'86 Chevrolet truck u-joints
#1
'86 Chevrolet truck u-joints
New project this time! This time, it's an '86 Chevy 1/2-ton pickup. The engine is not the original - the previous owner installed an earlier V-8, vintage and displacement as yet unknown. I believe the transmission and rearend are original, though - trans is a THM350 with the lock-up converter, and I'm pretty sure the previous owner was not clever enough to effect a rearend swap. The problem is now this - my local AutoZone provided me with the u-joints called for in their parts look-up system, but when it came time to install them, the caps would have stuck way out of the yokes, and the grooves for the retaining clips would have been INSIDE the yokes. Seems the crosses were way too wide.
Since the "correct" u-joints had no chance of fitting, how would I get the ones that WILL fit, in the event this is some ******* driveshaft? I would appreciate any insight anyone can send my way! Thanks - Chris
Since the "correct" u-joints had no chance of fitting, how would I get the ones that WILL fit, in the event this is some ******* driveshaft? I would appreciate any insight anyone can send my way! Thanks - Chris
#2
Have the parts person at the zone recheck part number. If it is correct, go to another parts store and look, compare joint. Sometime but rarely the parts numbers in books can be wrong. If all else fails take old joint in and hope you get a very patient parts person. Possibly rear end or rear yoke has been changed.
#3
Thanks, darren. I was hoping there would be a simple solution - perhaps this will work. To the moderator who edited my post - as for the reference to what kind of driveshaft this might be, OOPS! Sorry about that. I merely meant that the shaft, like the engine, might not be original equipment or equivalent replacement. I WILL watch myself in the future. Thanks again for the help - Chris
#4
When you buy something cobbled together like that, multiple trips to the parts store are inevitable. Also, count that everything done by the previous person is likely wrong as most folks don't know what's really compatible when they do a swap. It's usually done for the cheapest way out.
Easiest way is to take the driveshaft out and go to the store with it. A good parts person can find the needed U-joints in a jiffy that way.
Easiest way is to take the driveshaft out and go to the store with it. A good parts person can find the needed U-joints in a jiffy that way.