Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why?
Guest
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Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why?
The other day I was installing the reconditioned drive shaft.. Didn't pay too much attention, removed the tape holding the caps on from one end and preceeded to get pissed off trying to get my hands in ther to strap them in. At some point I realised that the universal was too big?? I measured the mount on the differential and it was 3 1/4.. Universal was 3 3/4..?? I flipped over the drive shaft and the other side was 3 1/4.. Little bit of work and I was able to install... WHY would the differential side be smaller? Does it effect anything? I changed the gears to 3:54.. Does the front universal mount on the differential come with the new gears? Since I don't remember what it looked like when I removed it I'm a little confused / concerned. All the parts books show one universal for my driveshaft.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (Koz)
I've heard that this was the case in 80 (or 81) on but I have no experience with it and cannot explain why it would be desirable. If you have high quality joints I wouldnt think it would matter much. Unless your pounding the strip with a 600 hp big block :jester
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
From: MI
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (fauxrs)
Supposely, they are the same. If someone swapped out the rear end and (or) the trans from another car, they'll be difference. Like I'm doing it now!
Guest
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Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (fauxrs)
I wouldnt think it would matter much. Unless your pounding the strip with a 600 hp big block :jester
I heard that on the '80 there are three different size universals.. Half shafts are one, front drive shaft is different and the rear drive shaft is different.. What was GM smoking when they came up what that design.. :skep:
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (Koz)
What was GM smoking when they came up what that design.. :skep:
I'm right in the middle of changing all the UJ's on my L81 auto & am getting lots of help from Gator81 :cheers: :thumbs: :seeya It appears that the parts books may be wrong.
For info the bearing journal diameters on all my UJs are 0.656", the driveshaft has two UJs of the same size & the half-shaft UJ's are all the same. Sizes (from the end of one journal to the end of the opposite journal) are 2.97" for both driveshaft UJs & 3.375" for all 4 half-shaft UJs. But.... it gets better. The manual transmission L81 has different sized UJs at each end of the driveshaft, one of them being the same size as the half-shaft UJ in the auto (the other being the same as both used on the auto????). I guess the same applies to the '80 model? So far, that's all I know. Luckily I've got Gator81 helping me out & early next week we should know the variations of UJs used in 81 models. Maybe!
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (UKPaul)
The driveshaft shop installed the same set up on driveshaft. He told me that some yokes are smaller and they assumed it was that kind. The funny part of this is, I even included my yoke with the driveshaft when I dropped it off. :mad
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (fauxrs)
I've heard that this was the case in 80 (or 81) on but I have no experience with it ....
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Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (mapman)
I've heard that this was the case in 80 (or 81) on but I have no experience with it ....
The drive shaft universal joints on my 1980 are both the same size.
The drive shaft universal joints on my 1980 are both the same size.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Different Universals in Drive Shaft - Why? (Koz)
I've heard that this was the case in 80 (or 81) on but I have no experience with it ....
The drive shaft universal joints on my 1980 are both the same size.
Mapman, Do you have an automatic?
The drive shaft universal joints on my 1980 are both the same size.
Mapman, Do you have an automatic?
