lower a arm shaft #

[Ian S.]

I think that the correct # for this part is 3738505. My question is did the shafts ever come from GM without a casting number on them?

Thanks,

Ian

[Joe L.]

Re: lower a arm shaft #

Ian------

GM #3738505 IS the correct FORGING number for the 63-82 lower control arm shaft. The PART number for the piece is GM #3749296. This number appears nowhere on the part, though. It appears only on the packaging that the shaft is supplied in.

As of about 4 year ago, or so, the FORGING number that you mentioned did appear on most of the original PRODUCTION and SERVICE parts. It still may, but I'm not certain of what GM has been selling for the last 4 years, or so. I have seen examples of this shaft that do not have the 3738505 number forged upon them. However, I've not seen a known-original GM piece that did not carry the "GM" trademark forged on it, whether or not the forging number was present.

Aftermarket-sourced pieces will NOT carry either the forging number nor the GM trademark. It is possible that over the last few years GM has gone to an "alternate source" for this piece (i.e. an aftermarket-type part packaged in GM-labeled boxes/packaging). I DO NOT KNOW that this has happened but I raise it as a possibility. At this stage in the life of a SERVICE part, almost anything can happen. In any event, if that has happened, then the piece will not carry either the GM trademark nor the 3738505 forging number. It may carry other "suspiciously non-GM" numbers, though.