STORY TIME
To give you the background, The rear U-joint is a cross-and-roller style joint, like any other u-joint, except it has mounting tabs cast into the bearing caps that mount to the rear pinion yoke. Seems harmless enough, but they only did it for one year at Plymouth, and a couple of years on some Chrysler, Dodges, and DeSotos.... that means now they are, as the saying goes, rare as hen's teeth. I had actually located them at a classic car supplier in the Pacific Northwest that wanted a staggering $190 for one. You all know me, I am not going to accept that as the only solution. I had resigned myself to the alternative of finding a pinion yoke that would match the 10-spline on my diff, but accept a standard u-joint.... that would be a bit cheaper... But, the search for the obsolete rear U-joint had a happy ending today....
I paid a visit to Chattanooga Driveline today. I had with me the required parts: New U-joint, The old rear end yoke, and for giggles, I laid the original joint on the counter as well.
I was explaining what I wanted to do, and the guy behind the counter just asks what it's for, I tell him a '57 Plymouth.
He gets a funny look on his face and asks me, "So which one do you want... the yoke to convert it, or just the joint?"...
I stood there and was like..."Whu???"
He laughs a little and says that he thinks he still has one on the shelf.
I told him if he did he was my new best friend for the day.
He asks me to hold on a sec, and goes to the back.... and comes out a minute or two later holding something wrapped in tattered cosmoline paper.
He unfolds the paper, still in disbelief, I am now seeing the two bearings with the tabs on them, and that shape that I know all too well now that fits into the yoke.... about then I notice that he had come back out, with not one, but two tattered little wrappings.... I thought I was gonna squeal like a girl for a sec.
He messed with them just a little to get the bearing caps to turn... the grease had hardened from decades of sitting on the shelf....
I asked the question. "How much do you want for them?"
He laughs again, saying that they aren't even in his system anymore. He just happened to remember asking one of the older guys in the shop what on earth these funny looking joints were for, and him being told they fit some "Old Chrysler Stuff"... he says if I want to pay cash, with no receipt, he'll take $20 each for them. I nearly broke my wrist trying to get my wallet out of my pocket....
So, now I gots one to put on the car, and the other will be tucked away in my toolbox in case I need it in another 55 years.
Today was a good day.
