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

David in Durango adin at frontier.net
Tue Jan 27 20:54:34 EST 2009


I thought the speedway product was "iffy" and ordered some borgeson (sp?) - 
sure enough  . . .more $ and MUCH nicer.  Fabbed the whole steering w/ 
borgeson stuff.

David
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <wkooiman at earthlink.net>
To: "Chris Difani" <cdifani at pacbell.net>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:39 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
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
>>
>>Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
>>
>>DeTomaso mailing list
>>DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
>>http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
>
> Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
>
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
> http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
> 





More information about the DeTomaso mailing list