Universal angles

[ragdol]

What is the maximum recommended angle for an universal on a drive shaft. I'm setting up my '37 Ply coupe with a early Dodge hemi, & want to keep it as high as possible to show it off. Thanks. Larry.

[wayne petty]

a few links so you don't end up in a BIND..

there are also offset Ujoints available in the 4x4 world that have the pins NOT aligned.. so there is more room for rotation between the components to prevent jamming metal to metal..



http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/summer2008/ujoints.htm

http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/files/Universal_Joint_Alignment_Proc_111606.pdf

the Dana Ujoint tech manual..

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/IJ900.pdf

more .. dana applications guidelines.. including calculations

http://www.dana.com/wps/wcm/connect/fea850004b1f52c7a852fff859534476/DEXT-dsag0200-0907_LR.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[enjenjo]

You can also look at this too. http://www.roddingroundtable.com/tech/articles/driveline.html

[PeterR]

What is the maximum recommended angle for an universal on a drive shaft. I'm setting up my '37 Ply coupe with a early Dodge hemi, & want to keep it as high as possible to show it off. Thanks. Larry.

Maximum allowable UJ angle is influenced by shaft RPM.

High RPM reduces the max UJ angle

(max angle) x RPM = 18000 is a reasonable guide.

or shuffling the equation

(max angle) = 18000/RPM

[Warpspeed]

Another way to do this would be to use a constant velocity (double cardan) joint at the gearbox end, where you cannot really do much about the extreme angularity.
These joints cancel out the torsional velocity fluctuations you get with high angularity single cardan joints.  They also allow higher angles.


Then tilt the diff nose upwards at the back to more or less match the tailshaft angle.
This will give a much smoother tailshaft rotation, without the high speed torsional vibrations high angularity single cardan joints can often produce.

[ragdol]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like 3-1/2* is the recommended angle. Larry

[oj]

The angle is the relationship between the driveshaft and the yoke - it has nothing to do with the ground.

[ragdol]

OJ, I understand that, it's that I want to keep the engine as high in the engine bay to show it off, & that creats a more severe angle on the universal between the the engine & rear end. Larry

[enjenjo]

OJ, I understand that, it's that I want to keep the engine as high in the engine bay to show it off, & that creats a more severe angle on the universal between the the engine & rear end. Larry

To do what you want, you need to tip the engine down in the back to keep the angle the same. Most engines in modern cars are tipped about 5 degrees down in the rear, but I have used as much as 11 degrees with no problems. If you are concerned about proper carburetor operation at that angle, you can use an angled spacer under the carb, common in marine use, to set the carb more level.

Then the pinion on the rear end can be tipped up more to match the angle of the engine, or you can use a CV joint at the rear to reduce the angle.