Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

[Richard G.]

In the process of rebuilding my 63 I have acquired an extra drive flange.
I remember going through some documentation about the extra machining added to the part sometime early in 63.
I didn't pay a lot of attention till I was inspecting two of the flanges and found one that had the extra machining I had read about.
I am posting a picture of them side by side. A description is one thing, a picture is another. The top sides are the almost identical. The center hole is also machined on the inside diameter. This feature may be the only method of identifying this part from the u-joint side.
Hope this helps.
Rick

[Joe L.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

In the process of rebuilding my 63 I have acquired an extra drive flange.
I remember going through some documentation about the extra machining added to the part sometime early in 63.
I didn't pay a lot of attention till I was inspecting two of the flanges and found one that had the extra machining I had read about.
I am posting a picture of them side by side. A description is one thing, a picture is another. The top sides are the almost identical. The center hole is also machined on the inside diameter. This feature may be the only method of identifying this part from the u-joint side.
Hope this helps.
Rick

Rick------


Please picture these from a top view and a side view.

[Richard G.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Below are some additional pictures that were requested. I had assembled the driveshaft, in the intern, so it is somewhat difficult to see the flange.
However they are identical, as far as I could tell, only the machining seems to be different. the extra machining was basically on the bottom as shown in the first picture (in the post above). The assembled joint is how to tell them apart in the pictures. Teh one with the shaft on it has the flange with the extra machining steps added.
Hope this helps.



Rick

[Joe L.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Rick------


These are both the early 1963 style flanges. Why one has what appears to be extra machining on the bottom face, I do not know. Perhaps the casting did not have adequate clearance in this area so extra machining was necessary.

These early 1963 style flanges, GM #3832048, were manufactured of nodular cast iron. This did not prove to be strong enough and later 1963 through 1974, GM #3843018, and 1975-82, GM #360913, flanges were made of forged steel. The forged steel flanges have a thinner cross section than the cast variety.

[Richard G.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

I thought I read the AIM with the change. Cant find it now. I don't believe it explained the rational for the additional machining very well or at all.

Notice the lack of the bevel on the top part of the inside hoop on the 63 parts. It mads it difficult to get the joints installed, not impossible.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

I thought I read the AIM with the change. Cant find it now. I don't believe it explained the rational for the additional machining very well or at all.

Notice the lack of the bevel on the top part of the inside hoop on the 63 parts. It mads it difficult to get the joints installed, not impossible.

Richard------

You won't find, specifically anyway, the change of the flanges in the 1963 AIM. That's because the half shafts were supplied to PRODUCTION with the u-joints and flanges already installed. What you will find is a change in part number of the half shaft assembly. I'm 100% confident that the reason for that change was the change in flanges.

I expect the reason for the lack of the bevel you mention is that the engineers did not want to weaken the flange by including the bevels considering that these flanges were nodular cast iron. You should note that the half shaft yokes were forged steel and included the bevels. The later flanges were, as I previously mentioned, forged steel and included the bevels.

[Duke W.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Shock travel is the rebound limit, so once installed make sure you check for grounding, and if they do, get out the grinder!

[Timothy B.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Rich,

I am not aware of any production change with the 1963 spindle flange I always thought the changes involved the spindle itself and washer thickness under the attaching nut.

[Joe R.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Really like the BLUE seal on the U-joints! Maybe that is why GM blacked out the half shafts in such a sloppy way. To hide the blue on the production U-joints!!!!
You think?

JR

[Joe L.]

Re: Early and really early 1963 axle drive flanges examples/picture

Rich,

I am not aware of any production change with the 1963 spindle flange I always thought the changes involved the spindle itself and washer thickness under the attaching nut.

Tim------


The spindle flanges did change during the 1963 model year. Just when, I don't know. The change was from the nodular cast iron GM #3832048 to the forged steel GM #3843018. The latter then continued to be used through 1974.