driveshaft question

[Dan76spit]

i have a 1976 spitfire and i took my driveshaft out today to replace the u-joints and i have a question. the front part that attaches to the transmission is different than shown in the manual. there is no visable u-joint just a sleeve with a rubber boot inside that attaches to the flange. here is a pic

and another pic

now i do have to replace the rear u-joint because there is some play. there is also some play in the front. i can hold the flange steady and roll the shaft back and forth slightly. feels like i need to replace something but i am unsure what is going on in there or how to take any of that apart. the manual shows that it should have a u-joint up front also but this one does not. i can also slide the rear part of the shaft in and out of the front part, that seems normal. not sure how to proceed as i can hear and feel the u-joint is bad but it seems like the front joint is also bad. thanks...

 

[DNK]

Looks like a shaft from a Wedge.

 

[Dale]

Yeah, an early wedge. The one that doesn't look like a U joint is a CV joint and negates the need for a sliding spline.

 

[Dan76spit]

ok is the cv joint serviceable? it seems like i shouldn't be able to rotate the driveshaft if i hold the flange steady.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Here's what Canley Classics has to say about "Propshaft Problems"; the late CV-style propeller shafts are either not serviceable or not worth servicing. It might be worth just finding a straight, unmolested driveshaft from another car and having u-joints, balancing, etc., done as needed?