Author Topic: Shift link: New approach  (Read 692 times)

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Offline surfguitar58

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Shift link: New approach
« on: Wednesday,December 19, 2018, 09:33:26 AM »
Considering I got zero responses to my "WTB Shift Link" post... (Really? With all the swaps to NGX gearboxes and cable shifters going on, nobody has a long 365 rear link, or a shorter 352 link I could lengthen?) ...I am considering a different approach.

rdent.com sells an aftermarket Shift Linkage U-Joint (PN - 74F0194R). Our own Certified Lotus has pics of one he installed in his 352 4-speed linkage, and it looks like the maximum thread length is used. (See pic below I stole from Certified’s thread.) Does anyone know if there is sufficient length adjustability in the rdent u-joint to make up the difference in length between the stock 352 link and the 365 link, allowing a 352 link to be used with the 365 gearbox? (George at rdent says he doesn’t know for sure). Has anyone tried this? Does anyone know the exact length difference between the 2 links? I seem to recall somewhere reading it is less than 1 inch.

Alternatively, since the rdent.com part looks like a common u-joint with a couple of studs (1/2-20 UNF??) brazed into the ends, I suppose I could make my own from McMaster-Carr parts any length I want. Steering knuckles and Apex u-joints have also been suggested as substitutes for the McMaster u-joint.

Before anyone suggests I just lengthen my existing 352 link I should point out I am hoping to keep it intact along with my current gearbox as a spare.

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Tom
"A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Offline Pfreen

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Re: Shift link: New approach
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday,December 19, 2018, 09:42:16 AM »
Pegasus racing sells a number of different u-joints that may work ok for what you are doing. 

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Shift link: New approach
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday,December 19, 2018, 09:52:18 AM »
+1 on Pegasus.

Get some tubing and bend it up to suit.

Offline Certified Lotus

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Re: Shift link: New approach
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday,December 19, 2018, 12:14:24 PM »
Tom, I’m traveling so I can’t get the measurements your looking for from my installation, but you might want to look at Lovejoy’s website for information on the unjointed they sell and the different configurations. https://www.lovejoy-inc.com/products/universal-joints/

I also was researching a better type of shift linkage for many months and finally gave up as I didn’t have the time to design and fabricate a better solution.