I am trying to remove my engine. I've disconnected the ball collar and slid it back. The U joint has no cap screws holding the u joint to the front trunion. I'm not sure how to disconnect the U joint so I can remove the engine and tranny at the same time.
The rear yoke of the u-joint should slide off the driveshaft. It does even with the u-joint that can be unbolted from the front yoke. You should be able to just pull the engine/tranny forward.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
i have the torque tube supported with the crossmember which i removed then slid back. Do I need to jack up the frame at the back of the truck to remove pressure? I think I read that a while back but I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to be budging.
I disconnected the u-joint on mine (it had bolts). But with the truck sitting on the springs in the back, it would tend to bind. You might be able to jack up the frame and remove that bind. [on edit] Actually, since you have the torque tube blocked up, there shouldn't be a need to jack up the frame. Maybe lift the engine/tranny a bit and pry it forward. The splines may just be bound up just a bit from wear.
Last edited by klhansen; 10/23/202010:37 PM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Kevin, I checked out your 3100 pics. Awesome project. I'm dealing with much the same. This is my first project. I'm a newbie to car work. Thank you for the help.
Alright, I was able to pull the engine. Thank goodness I was doing that anyway. The back half of the universal joint slid off the torque tube. Turns out the front portion is bolted to the transmission through the center of the U bolt assembly. It came off easily with a 3/4" socket. Apparently there is no way to pull the transmission or replace the clutch without pulling either the engine or rear end. That's crazy. I have to be missing something. Will post pics after my phone recharges.
That U joint comes apart by pulling the small wire rings, then the bushings pull out. That joint was never used on 1/2 tons originally.
I agree with Pre '68 Dave, that type of u-joint was never used on 1/2 tons originally. I don't think you can get that type of u-joint to come apart while its still bolted to the tranny's main output shaft. There doesn't look like there is enough room to slide the bearings over enough to remove them.The rear tranny housing is in the way.
The original 1/2 ton used cap screws with lock plates. illustration
That type of u-joint I think was used in 3/4 ton truck. Which has a partial enclosed torque tube and a open drive shaft. Also, the 3/4 ton truck used a different (shorter) rear yoke.
Pre '68 Dave what type of tranny & year/s was that housing used on ? I never seen a rear housing that looks like that.
MikeA777 are you sure your truck is a 1/2 ton ? Post a picture of the entire drive line.
Picture of 4 speed tranny with u-joint attached. The 4 speed tranny was used in a 1950 3/4 ton truck. The only way to separate the u-joint is to remove, the whole u-joint assembly from the tranny by running a socket through the center of the yokes and unbolting the front yoke from the tranny's main output shaft.
My two challenges are 1) find a U joint 2) find the back piece of transmission casing matching what Pre '68 Dave has shown in his picture above. Otherwise I have to pull the engine or rear end to work on the clutch/tranny.
My best guess is someone put a 1948 to 1953 3/4 ton 4 speed tranny in your truck. The reason I say that is because the rear yoke is shorter, which is used in the 3/4 ton partial torque tube/open driveline. 2nd photo
The 1st attached photo is the type of u-joint you need. Note the longer rear yoke. The front yoke is hard to find.
Jorb, looks like you're right on a few points. I need a different u-joint assembly and the part in your illustration is nowhere to be found at the moment. If someone comes across this assembly, I would love to know about it. The transmission casing Dave shows earlier in the post would also be most welcome.
Refusing to send the truck to the junk yard, I'm going to try to get an alternate u-joint to work. Hope I don't need to work on the clutch before I find a solution.
A million thanks to all who responded. I'm an absolute newbie, desperate to put this beautiful old truck back on the road.
