Ok, I've looked, and searched. What are the do's and don'ts when installing an early Ford u-joint? What is the torque for the bolt? Which way does the washer face? Do you need a lock washer? Do you use Loctite? Is corn head grease the proper grease? Does the clamshell need sealant between the two halves? Is there a seal between the transmission and u-joint? How does the grease not enter the transmission if there is no seal? Can you overfill the u-joint housing? So many questions.. Please school me. Thanks!
My understanding is: There is no grease seal on the rear bearing of the trans so that some lube can escape out of the trans to lube the "U" joint and speedometer gear, there is a seal on the front of the driveshaft to keep it from running down the driveshaft. Those grease fittings you see on the clamshell are there to lube the front of the driveshaft housing bell. There is no way you could pump enough grease through them to get to the "U" joint. You can start out with the joint packed with corn head grease, but it won't stay in there very long, centrifugal force will soon fling it off, and coat the inside of the spherical housing.
Don't know the torque spec but it's a 3/8 Bolt so with the regular 3/8 drive ratchet just tight enough probably 30 ft pounds or so. There is a washer that is concave and a lock washer if you take it off you can see which way it used to go as it's probably marked from the splines and I did use some blue Loctite. There is no seal between the trans and the U-joint just a baffle so don't worry about that and as far as the clamshell going together I just use the right stuff silicone sealant on all the pieces. And yes I use the John Deere corn head grease and just pack that thing full. There is a felt or cork seal that rides on a torque tube side. That's all I got for now I'm sure someone else will chime in
An early ford u joint is not like the unjoints we use today it has bushing not needle bearings (save for the Lincoln u joints). There is no seal at the output shaft of the trans. The drive shaft seal keeps the lube in the rear from going in the trans and the trans line from going in the rear. The rear axle also vents through the trans. The clam shell is sealed with a cork gasket installed in the outer cover of the clam shell that retains the torque tube to the trans. You can use a piece of rubber tubing the appropriate size to fit in the grove for the seal held together with a vacuum connector to make an o ring seal. It works much better than the cork. Anyone with an early ford knows the clam shells leak. The corn head grease works great for the joint. On a new install I will pack the entire area with corn head and it stays for a while but you gotta keep greasing it. Def put loc tite on the unjoint bolt. You don’t want that coming apart.
Thanks for the help guys. Finally got everything together. I ended up applying 20ft lbs to the U-joint bolt based on a torque guides recommendation. Used a big syringe to fill everything up with corn head grease. I have most of a tube in it now. The whole clamshell design is interesting. I'm sure it will leak.
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