what yokes will fit?

[austinsailor]

My B1B has the oddball ujoints, the ones that press in from the outside with plates over the ends to hold them in. (Cleveland brand) I found one to get my pickup going, and I still have to tackle the panel truck.

I'm wondering if I couldn't just swap out the yokes from, say, my 40 dodge parts car and go to a different style u-joint. I can have a whole new driveshaft made with modern u-joints for not much more than 2 of the old style joints, assuming I can even find more.

Has anyone tried putting the car yokes, or another yoke taking a more common ujoint, in to replace these? I have all the parts to try this, but it'd be half a days work to find out.

[Merle Coggins]

My 3/4 ton truck has a more common u-joint. I got a diff from a '50 Plymouth so I could get 3.73 gears. I was able to put my truck yolk on the Plymouth diff. So, I would have to say your theory is on track. However, some of the cars used a ball and trunion type joint. Maybe you could find a driveshaft and yolks from a 3/4 ton truck and switch yours over. You may have to shorten the driveshaft, but it should work otherwise.

Merle

[streamer]

My B1B has the oddball ujoints, the ones that press in from the outside with plates over the ends to hold them in. (Cleveland brand) I found one to get my pickup going, and I still have to tackle the panel truck.

I'm wondering if I couldn't just swap out the yokes from, say, my 40 dodge parts car and go to a different style u-joint. I can have a whole new driveshaft made with modern u-joints for not much more than 2 of the old style joints, assuming I can even find more.

Has anyone tried putting the car yokes, or another yoke taking a more common ujoint, in to replace these? I have all the parts to try this, but it'd be half a days work to find out.

After the trouble I had with driveline vibration and it's being fixed, I am glad to report that Gilbert Driveline in Manchester NH can provide you with the correct original equipment replacement universal joint for the '48 and '49 1/2 ton pickup. You can contact them by calling 603-623-3061 and ask for Bruce. Bruce has been in the business for 40 years and really knows his stuff.

[austinsailor]

Yes, he found 2 of them, that was all he could locate. I got one truck going, I have another. At $80 a pop when and if they can be found it's time to look at other options.

The original yoke will only take the one ujoint. It's possible a machine shop could give you other options, but not easily or cheaply.

The yoke that takes the ball and trunion is just a flat flange. They can make a new drive shaft to fit it with modern $15 ujoints available everywhere. I know, I had one made for my 40 dodge sedan. Cost about $300, done forever.

What I might do is replace the yoke on the tranny, then put a higher geared axle, like a Dakota, then have a driveshaft made to fit that combo.

It sounds like the yoke swap has enough possibilities to look into it.