[stag] Drive Shaft Upgrade

Hi Guys,



I am considering upgrading my original drive shafts, as I am noticing the
lurching more of late and some vibration at speed. I have seen posts over
the years for a conversion to the Datsun shafts, some based on machined hubs
to enable the standard UJ and others that have used a special UJ with two
different sized cups.

Also, Rimmers are offering a New drive shaft Part No-311914Z and Tony Hart
has "Triumph Stag NEW PAIR improved drive shafts" as listed on eBay.

My original plan was to use the machined Datsun shafts as I believe they are
smoother. So would greatly appreciate any feedback from anyone that has done
the conversion and could offer any tips. Especially for Sydney Australia.



Many thanks,

Joe

Stag - 76 Manual

In Sydney Australia

If I was in Australia I'd do the Datsun conversion with Tri-dat ujoints(made
in Australia). It's what I'm doing except I have to pay shipping for the
ujoints to the states.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 24, 2012, at 10:07 PM, "Joe Mizzi" <JLMizzi@Ozemail.com.au> wrote:

> Hi Guys,
>
>
>
> I am considering upgrading my original drive shafts, as I am noticing the
> lurching more of late and some vibration at speed. I have seen posts over
> the years for a conversion to the Datsun shafts, some based on machined
hubs
> to enable the standard UJ and others that have used a special UJ with two
> different sized cups.
>
> Also, Rimmers are offering a New drive shaft Part No-311914Z and Tony Hart
> has "Triumph Stag NEW PAIR improved drive shafts" as listed on eBay.
>
> My original plan was to use the machined Datsun shafts as I believe they
are
> smoother. So would greatly appreciate any feedback from anyone that has
done
> the conversion and could offer any tips. Especially for Sydney Australia.
>
>
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Joe
>
> Stag - 76 Manual
>
> In Sydney Australia

I would go with the tri-dat option. It is plug and play no machining
required.
The only drawback with that is that you are using specialist Ujs , so I
would buy a set of spares to put away for future use and keep one in the
boot if travelling

If you want to machine the triumph hubs (which I have done) to accept the
datsun Ujs, then I suggest you get the triumph saloon circlipped hubs as
they have more meat on them
You may get a fright as to the machining costs. I know they enineers that
did mine made no money on them...

Cheers
Dean

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-stag@digest.net [mailtowner-stag@digest.net] On Behalf Of Joe
Mizzi
Sent: Wednesday, 25 April 2012 2:08 p.m.
To: stag-digest@digest.net
Subject: [stag] Drive Shaft Upgrade

Hi Guys,



I am considering upgrading my original drive shafts, as I am noticing the
lurching more of late and some vibration at speed. I have seen posts over
the years for a conversion to the Datsun shafts, some based on machined hubs
to enable the standard UJ and others that have used a special UJ with two
different sized cups.

Also, Rimmers are offering a New drive shaft Part No-311914Z and Tony Hart
has "Triumph Stag NEW PAIR improved drive shafts" as listed on eBay.

My original plan was to use the machined Datsun shafts as I believe they are
smoother. So would greatly appreciate any feedback from anyone that has done
the conversion and could offer any tips. Especially for Sydney Australia.



Many thanks,

Joe

Stag - 76 Manual

In Sydney Australia

I have Datsun half shafts as well, and am perfectly satisfied with them.

I also have a Datsun diffy.

The Datsun diffy is much narrower than is the Triumph, but the Datsun hubs are much wider than the Triumph hubs.

I still have the Triumph hubs, so I have a set of spacers on either side of the Datsun diffy to allow the halfsafts to reach the hubs.

One of my u-joints is loose, I'll have to get in there and take it apart. Of course, 13 years after doing the swap, I have no clear idea what u-joint it is.

Oh, well.

Andy Thompson who is in Australia has acquired some Datsun driveshafts which he is going to ship to the UK. If you speak to him he may have a surplus pair of shafts if you have not already got a set.

He might be able to advise on machining down your way as well.

Let me know if you want his contact details?

Richard

Hi Joe,

I think the decision comes down to several factors:

1. How much do you want to spend ?
2. How long will you keep the car ?
3. How "original" does it need to be ? (Do Datsun shafts increase or decrease the "value" of the car ?)
4. How much do you cherish the "period feel" vs "modern classic" ?

For me, I like to make bolt-on modifications (reversible always if desired). If you can organise them, the tridat unis and 180B shafts are a no brainer. The weakness of the original design is the sliding spline. My understanding of most of the uprated shafts is that they have friction modified splines - the Datsun design is so much nicer inherently. The Tridat method is reversible, cheaper than all other methods and gives 90% of the result.

