Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

[Irby G.]

I've checked the AIM and the illustrations are very vague. Would someone know which of these two flanges are correct (if either are)? These are the flanges that bolt the half shafts to the a-arms. The one on the left came from my left side half shaft, the one on the right from the right.

[Rich P.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Irby,

the one on the left is the correct flange for 63's. They added the exta flage material later.

Rich.

[Irby G.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Thanks Rich.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Irby, The 63 piece on the left is cast, sometime later in the year they were changed to forged parts so depending on the car serial # they both may be correct for your car.

I am not sure when this change took place so check archives for info because it's been discussed before. There is also a 63 only spindle flange to mate with this and I believe the boss for threads is not as thick as later.

[Irby G.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Does anyone know where I can get the one on the left (part number 3832048)?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

......There is also a 63 only spindle flange to mate with this and I believe the boss for threads is not as thick as later.

Irby -- if your '63s bithdate is between Nov 2nd 1962 and Dec 3rd (hey -- my 19th birthday ) you should get a copy of (CD ?) RESTORER Vol 5 # 3, winter 1979, wherein they reprint a Tech Service Bulletin on the several changes [2 subsequent mods of the spindle; one on the spindle flange (which Tim mentions) and the thick washer]. Although not mentioned, the halfshaft driven flange was probably changed in this time frame. Seems to me I remember a TSB on that as well, but can't find it.

[Irby G.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Hi Wayne, yeah I was surfing and ran across it. I downloaded it from someplace like yankeelady or other. My car was built right after those dates (3rd week of Dec) so I'm suppose to have the 3832048 flange (I think). I found a place that has them, but they want like $100 for it. I'm starting to think that if it's kinda rare, I might just go ahead and pay that price.
Aloha

[Joe L.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Hi Wayne, yeah I was surfing and ran across it. I downloaded it from someplace like yankeelady or other. My car was built right after those dates (3rd week of Dec) so I'm suppose to have the 3832048 flange (I think). I found a place that has them, but they want like $100 for it. I'm starting to think that if it's kinda rare, I might just go ahead and pay that price.
Aloha

Irby-----


I'd say it's worth $100 IF "you just gotta have one". I'd say this is a part that's rare but not desirable.

The GM #3832048 is a nodular cast iron piece. It was replaced for the 1964 model year by the GM #3843018 and in 1966, the latter piece replaced the 3832048 for 1963 SERVICE. The 3843018 is a FORGED piece and is much stronger than the 3832048.

While I'm definitely not saying this will happen if you use the 3832048, did you ever see what happens if a u-joint flange (or outer u-joint) breaks?

[Irby G.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Irby-----


I'd say it's worth $100 IF "you just gotta have one". I'd say this is a part that's rare but not desirable.

The GM #3832048 is a nodular cast iron piece. It was replaced for the 1964 model year by the GM #3843018 and in 1966, the latter piece replaced the 3832048 for 1963 SERVICE. The 3843018 is a FORGED piece and is much stronger than the 3832048.

While I'm definitely not saying this will happen if you use the 3832048, did you ever see what happens if a u-joint flange (or outer u-joint) breaks?

Hi Joe,
No, I've never seen what happens, but my imagination eye can see metal and fiberglass flying. I guess this will need to be one of those 'damn with the points - go for safety' parts and I'll just buy the another 3843018 instead.
Thanks and aloha,
Irby

[Joe L.]

Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Flange for early '63

Hi Joe,
No, I've never seen what happens, but my imagination eye can see metal and fiberglass flying. I guess this will need to be one of those 'damn with the points - go for safety' parts and I'll just buy the another 3843018 instead.
Thanks and aloha,
Irby

Irby------


It's like this: if you are building a car that you want to be as close to 100% correct as possible and your main intention is to have a "trailer queen" type car that's rarely, if ever, driven and NEVER driven hard, then definitely go with the original style flanges.

If you want the car to be something other than the above, use the later 3843018 flanges.