C1 Drive shaft part number

[Bernard M.]

While cleaning crud off the driveshaft of my 56, I found the number 3712377 stenciled in yellow paint along its length, toward the front. Is this an assembly part number? I don't find that exact number in my references, but I find many surrounding partnumbers related to the yoke and driveshaft pieces. Just curious. I was going to repaint the shaft, but don't want to cover anything that can be traced back to its original configuration. Thanks for any replys.

[Loren L.]

Yes, it is an assembly # for the Shaft &

the yoke - paint it, the factory did.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 Drive shaft part number

Bernard and Loren-----

GM #3712377 is the part number for the driveshaft assembly used in PRODUCTION. This included the core driveshaft assembly (tube + welded-on yoke ends) PLUS the universal joints. PRODUCTION driveshafts were delievered to the assembly line in this state of completion. However, they were NEVER available in SERVICE that way. In SERVICE, the core driveshaft assembly was known as GM #3712381. This part number was also a component of the PRODUCTION assembly.

Thus, the PRODUCTION assembly consisted of (1)GM #3712381 PLUS (2) GM #3741635 u-joint assmblies (or, the component parts [trunnion + caps] of a 3741635 assembled into a 3741635).

If your driveshaft evidences the 3712377 stenciled-on part number, and this number was stenciled onto an unpainted, bare driveshaft, then your driveshaft MUST have been originally unpainted. The 3712377 part number was an identification number that was put on the part for use in part identification of the PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY. I doubt that it would have been painted over prior to shipment from the driveshaft manufacturing plant. If that had been done, there would have been little reason to bother to stencil it on in the first place.

If, on the other hand, the number is stenciled on over the black-painted driveshaft, then, of course, your driveshaft was originally painted.

[Bernard M.]

Re: C1 Drive shaft part number

Thanks, I guess that explains why I couldn't find it referenced in the parts book. It appears to have been black, about the same gloss as the chassis, with the number stenciled on top of that in yellow.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 Drive shaft part number

Bernard-----

You should be able to find the 3712377 part number in the 1956 AIM. I don't have a copy of the 1956 AIM so I can't confirm that, but that should be the number shown for the driveshaft assembly as used in PRODUCTION.

[John M.]

Re: C1 Drive shaft part number

Benard,
I would take pics of the driveshaft before restoring it. There are those within our hobby that will swear on a stack of bibles that the driveshaft was unpainted when it left the manufacturer. I have had several C1 driveshafts in my possesion that have had remnants of the stencil left on the drive shaft, and there WAS black paint under the yellow stencil on each one! There is a valid argument that depending on the location of the stencil when chassis blackout was done, that the stencil could have been covered with the blackout paint.

Regards, John McGraw