Driveshaft u-joints - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

crawlin cruiser · 08-23-2001, 11:54 AM

Are the u-joints in a cruiser and a mini truck interchangeable? Meanning Are they the same?

Tankota · 08-23-2001, 12:04 PM

The mini truck ones are smaller than the cruiser 4sp ones.
The minitruck u-joints are more similar in size to the cruiser 3sp ones. However, the cruiser 3sp ones have external clips while the mini truck ones have internal clips so I don't think these are interchangeable either.

To summarize...nope they are not interchangeable (as far as I know). <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

crawlin cruiser · 08-23-2001, 12:30 PM

I just want to know if they are the same Cuz I want to put a cruiser flange on the mini truck d-shaft. Has anyone done this?

Tankota · 08-23-2001, 12:40 PM

I did some swapping between the mini driveline and my cruiser driveline recently.

I had a minitruck slip yoke (off the rear driveline of an 82 toy pickup) put onto my cruiser driveline. I then redrilled the hole pattern in the t-case drum and put new studs in the t-case drum (wheel studs for a geo metro worked in my case). I now have a 3" longer slipyoke. I think that somebody else did this on this board (jimmyfj40).

The toyota pickups have about 5 different bolt patterns on their flanges. I've heard that one of them matches the cruiser 3sp flange.

I don't think the u-joints are interchangeable. However, I cannot guarantee that since I haven't had both on my bench to make sure.

I would be curious if you could swap u-joint caps so make an "adapter" u-joint between the cruiser and toy pickup parts.

dog walker · 08-23-2001, 04:29 PM

U-joints are different, but as Tankota said you can interchange slip yokes. There are 3 diffrent bolt patterens that I know of, and I have used them on cruisers in the past. If you have a round aftermarket pinion flange, you can just re-drill it to match the pattern of the mini, or find the one that fits. One of the three has the same pattern as the 3spd, and I thought it was the early version like 79-83 or so.

Also, the mini trucks use the same size tubing on most, so you can fab up a shaft prety easy to fit your needs.

Jeff

08-23-2001, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
crawlin cruiser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3760 Location: Kamloops BC Posts: 987	Driveshaft u-joints Are the u-joints in a cruiser and a mini truck interchangeable? Meanning Are they the same? __________________ 83 BJ60 DD,74 FJ40 crawler Be Canadian, Eat beaver!!

08-23-2001, 12:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
crawlin cruiser Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3760 Location: Kamloops BC Posts: 987	I just want to know if they are the same Cuz I want to put a cruiser flange on the mini truck d-shaft. Has anyone done this? __________________ 83 BJ60 DD,74 FJ40 crawler Be Canadian, Eat beaver!!

08-23-2001, 04:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
dog walker Discount! Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 156 Location: Orangevale, CA Posts: 6,785	U-joints are different, but as Tankota said you can interchange slip yokes. There are 3 diffrent bolt patterens that I know of, and I have used them on cruisers in the past. If you have a round aftermarket pinion flange, you can just re-drill it to match the pattern of the mini, or find the one that fits. One of the three has the same pattern as the 3spd, and I thought it was the early version like 79-83 or so. Also, the mini trucks use the same size tubing on most, so you can fab up a shaft prety easy to fit your needs. Jeff __________________ Jeff Fretwell 72 FJ40 67 FJ45 83 Toyota 4x4 LB

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08-23-2001, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tankota Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1159 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 1,861	The mini truck ones are smaller than the cruiser 4sp ones. The minitruck u-joints are more similar in size to the cruiser 3sp ones. However, the cruiser 3sp ones have external clips while the mini truck ones have internal clips so I don't think these are interchangeable either. To summarize...nope they are not interchangeable (as far as I know). <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

08-23-2001, 12:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tankota Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1159 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 1,861	I did some swapping between the mini driveline and my cruiser driveline recently. I had a minitruck slip yoke (off the rear driveline of an 82 toy pickup) put onto my cruiser driveline. I then redrilled the hole pattern in the t-case drum and put new studs in the t-case drum (wheel studs for a geo metro worked in my case). I now have a 3" longer slipyoke. I think that somebody else did this on this board (jimmyfj40). The toyota pickups have about 5 different bolt patterns on their flanges. I've heard that one of them matches the cruiser 3sp flange. I don't think the u-joints are interchangeable. However, I cannot guarantee that since I haven't had both on my bench to make sure. I would be curious if you could swap u-joint caps so make an "adapter" u-joint between the cruiser and toy pickup parts.