1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

[Dave B.]

Can anyone tell me what company and from what city and state made the drive shafts for a '66, L 79 4 Speed convertible? I believe I have seen possibilities of either Muncie or Delco.

Writing a Fact book on my car and being overly specific on details.

Thanks,

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Can anyone tell me what company and from what city and state made the drive shafts for a '66, L 79 4 Speed convertible? I believe I have seen possibilities of either Muncie or Delco.

Writing a Fact book on my car and being overly specific on details.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave------


I believe the driveshafts were of internal GM manufacture. However, I don't know at which plant the driveshafts were assembled. The driveshaft yokes were forged at either the GM forge plants in Detroit or Tonawanda, NY. The tube section was supplied by an outside steel supplier but I don't know which one or where.

[Dave B.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Joe...

Sounds like Detroit is as good a guess as any.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Joe...

Sounds like Detroit is as good a guess as any.

Dave------


I just recalled that GM used to have a propeller shaft manufacturing plant located in Three Rivers, MI. However, I don't know if that was the source of Corvette driveshafts as I'm not sure it was operating as early as the 60's.

That plant along with all of GM's forging plants were sold to American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM) quite a few years ago. I believe AAM has since closed most of their US plants and moved much of their manufacturing to Mexico. I don't know if Three Rivers is still operating, or not.

[David B.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Yokes were built at Saginaw Steering Gear Division, GM Corp.

[Dave B.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Guys,

A wealth of knowledge out there, and I appreciate your time.

Dave

[David L.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

The 63-E70 driveshaft is GM # 3830618 as shown in my many vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs (Gr. 5.441, Gr. 5.544 in later books). The dimensions are as follow:
29.90" center/center
2.00" dia.
0.095 wall thickness
31 25/32" O.L.
As per Chevrolet Parts History GM # 3830618 was replaced with GM # 3963852 on Jan. 1970 (service parts, not assembly line parts).
GM # 3963852 was used on Late 1970 Corvettes......same dimensions as above except wall thickness is 0.120".

Dave

[Dave B.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Dave,

Now I have two different numbers to consider. I have seen the number, 3868727 written as the Production 1966 drive shaft, and the GM 63-77 Parts Catalog does indeed show the 3963852 with a 31 25/32 length propeller shaft. Also the "I need a part for my classic Corvette" lists the Drive Shaft as 3830618.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Dave,

Now I have two different numbers to consider. I have seen the number, 3868727 written as the Production 1966 drive shaft, and the GM 63-77 Parts Catalog does indeed show the 3963852 with a 31 25/32 length propeller shaft. Also the "I need a part for my classic Corvette" lists the Drive Shaft as 3830618.

Dave

Dave------

GM #3830618 and GM #3963852 are driveshaft assemblies WITHOUT installed u-joints. These were once sold in SERVICE and used to make up PRODUCTION driveshaft assemblies GM #3843003, 3868727, and 3957058. These all included installed u-joints and were never available in SERVICE.

[Dave B.]

Re: 1966 L 79 Drive Shaft

Thanks Joe,
As usual, you have the answer.

Cheers and Best Regards,

Dave