By the lack of response from the mechanics out there, I have to assume that your all sick of hearing about this ¾ ton slip joint by now. But, I am, after all, a purist and they are the worst kind! Apparently this area is often times ignored when changing the center u-joint, on the ’50, 3604, since there aren’t replacement parts available and no one seems to have run into a similar problem.
In the Shop Manual on pg. 4-51 the text calls for a “Cork Packing” and refers you to fig.76. Figure 76, has a pointer to the packing and calls for a “Felt Packing.” I’m sure either one would work just fine, and since I have a punch to cut the washer out with now, I think I’m going to settle on the felt, as it will compress easier than the cork and probably cause less ware on the sealing surface in the long run. It was difficult to tell what the old material was because it was so impacted with grease and mud that it just sort of crumbled when I dug it out, and there was no texture to it what so ever.
Well I hope all of my agonizing over this seal and discussion helps the next guy who wants to redo the center slip joint on his ’50, ¾ ton Stovebolt.
The other end of this slip joint has been overly discussed in another thread. It’s the plug that is supposed to be staked in to keep the water out, and the grease in the spline. And that story sooths the other cheek, of this pain in the ARSS!
I also noticed in the Factory Assembly Manual that sec. 4, sheet 2.00 through 3.03, that my particular configuration is similar to, but not the same as the 3800-3942 in sheet 3.00, which has the front propeller shaft open. The 3600 shown on sheet 2.01 is an open, one piece drive shaft, not the same as mine. I suspect this may be a pictorial of a 3speed?
Mon, am I picking up a lot of trivial, little details in this venture!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
