oldodge41 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 I have installed a furd 8.8 rear differential in my '41 D-19 cpe. The 8.8 has a flat flange on the pinion and my Dodge drive-shaft has ball and trunnion u-joints. What I am looking for is a way to adapt the flange on the pinion to the flange on my u-joint. I know I can have a drive-shaft made with cross type u-joints and buy the adapters to mount it, but, my u-joints are both as good as new and I don't want to spend the cash for a new drive-shaft and adapters, plus I think the old ball and trunnions are cool. I need to make my adapter 1-1/2 inches long to get my u-joint in its original location. I am thinking maybe two flanges with a piece of 2" pipe welded between them. 2" because that is the clearance I need for the 8.8 flange bolt and centering ring. Anyone know of a ready made adapter? Or maybe a better / different idea? By the way the rest of the drivetrain will remain flat six with fluid drive so i don't need some race or ultra heavy-duty setup. Thanks, Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andydodge Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 How about a piece of steel, about 1-2" thick, machined to sit flush against the diff flange, with drilled holes and use allen headed cap screws countersunk into the steel piec thru the diff flange or bolted from the diff side into threaded holes in the adaptor, then mount the driveshaft flange onto the steel adaptor the same way........I wouldn't use a piece of tube tho' unless the centres of the bolts on both the flanges intersect.........andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldodge41 Posted October 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 How about a piece of steel, about 1-2" thick, machined to sit flush against the diff flange, with drilled holes and use allen headed cap screws countersunk into the steel piec thru the diff flange or bolted from the diff side into threaded holes in the adaptor, then mount the driveshaft flange onto the steel adaptor the same way........I wouldn't use a piece of tube tho' unless the centres of the bolts on both the flanges intersect.........andyd Thanks Andydodge! I like that idea. Any idea what something like that would cost at a machine shop? I've never had any machine work done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andydodge Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 I'm a few miles away here on the east coast of Australia so the machine shop prices will be a little off........lol.......but I wouldn't think it would be that expensive, if you sit the driveshaft flange against the diff flange and see whether the hole centres for each are close to each other or , say 1/2" approx away, ie, on a different circumference, if they are then it shouldn't be that difficult or expensive to have a steel or even alloy adaptor made up, but without actually playing with the pieces I'm only guessing whether its possible.............andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldodge41 Posted October 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 I went out to the garage this morning and fabbed one up with some flanges made from 1/4" plate and a piece of 2" pipe welded in between. I took it out for a test run and everything worked great. I still may have an adapter made like you describe. I think it would be stronger and I'm sure a machine shop would have everything centered up better than I can do with a hand held drill and a 4-1/2" grinder, which would reduce wear, although I didn't have any vibration. The pinion flange has a 3" circumference pattern while the u-joint pattern is less but different on each axis, so I rotated my flanges to offset the bolts from each other to spread the weight more evenly. Andyd,thank you for your interest and input. It felt good to take the '41 for a ride even if it was only a half mile up the road and back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockable Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I'm pretty sure Napa can hook you up with an adapter off the shelf. Find someone there with "experience". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andydodge Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Rock, I'm surprised that there might be an off the shelf adaptor available for this, but who knows........tim, am pleased the mock up seems to work o/k, I'd be looking at getting a properly machined up one made as its the sort of thing that you don't want to let go on a trip miles from nowhere.....lol........andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockable Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Ooh. My bad. I missed the part about retaining the ball and trunnion u-joint. The have adapters for the conventional cross type u-joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldodge41 Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Yeah the cross type u-joint adapter is available. I am drawing up an adapter on AutoCad and a friend is going to show it to his buddy that works at a machine shop to see what he thinks. Rockable, I have been following your build on The HAMB. I have really enjoyed it. I do appreciate you guys helping out........Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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