BBShark

I am putting a Tremec TKO-500 in my 68. I have read several posts about what slip yoke to use. I have accumulated Corvette Forum references to Ford and Lincolns from the 60's, 70's and 80's. The driveline shop that is redoing my rear end and making my driveshaft works on race cars and trucks. I told them them the information I had obtained from the Corvette Forum and they told me, if I could be more specific, they could find the yoke. I can't blame them, I wouldn't want to look up 30 years of applications to find the right (possibly) one. I know I can get one from Mark Williams but I'm not big on spending $2-300 on a yoke.

So, how about this as an alternative. I get a regular C6 yoke, machine the yoke off the splined shaft (leaving a 1" pilot). Then, machine the Vette yoke to accept the C6 and weld them together????? Opinions?

norvalwilhelm

I did a tremec installation this week, well finished yesterday and he didn't have a slip yoke. I took a flapper wheel in my die grinder and about 10 seconds polished the yoke for a slip fit universal, a small brass hammer effortlessly tapped the caps in.
I can install the yoke in a few minutes so why bother with the quick change yoke.
That said when I did mine I used the rear flange off any mustang. The rear of the driveshaft on a mustang has a univeral with a flat plate, well a ring on it for alignment. I just took the C6 yoke, machined most of the yoke away and welded a plate on the stub then put the yoke in a lathe and machined it for flatness and matched the recess for the ford flange.
The ford mustand has a flange similiar to our out flanges on the 1/2 shaft of axle.
I have done this twice. Get any ford rear driveshaft flange. It is a start.
I made mine in a few hours total for a quick take apart yoke.

BBShark

It sounds to me like we are talking about the same deal, cut the splined shaft receiver off the yoke of the C6 and weld the Vette flange on to it (assuring alignment betrween the two parts). I'm thinking the parts guy at the driveline shop would rather I do this than have him search for 30 years of old Lincoln parts.

Marks69BB

BBShark - Have you called around? The yoke is a compund C6 one out of a mid-80's lincoln that has a CV joint in it. If your driveline guy doesn't know which one, check with your F*rd dealer and other shops in your area. I'll be willing to bet you can locate one once you can show/communicate which yoke you need.

BBShark

When you say the yoke has a CV joint in it, that's where I'm lost. How does a yoke with a CV joint "in it" fit my car? Aren't you still talking about cutting and welding with the Lincoln yoke? I need a C6 compound 1330 (universal joint) series yoke.

ddecart

What;s the spline pattern on the TKO-500?

After doing my T5 conversion and just installing the u-joint in the car, I wouldn't consider spending the money to buy a take-apart yoke.

Marks69BB

Yes, I'm talking about cutting and welding that your driveshaft guy can do. You will have to use a compound (1310 > 1330 I think) u-joint to fit it once the machining is done but you will not be dissapointed with the final result! My local driveshaft guy did this as part of the $50 he charged me! I still think you can work this with some research.

norvalwilhelm

After doing my T5 conversion and just installing the u-joint in the car, I wouldn't consider spending the money to buy a take-apart yoke.

I agree with ddecart. If you just polish the yoke so the U joint is a slip fit it is effortless to install the universal in the car. It certainly is not worth the $200 plus most places charge.

BBShark

For what it's worth, I have been unable to find any Ford driveshaft components with CV joints. There are however, Ford (Lincoln and Thunderbird) driveshafts with Cardan joints in them. If this is the right one, I will post a picture and PN for it.