avgwarhawk Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Beemon said: Where did you source a replacement? Just wondering. Does it have a modern counterpart? CARS for the joint. There are two types. They carry both. It is a modern joint. Has a grease fitting. No good once in the tube. I lubed it well once the joint was assembled. Edited January 17, 2019 by avgwarhawk (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 Torque tubes are great said no one ever. Took some doing and time to get the assembly hooked to the torque ball. Lining up the blank splines is a real treat. Used guide pins. Manual recommends 3 inch. Use 5 inch guides. Be happy. Took me about 1 1/2 hours to get the thing installed. Did it with no help. So there is that. Finish it up tomorrow. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 I've never figured out an easy way to line up those blind/blank splines. I remember fighting my 58 Limited's connection there, and it was nothing more than an engine and trans into an open chassis. Then I finally found out it has a blank spline. DOH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) Here is a shot of those blind/blank splines of which you speak. I had to dig this one out of my spares when I took a transmission to Jim Hughes for a total rebuild for my '58 Special. I bought a transmission from Lance very reasonably that came from a '57 Buick to have rebuilt. They are the same transmissions except for the universal joint. I left the installation for a shop here and they said the same thing about the units lining up, and they do them all the time. Edited January 17, 2019 by dei (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Smartin said: I've never figured out an easy way to line up those blind/blank splines. I remember fighting my 58 Limited's connection there, and it was nothing more than an engine and trans into an open chassis. Then I finally found out it has a blank spline. DOH! What I did was spin the axle just a bit to turn the shaft. Then pushed. Kept this up until she found home. The key is alignment of the two ends. It's critical. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 10 hours ago, avgwarhawk said: CARS for the joint. There are two types. They carry both. It is a modern joint. Has a grease fitting. No good once in the tube. I lubed it well once the joint was assembled. How did you know which one to get ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 3 minutes ago, Bill Stoneberg said: How did you know which one to get ?? Bill, there are two set ups for clips that keep the caps in place. I had the C clip that sit inboard of the cap. The other has the clips that sit outboard of cap. Mine was like this: The other that may be in your Buick is this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 You used to be able to walk up to the parts counter and say "Gimme a 1" u-joint internal clip (or external)". The database doesn't know that. Now you say "Bring both that show and hand me that tape measure". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 There are U-joints that can be installed either way. RockAuto shows some with part numbers that probably can be sourced locally. You were lucky to get the correct part the first time from those obnoxious New Jersey boys. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) 23 minutes ago, old-tank said: There are U-joints that can be installed either way. RockAuto shows some with part numbers that probably can be sourced locally. You were lucky to get the correct part the first time from those obnoxious New Jersey boys. I did check Rock Auto. I like Rock Auto. They do offer just the outside clip style only. But again, went with what came out. The guys in Jersey, I have not had any issue with. Will call me if there is question or problem. Edited January 17, 2019 by avgwarhawk (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 Back in the 1970's we had a NAPA store on a side street in the village. There were two countermen; Ralph and Twotrips. I think Twotrips spawned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 There's a couple Twotrips where I live, too. Kind of reminds me of the introduction to the movie Idiocracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Torque tube assembly is buttoned up. Bled the brakes with my daughters assistants. Getting some snow and could not drive. I decided to run it up again on the jackstands. Happily quiet driveshaft. No leaks of trans fluid. Will keep an eye on trans fluid level in case it's finding its way past the new torque tube seal into the torque tube itself. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 (edited) As a side note, there is a rear u-joint because there are two propeller shafts. As noted in the 1959 Buick Axel Specifications. Edited January 18, 2019 by avgwarhawk (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 I was able to take a road test last night. All's quiet from bow to stern on this land yacht. I'll get few hundred miles on it and check the tube for any trans fluid assuring the torque tube seal is working as designed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Will you write an article for the Bugle on this process so folks who don't read the forum can learn too ? There is a dearth of post war technical articles and it would be nice to have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 (edited) Absolutely. How should I submit the article? Edited January 19, 2019 by avgwarhawk (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 Write it up with your picture and email it to Pete Phillips... pphillips922 at gmail.com Thanks Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 35 minutes ago, Bill Stoneberg said: Write it up with your picture and email it to Pete Phillips... pphillips922 at gmail.com Thanks Chris. Will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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