Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

[James W.]

I am getting close to begin reassembly of my driveshaft and half-shafts for my '65 SB Corvette. I want to install the correct, non-greaseable u-joints that will pass flight judging.

What brand is currently available and from who?


Thanks,

James West

[Larry M.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

None........

Larry

[Wayne G.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

James,

Paragon has them. P/N 5724 without grease fittings. I imagine they are off shore sourced, but so is much of the other items we buy for our cars.

Good luck,

Wayne

[James W.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

So I did some research today and found a non-greaseable U-joint made by MOOG, p/n 231. It has black cap seals and has an un-open boss (bump) for a grease zirk which I know will take a deduction for NTFP. The Spicer model is the same and has Blue cap seals. Anyone have an experience using the MOOG U-joints? This is as close as I can find to the original configuration.

I assume the driveshaft U-joints are the same as the half-shaft U-joints?


Thanks,

James

[Don H.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

James,
the complete driveshaft and halfshaft assemblies are only worth 5 Orig points. I don't see the bump on these U-joints causing any originality deduction, or at most 1 pt. for the step in the caps.
ps. there's a couple guys clamoring for your N14 cover guards on the CF, and no one seems to be able to find you in the CF members list.

[James W.]

James,
the complete driveshaft and halfshaft assemblies are only worth 5 Orig points. I don't see the bump on these U-joints causing any originality deduction, or at most 1 pt. for the step in the caps.
ps. there's a couple guys clamoring for your N14 cover guards on the CF, and no one seems to be able to find you in the CF members list.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

James,

If you look in the archives there is a federal mogul # for u-joints and these don't have any grease fittings. These same joints are sold under the Delco name. That is what I used on my 67 and 63 cars, and the $$$ was something like 14-18 ea I can't remember the exact amount.

[Larry M.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

James,

If you look in the archives there is a federal mogul # for u-joints and these don't have any grease fittings. These same joints are sold under the Delco name. That is what I used on my 67 and 63 cars, and the $$$ was something like 14-18 ea I can't remember the exact amount.

I agree. These are the closest to originals that I have found, and they are installed on my own 67 car. The half shaft joints are almost identical to original, but the driveshaft joints differ by a small amount. I removed original u-joints from my car at this time.

A few years ago, they were still made in the USA (Chicago......I think still is USA ). But latest ones appear to be coming from Mexico.

Part Nos ACDELCO are #45U0123 for the half shafts and # 45U0145 for the driveshaft. The GM Nos are #89029305 for the half shafts and #89029327 for the driveshaft. These are Federal-Mogul joints...........also sold under the PRECISION Brand.

Cost is reasonable. Probably about $30 each now. I paid about $20 each 15 years ago.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

So I did some research today and found a non-greaseable U-joint made by MOOG, p/n 231. It has black cap seals and has an un-open boss (bump) for a grease zirk which I know will take a deduction for NTFP. The Spicer model is the same and has Blue cap seals. Anyone have an experience using the MOOG U-joints? This is as close as I can find to the original configuration.

I assume the driveshaft U-joints are the same as the half-shaft U-joints?


Thanks,

James

James------

Driveshaft u-joints are NOT the same as half shaft u-joints. 1955-67 use 1310 series u-joints for the driveshaft and 1350 series for the half shafts. 1968-70 with manual transmission use the same. 1968-70 with THM transmission and all 1971-79 use 1330 series u-joints for the driveshaft and 1350 series for the half shafts.

I believe that in any given year different u-joints could have been used for any application. I believe the u-joints were supplied by different manufacturers including GM internal divisions as well as Spicer and, possibly others. While functionally interchangeable, the nuances of configuration varies. So, I believe the only way to know what exact configuration u-joint was used on any particular car is to have the originally installed u-joints, still installed on the car or otherwise.

All originally installed half shaft u-joints were of the non greaseable type. I believe that some originally installed driveshaft u-joints may have been of the greaseable type.

[James W.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

Larry,

I found the AC Delco part number you mentioned in you reply at Rock Auto. The half shaft u-joints p/n 45U0123 are $12.77 each and the driveshaft u-joints p/n 45U0145 are $11.18 each. I will be ordering them this week. Thanks for the information.

James

I agree. These are the closest to originals that I have found, and they are installed on my own 67 car. The half shaft joints are almost identical to original, but the driveshaft joints differ by a small amount. I removed original u-joints from my car at this time.

A few years ago, they were still made in the USA (Chicago......I think still is USA ). But latest ones appear to be coming from Mexico.

Part Nos ACDELCO are #45U0123 for the half shafts and # 45U0145 for the driveshaft. The GM Nos are #89029305 for the half shafts and #89029327 for the driveshaft. These are Federal-Mogul joints...........also sold under the PRECISION Brand.

Cost is reasonable. Probably about $30 each now. I paid about $20 each 15 years ago.

[Richard G.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

IMG_0016.jpg
This is the Part ACDELCO 45U0123
GM joint in a can. They still can be found but not for under $20. The Rock auto may be the same as far as points go.
I would be interested, in the differences, as far as judging points.

[David L.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

Were the U-joints with the Chevrolet bowties used on 63-67 Corvette driveshafts?
Dave

[James W.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

Here are the pictures of the AC Delco u-joints sold at Rock Auto.

[Alan D.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

Here some originial drive shaft u joints

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct (Judging) U-Joints for '65 SB... Spicer 1310???

Were the U-joints with the Chevrolet bowties used on 63-67 Corvette driveshafts?
Dave

Dave-------


Yes, I think these were used on C2 Corvettes and 68-69 with manual transmission. They might even have been used for C1 Corvettes. However, as I mentioned, I don't think that any specific configuration u-joint was exclusively used. GM was using these things by the millions every year across all their car and truck lines and probably needed multiple manufacturing sources.

So, why the Chevrolet emblem? Here's what I think: once-upon-a-time the Chevrolet Division was responsible for operating all the GM forge plants. So, that's where I think the Chevrolet emblem comes in. Later, the forge plants became part of Saginaw Division and, later yet, GM Powertrain. Finally, the forge plants were sold to American Axle and Manufacturing. As far as I know, GM does not currently have any in-house forging facilities.