65 BB u joints

[Bill W.]

Does anyone have photos of original 65 BB drive shaft u joints ? I just removed my 31,000 mile joints and they do not have grease fittings and have a circle indent in the center on both sides . It was a drag race car so Im not sure if they are original .

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Does anyone have photos of original 65 BB drive shaft u joints ? I just removed my 31,000 mile joints and they do not have grease fittings and have a circle indent in the center on both sides . It was a drag race car so Im not sure if they are original .

Bill-----


Big block and small block u-joints were the same. Based upon your description, I would say that your u-joints are originals. However, I would also be surprised if they're not scrap at this point, notwithstanding the low miles. Remove the caps. If any of the trunnions' bearing surfaces are brinnelled, even slightly, they are not fit for further use.

[Bill W.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Thanks Joe .

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Bill -- Here are what I believe to be original U-joints; these off a complete 4.56 rear end with casting/assy dates of Jan/Feb 1964, and low miles, as was bought [previous owner] in 1968 for a hot rod project but never used.

The casting numbers are GM_59_8 and 3705377, and 4118 on the other side (as far as I can make out)

There is visual evidence of early 'Brinell'ing, but not detectable running your fingers around the trunion.

[Bill W.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Wayne were these from the drive shaft or the axle shaft ?

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Wayne were these from the drive shaft or the axle shaft ?

Oops, sorry. These were from axle shafts .

[Alan D.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Here are some typical factory drive shaft U Joints

[Bill W.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Thanks Alan thats what mine look like .

[David L.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

Bill,

The U-joint pictured below (top photo) came off a 1970 Z28 (March 1970). It has a Chevrolet bowtie at the center.

The second photo is a U-joint from a 1966 Corvette.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 BB u joints

David-----


I believe the "Bow-Tie" is a foundry mark which represents one of the GM forge plants (i.e. Tonawanda, Detroit, or Buffalo). In those days, those forge plants were run by Chevrolet but produced parts for all GM divisions. Unfortunately, GM spun off these forge plants to American Axle and Manufacturing which eventually shut them all down. Today, GM has no in-house forging operations.