Rear end u-joint help. Mating Chevy to ford.

[Hogger54]

So I got my rear end. 8" from a '66 Mustang.
I read somewhere that there are u-joints with different sizes to mate up a Chevy drive line to a ford yoke, but I can't seem to find any.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[ls1man]

You can get them just about anywhere, they have two sizes of caps so you can upsize or downsize.

[1958Warrior]

I'm sure someone can provide a part# or link to it.
If you go to AutoZone be sure to get a pic of the girl's face when you ask for it
Which is it? a 54 or 66? a Chevy or F@#d?

[Speedbumpauto]

You need to narrow your choices. Measure the cap size and cross length cap end to cap end for the one you know works, probably the drive shaft, then measure the needed cap size and cross length, probably the differential yoke. Then go to a good parts store where they will have a Spicer, or similar, conversion chart. The only other variable is locks. Most driveshafts have a ring for a spring type clip in the outside, but some have a machined flat on the inside for a C clip. IIRC, the Ford 8" has a notch at each end where the U bolts go to keep the caps in place and centered, in addition to the bolts. The inside of the notch, end to end is how you get the cross length for your conversion joint. It sounds complicated but a good parts person can help make it easier. Good luck.

[semn49]

Best thing to do, if you have both sizes of U-joints, is to take them both to your local parts store and say, "I need this to this".

If not then do as speedbump says.

[Hogger54]

Good info, thanks Speedbump.

[1958Warrior]

This might work but need to know the measurements:

http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p133...cer_maint.html

Or go to a drive shaft shop I'm sure they've done it a thousand of times

[1958Warrior]

Speedway has these to and cheap, but without the cap diameters I'm just just guessing?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/S44-13...oint,6988.html

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by semn49

Best thing to do, if you have both sizes of U-joints, is to take them both to your local parts store and say, "I need this to this".

If not then do as speedbump says.

Winner winner chicken dinner. This is the simple way.


Or if you know exactly what the drive shaft came out of and know exactly what the rear end came out of you can go on the O'Reilly's site and plug in the make and model of the drive shaft donor and go to u joints and it will give you the options for the U joints. It will still take some work as there is more than one option on 66 Mustangs. this is the list for a 66 Mustang 289 2 barrel car.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...1966&make=Ford

If the Chevy driveshaft has outside locks it probably takes a 369 Precision U joint which also fits a number of Ford products.

Still if you don't know but have Both U joints the best option is to probably walk into a "good" parts house and lay both on the counter and tell them that you need one that is half this one and half that one if they are different sizes or the clips are in different places.

[Hogger54]

I don't have the u joint from the ford rear end. But I'm going to keep digging to see if I can find the right measurements.
Tons of great info. Thanks.

[Hogger54]

One more thing.
Will it matter on the ford side if the snap rings are inner or outer since I'm doing a combo type u joint?

[mr48chev]

All that matters is that that side is correct for the yoke you are putting it in.
the yokes on rear axles normally don't need clips in or out as the yoke has retainer tabs on the outside and the straps or U bolts hold the cross in place.

Do you know what the driveshaft came out of? We might be able to figure out what U joint it takes or you can use the O'reilly's link to figure that out by putting the donor car in the search and going to transmisson/driveline and then to U joints and seeing what U joint it took.

This one is for a 75 Camaro with a 350 two barrel showing the U joints but you may have a later drive shaft.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...make=Chevrolet

[OrrieG]

Look at post number 2 in this thread, all you need to know about 66 Mustang universal joints.

http://mustangforums.com/forum/class...for-6-cyl.html

Use the info to determine what type you have then grap the driveline and head down to Six States in Pasco (or someone closer, they are the ones that come up the most on google). This is a relatively standard application guys are bolting lots of GM trannys to Ford rearends...

[gale]

Someone else has already mentioned a driveshaft shop but I'll second that motion. Take your mismatched driveshaft and yoke to a shop that only does driveshafts and they will sell you what you need and assemble the parts in about 10 minutes.