Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Roadster 3.7 propshaft

My recently acquired Roadster has a strange mechanical noise when I push the car out of the garage. It sounds to me like a Universal Joint at the front end where it connects to the gearbox. I know the 3.7 engine is mated to a 6-speed transit box, and it seems the Transit uses a flexible coupling to connect to the propshaft (on a Transit) - does anyone know if this is also used on the Roadster? I've checked the prop shaft connection to the diff and that is all sound, but when I rotate the prop shaft (with the car in gear) I can feel some play at the front end. I'd be surprised if the front UJ has gone as the car has only done just over 10k miles. Is it the sort of thing that could go if the previous owner was a bit heavy with the dropping the clutch when pulling away?

I can't get the car into my local Morgan specialist until the end of April so any advice would be most welcome in the meantime. I'm not sure if I should drive the car in this state?

Les, what year is the Mog ? As I think the gearbox changed during production of the 3.7

It's a 2018.

You could grease the propshaft Les. On mine the rear UJ nipple has a cover on it and is easily accessible. There are two at the front though, UJ itself and sliding joint. These are difficult to access through the gap in the wooden floor boards but hopefully your grease gun will reach. Note that sliding joint nipple also has a rubber cover on it but not front UJ.

Not saying this will cure your issue but clicking noises when manoeuvring car on full lock forward or reverse are down to LSD clutches slipping. A friction modifier or fresh diff oil which includes the friction modifier will cure this. A small amount of play in the propshaft is normal due to the the crown wheel and pinion mesh.

When I greased mine at c 15k it had never been greased.
I cut some holes in the gear box tunnel for ease of access. The thread is on here somewhere.

Thanks for the suggestions. It's more of a mechanical clunking than a clicking, which makes me think it's the UJ. And it turns out it's the Ford/Getrag MT82 gearbox, not a Transit gearbox. I'm going to get it up on a friend's ramp on Saturday so we can have a closer look.

Even on a lift the boards on my car were too close to get a grease gun in. Hence the hole in the tunnel.
If you can't do it let me know and I'll post some pics

Thanks Dave W, these pics show me what I am dealing with. John V6, I may call on you for some pics. I think it's going to be replacing one or both UJs. I think the car has got very wet underneath as I discovered rust inside the rear brake drums, and a seized piston on each side's slave cylinder. I'm coming to the conclusion the UJ(s) have been waterlogged, gone rusty (due to the car standing for long periods (only 300 miles in the last year)) and have broken down causing the clunking sound. The car is going up on a friend's ramp on Saturday so we can have a good look. And work out how to remove the prop shaft if we need to.

I wonder if it has a LSD. They can click, depending on the oil fill & type.