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

Charles Engles cengles at cox.net
Tue Jan 27 21:32:55 EST 2009


Dear David,


                Are you saying that you went through the Pantera steering linkage and replaced the original u-joints with the superior Borgeson (sp?) units?   If yes, then did you perceive improvement in the handling-steering feel?


                            Curious,  Chuck Engles






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David in Durango" <adin at frontier.net>
To: <wkooiman at earthlink.net>; "Chris Difani" <cdifani at pacbell.net>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Slippery Slope: Shift Linkage U-Joints, Replacements


>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
>>>
>>>
>>>
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