U joints

[tige00]

I have a 1980 march super vee and I'm looking to replace the universal joints on the drive shafts what brand and where would I purchase them.

[Bob L.]

80 March SV uses a MK9 transaxle, with CV joints, not U-joints. If you have u-joints you've got something "really different". Suggest you measure yours >> give TRE or Pegasus a call and chat......

Bob L.

[Charles Warner]

March F3/F3000 cars used large U-joints and special axles. Send me a picture and I might be able to ID what you have.

[tige00]

Thanks for the answers i guess I should have stated that this was was a Wilbur bunce car that he had turned to a csr in 81 and it has the cv that bolts up to the mk9 then by the upright they have some big u joints so when I get home I will take a picture and post it. won't be till 6 Arizona time.

[tige00]

Here is the u joints in question. The other end is the cv that volts up to the mk9.

[Bob L.]

Hard to tell much from the photo...no dimensions to reference. Almost looks like it might take the spider/cross for a Midget/Sprite drive shaft, or even an early Spitfire, Could be "metric" like 510 or Fiat of the period.

You need to measure the cup od/bore, then the overall length cap to cap, or eyeball the cross length to get a start. Look for numbers on the yokes.

Spicer, BW, and other u-joint folks had old catalogs with dimensions (have some around here, someplace) Seems with consolidation/web, most listings are by application, not dimensional anymore...

Another suggestion: take it by a local shop that does driveshafts, and let them see it, or a really good parts guy at NAPA....similar.

Bob L.

[scorp997]

If you are trying to bring this back up to a vintage super vee spec, you may have to go back to cv joints. Rules of the time dictated that certain parts were to be VW origin. Front uprights, rear hubs/bearings and I believe rear axles.

I would verify what rules you have to build to before replacement
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The above is specific to air cooled vees. Not sure what the 80 model requires

[Charles Warner]

That appears to be what March used on the F2 and 3 liter sports cars back in the 80's. Way too big to be used on a FSV. Convert back to normal axles and CVs. You might be able to flog that to some of the vintage guys.

[tige00]

Thank you all for the info. Nice to know it's not original. As I stated above Wilbur bunce turned this 80sv into a sports racer so i imagined he did all the changes being heavier and using the cosworth. My brother and I still use it as a sport racer we have a 310 h.p. mazda rotary in it. So know probably just the tub, uprights, and upper and lower control arms are the only thing super vee left.
Good to know now. So when I get some new u joints I will post again . Again Thank you all for the info love this forum

Tige Vellone

[dereklola]

Many March cars in that period used UJs outboard and "odd" CVs inboard I say "odd" because they had straight groves for the balls not like the angled the ones on modern CVs - they were also longer (hence affecting drive shaft length) and had different bolt circle.

A pic of the UJ and stub axle is shown below - to convert to modern CVs you need to cut off the UJ as shown A-A and weld on a flange to suit your choice of CV - or - much better - machine a whole new part.

Many vintage cars have this 'update'.

Also the wheel bearings in the typical March rear upright of that period are no longer available. Need to machine adapters to use an available bearing - again many cars have this mod.

[tige00]

Wow that's the part.
Being a rotary does have much torque is it feasible to just get new u joints or is this not a good setup, is that why people changed them to cv's?. I guess I should ask if these u joints are still available? Thanks so much for this info. Love the knowledge on this site
Tige Vellone

[Bob L.]

Goggled on UJ dimensions, typical result:

http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/...D%20Guide.html

others out there... good luck

Bob L.

[dereklola]

Just going through some stuff in the basement -
- found some "used" pieces stored in the box the new ones came in
- based on that they are Spicer 1350 series
- and the repair 'spider' is 5-178X.

But please check compatibility before buying.

- https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...=13TZXKL1M31K8 -

Derek

[tige00]

Yes I will thanks so much.

Tige Vellone