T18 yokes for 1330 and 1350 U joints: what are the options?

[robroy]

Good morning!

Yesterday I picked up the new yoke for my T18 from the shop that's building my custom drive shaft. This yoke fits a "1330 Special" U-joint, which is the largest they could find that would fit on my old fashioned T18 spline. The rest of the shaft will have 1350 joints.

I see a minor defect in this yoke. Can you spot it (it shouldn't be hard)?








I noticed this defect while standing in the shop, and I asked the guy about it. He said that he'd order me a new yoke if I wanted, but that this type of defect is pretty common in cast iron and it was totally cosmetic. He said it wouldn't effect the functioning of the yoke in any way.

At the time I felt agreeable and inclined to accept his advice. A cosmetic defect isn't too important to me, especially on something that I will never see once installed.

But later I got to thinking about it and I'm not sure now. The cost of the yoke was high because it's such an unusual part (adapting a 1330 Special to a T18-1E [old fashioned]). It was around $190.

Now my question: is the defect shown in the photos truly cosmetic only? Should I just forget about it?

Thank you very much for all the valuable advice!
Robroy

[70shortwide]

to me $190 sounds like a lot, I may be wrong as ive never bought a yoke like that. for the money id go ahead and have him get another. put your mind at ease

[robroy]

Hey Jeff! Thanks for your reply. Yes $190 is indeed a lot. The Dana 60 yoke, because it's popular and made by Spicer, was far less. It was around $40 or $60 or something.

Yeah I might have them get another, but if it's truly 100% cosmetic I wouldn't bother.

Thanks Jeff!
Robroy

[fireguywtc]

Looks slightly more then cosmetic to me, I would get another if I were you. jmo

[70shortwide]

i dont know enough about them to tell you for sure whether or not it will break, but i would bet that its easier to get a flaw-free one now rather than after it breaks. they might just say you broke it beacuse youve got a powerful motor.

im not saying that it will break, I really dont know if it will. i would get another just so you dont have to think about it. and if you break it it wont be because of an obvious flaw.

[fordman]

get another one.

[Redcap]

For $190, that thing better be perfect as far as I'm concerned.

[averagef250]

I would not accept that. I would hope to find a forged steel yoke over a cast one for high HP applications too.

[BobbyFord]

Casting defect. Wouldn't sweat it. The tires will break loose LONG before there is enough force generated to that yoke (if it were perfect) to cause a mechanical failure.

[robroy]

Hey Jeff, Fordman, Aaron, Dustin, and BobbyFord,

Thanks for the great replies! It sounds like I'd better go to the bother of getting a new one tomorrow morning. It just means an hour and a half in the car (and showing up to work late). Oh well! I won't have to think about it later then.

Thanks again,
Robroy

[robroy]

I would hope to find a forged steel yoke over a cast one for high HP applications too.

Hey Dustin, that's an interesting point. I wasn't even aware of the difference there.

When I talk to the guy in the morning I'll ask about a forged steel one, although I don't have high hopes of finding that. They had a hard time even getting this one. It seems that the combo of the early T18 with a "1330 Special" U joint is very rare. But I'll ask!

Thanks again,
Robroy

[robroy]

Hey Jeff, Fordman, Aaron, Dustin, and BobbyFord,

Bill, I accidentally left your name out here! Thanks for your excellent reply as well.

I'll take care of getting another one this morning, and I'll ask about forged steel yokes while I'm at it.

Thank you!
Robroy

[robroy]

It turns out that I don't need to drive to the shop after all! I called and they said they'd happily order a replacement that I could pick up whenever I want.

I asked about forged steel yokes, and heard that they already looked in to that when they were searching for an early T18 to 1350 yoke, but found nothing like that.

While I was at it, I asked if they knew where this special yoke was made, and heard that it's probably made "overseas" but they don't know exactly where! Which may not matter at all since this is my only option, other than using the factory yoke with its 1310 U joint, or putting in a different transmission. But if it's made in China it doesn't seem too ideal. Maybe I'll ask again to see if they can tell me specifically where it's made when I go in next time.

This makes me curious to do some independent research on finding an ideal yoke for this. The ideal yoke would be Made in USA, adapter the early T18 spline to the 1350 U joint, and be made of forged steel.

Any suggestions on places to check for this ideal yoke?

Thanks!
Robroy

[robroy]

Good morning!

I just called Strange Engineering and Danny's Driveshaft on the yoke and neither of them had one. It seems that what I'm looking for, more specifically, is this:

28 Spline "Bolt Down" yoke for the T18-1E to the 1350 U Joint

The spline diameter (as measured by the distance between the innermost grooves on the spline) is 1.086".

Both Strange' and Danny's had "slip yokes" for automatic transmissions but no "bolt down" yokes.

Any suggestions on where to find this animal would be highly appreciated!!!

Thank you!
Robroy

[robroy]

Called "Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts" and Novak. Neither of them have the yoke, but the guy at Tom Wood's recommended "High Angle Driveline." Called and left a message with them.

Robroy