Mine came already modified, but last year I found excess play in the rear hubs and converted to one of the uprated hub designs. This had a flange fitting which can bolt up to either the Triumph or Datsun shaft flange. (The original hubs have the Uni yoke hub.) To complete this conversion then you need an additional pair of flanges - in my case Datsun.

I think I visited almost every Datsun wrecker in Sydney before locating a very rusted shaft at a racing specialist in Windsor. I would never have thought it harder to buy Datsun parts than Triumph parts over here. I was told that because the Datsun shafts never wear out, nobody stocks them...

The original Triumph setup was quite advanced for its day (by which I mean when originally launched on the Mk 1 saloon), but getting a bit dated by the late 1970s. The hubs work well, but I have 2 kids under 5 now and having watched an immaculate 1 owner Stag lose a rear wheel from a sheared rear shaft it was a no-brainer to upgrade to modern bearings at the back. I have been gradually changing from accepting the period charm of the Stag to wanting it to work as vibration free / twitch free as my modern car, and will probably eventually convert the Diff to Hitachi when I get the time.

I certainly think it's a no-brainer to go Datsun if you have the chance. I wouldn't hesitate to do so as a first step on any future Triumph I have. You will never regret the change in the handling.

I would probably go Tridat for starters if you can find them - you can always have some flanges machined out in the future to "complete the conversion" and standardise the rear uni joints (although with "classic" mileage how often do Uni joints wear out these days ?)

All the best, Nathan

Does anyone have any sourcing details for these "Tri-dat" universal joints?
Especially in Australia.



I assume then I just need a pair of good Datsun drive shafts. Are any models
better than others?



Thanks,

Joe

Tri-dat UJs originate in OZ. If I'm not mistaken some bloke in Brisvegas gets them made and sells them.

Greg Tunstall: [www.gregtunstallmechanical.com.au] I believe also known as Brisbane Car Spares.

Not cheap, mind.

Julian

Joe,

The main difference in the old Datsun shafts is the overall width ie track of the original car.

I have always used Datsun 180B (610 Japanese Bluebird model) but from memory only the Datsun 1600 (510 domestic model) will probably work also.

I think someone (Julian perhaps ?) was using Datsin 240Z shafts which are about 1" longer, which may be an advantage with a narrower diff (Datsun / Subaru for example)

Can't help with Triday sorry. I've always done it the hard way. The Tridat method is to find a company (such as Tridat) who make universal joints for the Datsun (slightly larger) and Triumph (smaller and narrower) which use the same cross piece and varying sized shells to make up the variations. Then you buy 2 of each type and mix. It is possible that there are other manufacturers who would be suitable but you'd need to cross-reference the parts books to find them. You probably already know this but it's worth including to make the threads complete in a few years time when the next person asks !

Cheers, Nathan

Mine are from a 280ZX. After seeing the photos Andy took of his horde of shafts, mine look near identical but I can be mistaken about the length. I also use a Subaru differential.

To make sure you don't go out and buy the wrong shafts, measure everything a couple of times.

Julian


Nathan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think someone (Julian perhaps ?) was using
> Datsin 240Z shafts which are about 1" longer,
> which may be an advantage with a narrower diff
> (Datsun / Subaru for example)

Hi Guys,



Thanks for the responses, I think I will first try to source the TriDat
universal joints and a good pair of suitable Datsun shafts. This leaves me
with the ability to revert back to original whilst also utilising a sound
option, which will probably last me several years.



I believe the supplier of the TriDat Universal joint is Greg Tunstall in
Brisbane, Australian. So will have a chat with them to confirm cost and
availability.



Richard, you mentioned that "Andy Thompson who is in Australia has acquired
some Datsun driveshafts" would you mind sending his details, as I would like
to see if he has some available or understand what to look for when hunting
them down.



Thanks

Joe

I installed a set of Tridat universals from Truimph and British Auto Care in Queensland, +617 3274 2828. They marry up the Triumph and the datsun universal yokes. They were not expensive arond $80 4 years ago.
www.bac.com.au

Thanks

Mike

That is who I was speaking about, but it seems they have gone bye bye.
Domain moved or something. I recall they were changing facilities, but I have
no other information on them at present. If you are local in Oz, can you find out if
they are still in business or have a new website?

Thanks.

The new number for British Auto Care is +6133766164 and www.britishautocare.com.au, email staff@bac.com.au

good luck.

Thanks

Mike

>> www.britishautocare.com.au


This website, as near I can tell, does not
exist.
What's worse is that a little research shows the company bounces
all
over the place. This
website: [www.triumphowners.com]
shows two
different addresses for British Auto Care both referencing bac.com.au which is
defunct. Odd.

British Autocare in Oz shut down around a year ago due to internet competition. He still sells the odd bit of NOS and other stock on ebay.

Cheers,

RD.
'77 Triumph Stag Mk II Pimento