Tailsfhat: 3 prong options...

[madmont]

If you do not like the Commodore cv joint you could fit a flange off a 4runner A340H auto transmission and bolt on a Hilux uni joint

[allencr]

The rubber donuts/Metalastic couplings can take way more 'mis-alignment' than any drive/propeller shaft to IRS setup can give it, compared to what they take on the half-shaft of a Lotus Elan. Except fot the large diameter, I think you'll get 3 for 1 with them, taking care of misalignment, sliding spines and absorbing shock.

http://www.truechoice.com/prodinfo.asp?number=METCPL
The 12 segment ones will have a lot less complience/bungee effect and were used for a lot of half-shafts before CV's became available, cheap & popular in the 70's.
The old Alfa & BMW donuts I've seen have lasted MUCH better then the rest of the car, while the Lotus didn't because it gets 10 times their misalignment.

[The Real Roadrunner]

the toyota ones have a spigot bearing type arrangement inside then and don't really have alot of give.

if the measurements are accurate you can run without a CV or slipyoke setup but just for ease of use id put it in anyway.

cheers
linden

[BMWTurbo]

I run a slips arrangement on the nose of the Diff. BMW has this from factory though.

I do use the rubber donut to take up some of the missalignment of the front peice however (2-peice shaft).

BMW centre bearing is rubber rmounted and has slight give fowards and backwards.

[Mos]

Hmm! Looking the EPC pic, something springs to mind... there is only one uni in the system! That means that the rubber connector on the gearbox flange must be designed to handle at least the misalignment that comes from the gearbox angle moving up and down.

The other important detail that people are missing is that the slip joint in the above image gets LOCKED in place after installation of the tailshaft. It is only there are an assembly tool and does not take part in absorbing any sort of changes in length once locked. This means that you can use a fixed length tailshaft with donuts, it just means it's an absolute pain to install and you need to get the length exactly right the first time.

the toyota ones have a spigot bearing type arrangement inside then and don't really have alot of give.

Yeah, they do have a spigot arrangement, but that's to centre the shafts with respect to each other, rather than using the donut to centre the shafts. It's not there to prevent the joint from bending.

If I was to do all this again - rather than modifying the gearbox to use a slip yoke - I'd use the 4runner A340H flange and use a flange type tailshaft (with or without the locking slip joint ).

Mos.

[Norbie]

Something like this?





This is for a V160 (4-bolt flange) but same idea.

[wilbo666]

The other important detail that people are missing is that the slip joint in the above image gets LOCKED in place after installation of the tailshaft. It is only there are an assembly tool and does not take part in absorbing any sort of changes in length once locked. This means that you can use a fixed length tailshaft with donuts, it just means it's an absolute pain to install and you need to get the length exactly right the first time.

Mos: Can you explain how the shaft gets locked in place?

I was looking at one yesterday (that was out of a car, separated) and I couldn't see any method used to lock them...

Cheers
Wilbo

[Mos]

I've never touched one, but I read the section on it out of an SC400 factory manual. I was trying to find the supra manual to quote it but gave up.
The large nut supposedly locks it. I might try to find a manual section for it ...
mos.

[sick01]

Sorry to bring this up again, but im half way through an aristo conversion and the rubber donut wont fit under the car so it has to go. By the looks of it, if i source i hilux adapter, than will this just bolt up to the back of my gearbox, and i can use the smaller flange for something custom? Cheers.

[wilbo666]

Sorry to bring this up again, but im half way through an aristo conversion and the rubber donut wont fit under the car so it has to go. By the looks of it, if i source i hilux adapter, than will this just bolt up to the back of my gearbox, and i can use the smaller flange for something custom? Cheers.

Yes the hilux flange should bolt to the rear of the Aristo gearbox, and you can build ur new tailshaft so it bolts to this...like norbies pic above.

You will need to trim / remove the spigot for the 3 Prong rubber piece from the end of the gearbox output shaft. Otherwise it will prevent the tailshaft flange from bolting up!

Cheers
Wilbo