Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Sport/Truck · 11-27-2010, 12:58 PM

I'm trying to finish up my drive line this weekend and I'm unable to find Spicer brand u-joints before Monday.
Two local shops have Neapco - sounds foreign but I googled them and it stands for New England Auto Parts Company.
I just have 0 experience with these.
Should I use these or wait to see what I can find on Monday?
s/t

Lee H · 11-27-2010, 01:24 PM

Use them are A OK.

**dutchmanz** · 11-27-2010, 04:05 PM

raced a bigblock chevelle for years on them. I even had their yoke front and rear.

raycow · 11-27-2010, 05:02 PM

Neapco has been around forever - I used them when I was a kid.

Ray

**Dieselwrencher** · 12-02-2010, 04:28 PM

Neapco is right up there with Spicer. Spicer might be a little stronger on some applications, but the Neapcos still are a good part.

Jacfourteen · 12-02-2010, 04:57 PM

I've ran neapos in the past with good results.

brad_man_72 · 12-02-2010, 05:11 PM

neapco makes better greaseable joints. Spicer makes better non greaseable joints for the most part.

def better than precision, brute force ect.

Sport/Truck · 12-04-2010, 11:59 AM

I purchased the Neapco's but they wouldn't fit for nothing! After measuring them they were all long and couldn't compress them enough to get the snap ring to set.
I returned them and got some Spicers (they look exactly the same with a grease zerk) but they measured the same as my old ones.

I'm still having trouble, I still had to press the crap of of it to get the ring to set. The joint was so tight I couldn't move it by hand!
I used the trick the drive line shop showed me years ago, Smacking the meaty part of the yoke with a hammer to "center the bearings. This worked to an extent and I'm able to move the joint now. Although the joint moves it's very stiff and I'm concerned it might be too stiff.

I played around with it & measured to see if its bent. I'm only about to measure about .010 of a taper - that could be just inconsistency in my method?

I'm not sure what to do now, I'd like to know how tight is too tight.
When I used the vice to spread the ears open the joint moves freely. (I measured the spread and I was about . 010 on the + side).

Any ideas?

raycow · 12-04-2010, 12:12 PM

There could be a tolerance problem on the joints, but I think you are on the right track with checking for a bent yoke. The easy fix would be to remove the joint and spread the ears in a press.

Ray

Sport/Truck · 12-04-2010, 12:34 PM

Thats going to be trial by fire I'm thinking. But I'm willing to give it a try.
s/t

Phaedrus · 12-04-2010, 02:21 PM

Before putting anything in a press and breaking an ear off the tube yoke, try lightly grinding the back of the u-joint caps w/ a flap wheel to slightly decrease your lock-up dimension. A little at a time off both sides till it fits the way you like. Also, be sure you have the snap ring grooves free of any rust, dirt, or burrs. A 1" cut-off wheel on a dremel works wonders here.

Sport/Truck · 12-04-2010, 04:19 PM

I made a tool to open the ears, I was able to get only about .005 after opening it to +.030.
I don't think it's bent ears.....

I re measured my old clips and they are about .005 less than the new ones. So I cleaned them up and it's allot better than it was, and almost have it done. The middle yoke gave me the most trouble. The front yoke was real easy to press in/out. I still had to use the thinner clips though.

11-27-2010, 12:58 PM	#1
Sport/Truck Sierra Grande Club Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico USA Posts: 2,433	Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? I'm trying to finish up my drive line this weekend and I'm unable to find Spicer brand u-joints before Monday. Two local shops have Neapco - sounds foreign but I googled them and it stands for New England Auto Parts Company. I just have 0 experience with these. Should I use these or wait to see what I can find on Monday? s/t __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe.

11-27-2010, 01:24 PM	#2
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,141	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? Use them are A OK. __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

11-27-2010, 04:05 PM	#3
dutchmanz Knuckle Buster, Instructor Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pantego, NC Posts: 562	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? raced a bigblock chevelle for years on them. I even had their yoke front and rear.

11-27-2010, 05:02 PM	#4
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? Neapco has been around forever - I used them when I was a kid. Ray __________________ Live more responsibly. Eat lower on the food chain. Eat vegetarians.

12-02-2010, 04:28 PM	#5
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,140	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? Neapco is right up there with Spicer. Spicer might be a little stronger on some applications, but the Neapcos still are a good part. __________________ Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project *Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.*

12-02-2010, 04:57 PM	#6
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? I've ran neapos in the past with good results. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

12-02-2010, 05:11 PM	#7
brad_man_72 the boat guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: springfield mo Posts: 2,339	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? neapco makes better greaseable joints. Spicer makes better non greaseable joints for the most part. def better than precision, brute force ect. __________________ 67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project,

12-04-2010, 11:59 AM	#8
Sport/Truck Sierra Grande Club Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico USA Posts: 2,433	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? I purchased the Neapco's but they wouldn't fit for nothing! After measuring them they were all long and couldn't compress them enough to get the snap ring to set. I returned them and got some Spicers (they look exactly the same with a grease zerk) but they measured the same as my old ones. I'm still having trouble, I still had to press the crap of of it to get the ring to set. The joint was so tight I couldn't move it by hand! I used the trick the drive line shop showed me years ago, Smacking the meaty part of the yoke with a hammer to "center the bearings. This worked to an extent and I'm able to move the joint now. Although the joint moves it's very stiff and I'm concerned it might be too stiff. I played around with it & measured to see if its bent. I'm only about to measure about .010 of a taper - that could be just inconsistency in my method? I'm not sure what to do now, I'd like to know how tight is too tight. When I used the vice to spread the ears open the joint moves freely. (I measured the spread and I was about . 010 on the + side). Any ideas? __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe.

12-04-2010, 12:12 PM	#9
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? There could be a tolerance problem on the joints, but I think you are on the right track with checking for a bent yoke. The easy fix would be to remove the joint and spread the ears in a press. Ray __________________ Live more responsibly. Eat lower on the food chain. Eat vegetarians.

12-04-2010, 12:34 PM	#10
Sport/Truck Sierra Grande Club Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico USA Posts: 2,433	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? Thats going to be trial by fire I'm thinking. But I'm willing to give it a try. s/t __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe.

12-04-2010, 02:21 PM	#11
Phaedrus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 67	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? Before putting anything in a press and breaking an ear off the tube yoke, try lightly grinding the back of the u-joint caps w/ a flap wheel to slightly decrease your lock-up dimension. A little at a time off both sides till it fits the way you like. Also, be sure you have the snap ring grooves free of any rust, dirt, or burrs. A 1" cut-off wheel on a dremel works wonders here.

12-04-2010, 04:19 PM	#12
Sport/Truck Sierra Grande Club Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico USA Posts: 2,433	Re: Anyone use Neapco u-joints?? I made a tool to open the ears, I was able to get only about .005 after opening it to +.030. I don't think it's bent ears..... I re measured my old clips and they are about .005 less than the new ones. So I cleaned them up and it's allot better than it was, and almost have it done. The middle yoke gave me the most trouble. The front yoke was real easy to press in/out. I still had to use the thinner clips though. __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe.



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