U-Joint in common?

[1955cj5]

Anyone know if the A and AA share the same U-joint?

I'm gathering parts to swap out the AA 4-speed transmission for a 3-speed A version.

[Bob C]

The 4-speed u-joint will not work on the 3-speed trans.

Bob

[1955cj5]

Thanks Bob,

So the input splines must be different size, and the output are the same?

There is a u-joint in there now of course, but I have no way of knowing what it's like until I pull everything apart...I probably just ought to be ready with a replacement....

Randy

[1955cj5]

OK I found more information. Thanks Bob for your info and I also found your recent posts on the aa-fords.com site

Ford offered a special u-joint specifically for the 4-speed installation in an A chassis. The front knuckle fit the AA transmission shaft and the rear knuckle fit the A drive shaft...

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/aafourspeedachassis.htm (thanks Mark!)

One of my concerns was that when I got everything apart that I would find that the rear drive shaft had somehow been altered......still possible of course but less likely now....

[1955cj5]

So based on info from the web site in the above post, there also was a special bearing retainer used in the AA transmission install...

Attached is a picture of my retainer and u-joint housing....looks home-made to me...that mounting flange that sticks out on one side is a mystery...the other side had been broken off to clear the battery....it's probably just something they had around and they made it work....and there is a 3/8" or so soft spongy material that you can see in the picture between the u-joint housing and the make-shift retainer....

[Bob C]

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That bearing retainer looks like for a 32 or later truck.

Bob

[1955cj5]

The transmission tower is dated 1931.....

Is that flange a Model AA part?

[Bob C]

The bearing retainer you have is similar to this one.
Ford used that transmission into the early 50's

Bob

[1955cj5]

Thanks Bob, great picture....I would say mine looks just like that, except for the mounting flange, and the zerk is in a different location.......I'll look for those part numbers around the edge....

Do you think the u-joint housing will work on an A or should I shop for one of those too? It has a part number on it but I haven't been able to read it yet....

[Bob C]

You will have to match the U-joint housing with your new transmissions
bearing retainer. There are two types, one with even bolt spacing and the
other with odd spacing.

Bob

[1955cj5]

OK....I've been trying to read the part #'s..

It looks like the housing may be a BB-4514

I have not found a number on the retainer yet..

I better just plan on replacing everything....I hope the torque tube hasn't been altered....

The part # took me to Steve Plucker's site through google...

http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/studie...y_restorer.pdf

I'm closing in on this....

[CarlG]

These are the parts that (according to Ford) make it possible to install the AA 4-speed transmission into an A "passenger" vehicle.

A-7085-E Rear Bearing Retainer
A-7090-C U-Joint Assembly
AA-7095 U-Joint knuckle retainer.

So, it would be a fair assumption that these parts would need to be replaced by the corresponding "A" part.

Side note here: When you remove them, make sure you hang on to these parts as a set. They are as scarce as hens teeth. Someone here will want them in a bad way sooner or later.

[1955cj5]

Thanks Carl,

I will keep the parts...I never throw anything away on purpose..sometimes I can't find the parts I saved, but that is another story..

I would consider rebuilding this AA transmission but unfortunately the case is cracked where the brake and clutch pedal shaft is attached....it is probably repairable though...

[CarlG]

It might be easier just to find another AA tranny than to go to all the effort trying to get everything back to passenger style. I've even seen them in the swap meet here for not much $$.

[1955cj5]

That is an option for sure.

A friend here locally had an extra A bell housing and a complete transmission, though it will need bearings etc...so I'm about 1/3rd of the way there...

I guess it will depend on what I find when removing the AA transmission....but it too would need a case and complete bearing set and who knows what else...

[1955cj5]

I think this is the bearing retainer that I have (part of!)....BB-5089-A....1932-1939 4-speed truck....