "drag", or resistance when the u-joint is flexed.  It's range of motion is perfectly smooth, and with no rough spots.  The only significant difference in the design is the Flaming River u-joints use a set screw with a locking nut to secure itself to the shaft.  The OEM u-joints use a pinch bolt design.  I'm not sure if either method is superior to the other, but I do believe that the set screw will prove to be sufficient.  
>>
>>I can't give you a function report yet, but that's only because my ZF is still on it's stand, right next to my engine.  Hopefully in the next two months, I'll get back to the list with a performance report.  But I can say that compared to my OEM shift linkage u-joints, these new Flaming River u-joints are far superior in all respects.
>>
>>Hope this helps,
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>Chris Difani
>>'73 L #5829 "LITNNG"
>>The Electric Pantera
>>Sacramento, CA
>>Email: cdifani at pacbell.net 
>>
>>
>>
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