C1 Drive Shafts

[Dennis C.]

Hi All,

I replaced the u joints on my '61 and after cleaning away the grease and grime I found Spicer USA on the drive shaft, yoke, and the old u joints. I am assuming this is original?

I also noticed the ends and yoke of the drive shaft had black paint on them. I searched the archives and see there was some disagreement on if the drive shaft should be painted. What is the latest feeling, should the whole drive shaft be painted or just the ends? If painted, what paint, semi gloss black?

If they are painted, is everything painted, including the u joints and end caps?

I also see the part number should be stenciled on the drive shaft in yellow, but no mention of what size the stencil should be?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Dennis

[Dennis A.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

Dennis...
The stencil on the driveshaft is 1" gothic numbers in yellow paint. there is much discussion on the driveshaft paint... For judging, the driveshaft must be natural...unpainted. U-joints had no grease fittinfs and the yokes are unpainted.
In my reseach, the chassis blackout may have coated the driveshaft... and C1 diveshafts dip coated in black paint have been reported....?

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

"For judging, the driveshaft must be natural...unpainted. U-joints had no grease fittinfs and the yokes are unpainted."

Are we sure about this?

If the original driveshafts were from Spicer - my drive shaft, yoke, and u joints say Spicer USA on them. Could these be original u joints? Both my u joints had grease fittings installed.

"In my reseach, the chassis blackout may have coated the driveshaft... and C1 diveshafts dip coated in black paint have been reported....?"

If what I have is original, I had what appears to be chassis blackout on the driveshaft ends, yoke, and u joints. Under the blackout, there is black paint. The black paint covered both ends, yoke, and u joints. The blackout came right off with cleaning and the most of the black paint came off with some degreaser. I can not see any sign of paint on the tube itself, hence my question.

Interesting enough, the 61 JM has a section for Rear Axle Housing Assembly, Driveshaft, Rebound Straps, however, the write up doesn't speak about the driveshaft.

Regards,

Dennis

[Stewart A.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

My 1960 has no paint on the shaft. It has the original yellow stenciling. It had about a one foot of faint paint with drips on it at the rear differential end. There was no evidence of paint anywhere else it was natural finished. The shaft looked very unmolested. Stewy

[Dennis A.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

Dennis...
I know that the Owners Manual refer's to "greaseable" U-joints, However; Best hear it from the judges...

[Bill M.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

Dennis...
I know that the Owners Manual refer's to "greaseable" U-joints, However; Best hear it from the judges...

The '59 definitely had greaseable u-joints.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

Great advice, I will contact the '61-62 team leader and report back later in the week.

Dennis

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Drive Shafts

[quote=Dennis Crupi (38211);424193]Great advice, I will contact the '61-62 team leader and report back later in the week.

Here is the information I received from Dave Heitzman, '61 - 62 team leader:


Grease Fittings
"Factory installed 1961 u-joints did not have grease fittings."

Finish
"Factory installed drive shafts were specified as unpainted with a part number. Blackout paint on the shaft in various locations is not at all uncommon."

Dave also indicated that Spicer sold after market replacement parts, and this is a possible reason why my Spicer USA u joints have grease fittings.

The team is trying to have a revised JM out next year.

Regards,

Dennis