66 differential side yoke choices

[Gary B.]

I'm looking to purchase two new differential side yokes for my 66 to replace my rusty and pitted original yokes. Someone showed me a GM Restoration part with the part number 14016436. I can't find this on the gmpartsdirect website, so I'm wondering if this has been discontinued, or perhaps they simply don't carry it. Can any one tell me if this is/was a quality part? If this part is no longer available, can someone recommend a source for a (non-heavy duty) side yoke that has an original look to the external part, but a better design to the internal end, i.e., better heat treamtent?

Gary

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 differential side yoke choices

Gary------

GM #14016436 was a SERVICE yoke axle for your car; the original part number was GM #3832031. However, the 14016436 was configured virtually the same as the 3832031 and, for all practical purposes, is indistinguishable. Both are u-bolt type axles.

The GM #14016436 was discontinued from GM quite a few years ago. Fairly recently, the 14016436 has "re-surfaced" under the GM Restoration Parts program. I don't know if these pieces are "foreign" manufactured, or not, and I don't know what the quality of them is.

In my opinion, the best bet is a rebuilt original with a hardened "button" installed on the inside end. This provides the best of both worlds. The "button" is through-hardened to very high Rockwell hardness and it's virtually impossible to wear-through. Since the "button" replacement end is relatively short, no strength is lost in the section of the splines which engages the spider gear splines.

For a new stub axle, I recommend those manufactured by International Axle of Dayton, MN. However, I don't know if they make the u-bolt style axles or just the cap type which, for 1966, were used only on big block cars.

[Gary B.]

Follow-up questions

Joe,

Two questions.

1) Where does one get GM restoration parts program parts if gmpartsdirect doesn't carry them? Any Chevy dealer?

2) Who sells the rebuilt yokes with the hardened button, e.g., Paragon, Long Island Corvette, etc.?

Gary

[Craig S.]

Re: Follow-up questions

Hi Gary and Joe - I have purchased a set of HD yokes from Tom at International Axle for my 74 that I plan to install my crate LS6 with 67 tripower engine, with a 4.11 rear. I purchased both the side yokes and the stub axles from Tom. I have met him multiple times at shows, and been to his Dayton MN facility twice when I was in the Minneapolis area on business. His parts are simply outstanding in quality, and I also have his complete rear end tool set. I watched his CNC system machine a stub axle while I was there, he used first rate forgings, and hardening is carefully controlled, he send that operation out to a facility in Texas if I recall. He also typically uses zinc dichromate plating on the stub axles for corrosion protection, but will leave them off if you desire. The stub axles, as of about 1.5 years ago, now have the two tabs on like the GM units on the outside center, some folks wanted this for originality, my set was one of the first set out the chute for that. His HD yokes(and yes, he does offer them with caps and ubolts as did GM)are truly first rate and very stout. However, for judging, I would NOT use his yokes, they are too heavy duty and well made, the forging around the Ujoint trunion supports is noticeably smoother, and heavier in construction. The caps I have are CNC milled billet steel, way too nice for judging. Charlie Smith has installed some severe horsepower engines in front of these parts and he feels they are the best on the market, he uses them for drag racing. I agree with Joe about the yokes with the hardened inserts on the end, in my mind, for a judged car this is the only way to go. However, Tom's stub axles without the zinc dichromate (he will build them for you that way) is the way to go even for judging in my mind....Craig

[Gary B.]

Craig: Clarification

Craig,

In your posting you said that you "purchased both the side yokes and the stub axles from Tom." I thought these were one and the same. No?

Do you know what Tom gets for a non-HD stub axle w/o the dichromate treatment?
At least a ballpark number?

Gary

[Craig S.]

Re: Craig: Clarification

Gary - I am probably using the wrong terms here, I guess the side yokes are sometimes called stub yokes, since they are short. By stub axles, I meant the axle shaft with rotor mount flange that installs in the trailing arm assemblies. I can't recall what he normally sells these for, but I would buy direct as he markets them to several of the big corvette suppliers and they mark it up. He also does discounts at shows, and has given me price breaks since I have purchased many tools and parts from him (this is not at ad, I don't get any kickbacks!). As I recall, his prices are competive but higher than some of the catalogs for the other brand items. I belive the side yokes list around $234 each, with HD caps, and around $187 or so without the caps or for the SB style with unthreaded holes. I am stretching to remember the cost of the stub axle/flange...but I think they are around $195 each. This may have been the prices a year or so ago. Gary, now after I said all of this, I found his website.....check it out...Craig




International Axle & Manufacturing

[Craig S.]

Re: Craig: Clarification

I see the terminology is Spindle(axle) and Side Yokes...I guess I picked up all the "stub" terms from being around Charlie!....Craig