I had a local guy stop by and ask me if theres a simple way to dis-assemble pressed piston pins and u-joints, I told him I only build floating piston pin engines anymore because
[b floating piston pins are the way to go here for both ease of maintinance and less stress on the parts [/b]if your going to be assembling and dis-assembling the engine yourself several dozen times while you get all the parts CORRECTLY fitted/clearanced
[b]OR you can do what ive done and realize that the local machineshop wants $20 to press out and press back in a single (U) joint,theres 6 (U) joints in a single corvette . (I own (3) corvettes) if I change the (U) joints just once the cost would be $360 PLUS the cost of the U-joints themselfs) its a NO_BRAINER why I bought the shop press for $135


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...roductId=21029

be sides the local guys say the charge of a 12 pack of coke to use the tool and a little conversasion works out less in the long run :grin: ($2-3 for all six u-joints)

btw once you install a stealth ram and a 200hp nitrous plate on your corvette YOU WILL LEARN TO CHANGE U-JOINTS

yeah ,you can upgrade u joints SCORP LAYED THIS OUT SO THERES NO NEED TO REDO IT AGAIN
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/

dont use china made u-joints
only use american made quality u-joints
u-joints with grease fittings are slightly weaker
use every possiable safety device including several good jack stands AND USE YOUR BRAIN FULL TIME, THAT SUSPENSION is under ALOT OF TENSION

[b] the only thing Id like to add is the press makes thinge far easier, liquid wrench spray works better than WD-40 and marking the 1/2 shaft ends woth a lightly stamped marking helps (PSOE)pass side outer end (DSOE) driver side outer end , on the 1/2 shafts helps


http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/441144





[Modified by grumpyvette, 5:41 PM 4/24/2003]

 

Thanks Grump. Nice press. Did the press come with the jack?. I haven't done any u-joints in the vette yet but I've always use a good ole vise (I've had about 40 years). Is there anything special about Vette u-joints or can I keep doin' them the way I've been doin them for years. Just can't see me justifying a press, moneywise. What else do you use it for?

Thanks

 

yes the press includes the jack, and I always used a vice before I got the press,(THE PRESS IS FASTER<EASIER AND MORE PRECISE) the problem with the vice is that its much harder to see what your doing and some vises won,t open wide enough to accept both sockets and the u-joint, the press is WELL WORTH THE EXPENCE and takes up little room on the garage floor

 

Dang, dude- $20/ea labor alone? I had the four halfshafts done locally for $80, including spicer joints. No need to use a press on the driveshaft joints.

Sounds like you should open up a machine shop down there!

 

I have a press identical to that and a very large old vice. For some odd reason I still prefer using the vice every time I do the ujoints.