Hi All,

I've been reading every post I could find about the u-joints for the driveshafts for our cars but the more I read the more differences I see so now I'm more confused than when I started and looking for some assistance. I'm in Australia so asking the autoparts stores here is a complete waste of time as they don't know or stock parts for these cars.

I have a 1985 TransAM that had a 10 bolt open diff with drum brakes.
I bought a 1997 Camaro LT1 LSD 10 bolt rear end with the stock disc brakes. I got the diff reconditioned and rebuilt and a Detroit Trutrac carrier along with 3.42 gears.

When I was putting the driveshaft back in, I noticed the bolts for the straps to hold the uni-joint in felt like they were cross threading and not going in like they should. It was only because of this I thought to check and see if they used a different bolt/thread on the 97 yoke, and then after checking the forums realised it probably needs a different uni joint or a combination to match.
The consensus seems to be a 3R / 1310 combination joint but I wanted to confirm and see if someone could give me the actual sizes for the 97 camaro yoke and the 85 TransAM driveshaft.

Then lastly wanted to check if I need different straps and different threaded bolts to attach it?

 

Since cars get serviced and parts get swapped, verify what you have, instead of going by "what they had."

3R has inner lockrings in outer grooves on the caps, inboard of the yoke ears.

1310 has snaprings in internal grooves of the yoke ears, against the outer faces of the caps.

Google dimensions of both.

If your pinion yoke matches the half of the joint with which it is mating, the yoke straps and bolts shouldn't need swapped, nor mixed.

You won't get far looking up for a 1997 Z28, sure. But dig up as many cross-referencing part numbers as you can. A 1310 most definitely saw use in Oz, 3R may be an orphan there, but it isn't like there aren't brands sold globally who make both, and all the conversion joints you could want. Unfortunately they'll likely all have different PNs.

If your counter jockey is as useless as a thermostat on an air-cooled, at least get him to loan you an example of each joint. for easy confirmation.

 

Here's the driveshaft and New diff.
yoke joint diameter is 26mm compared to the old diff which was 30mm.
Looks like I'll need new straps too.
Bolt thread is the same but bottoms out because of the joint not sitting flush and straps not curved enough.

 

Time to get the calipers out

http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/...D%20Guide.html

 

Despite your pics , Rockauto lists the same Dana 53147X ( 3RL ) uni for both ?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdh-5-3147x#overview

In Oz, many industrial bearing shops carry uni joints , better chance there than Repco or Supercheap

 

looks like I'm chasing a 1330 to 1350 conversion joint.
Found one at VPW in Australia so I'll give that a go.

Thanks all