In a message dated 4/27/01 7:26:02 PM, andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
writes:

<< A good machineshop should be able to modify the joint to take a different
inner (whatever the cross-shaped bearing housing is called). >>

Andrew,

In the good ol' US of A, we call the cruciform part of the U-joint the Turin.
 Also, our mindset is less like that of the British and, I imagine, yours.
Most of us would rather spend countless hours searching in vain for an
elusive part than have an engineer do a simple resizing job.

Rich