The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1951 3600 Front Prop Shaft Oil Seal

Hi

I'm just (hopefully) tidying up the leaks at the front and back of the torque tube on my 3600.

I've stripped the shaft ready for new bearing and oil seal at the back end and am just curious about what I found where the oil seal sits - the photo should make it clearer.

So working along the shaft toward the front of the truck, there's the splined section, then the lock ring, then the bearing, then a snap ring in a groove, and then what appears to be a sleeve that the oil seal runs on. I was wondering if the sleeve is the original fitment or if its a previous repair for damage to the shaft from an old seal?

Tomorrows first job is to work out if the front bushing is good to go again - hopefully so as I haven't seen these bushings available.

This might help.
Here is Denny Graham's 1950 3600 front torque tube rebuild photo album.
https://pbase.com/dennygraham/driveline&page=all

Also 3/4 ton truck propeller shafts in 1948-1951 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0452.htm

1929 - 1954 Master Parts and Accessories Catalog illustration
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/339.htm

I'm not sure if the sleeve is the original fitment.
But I can't see how the oil seal could damage the propeller shaft.
The rear bearing and the front bushing keeps the propeller shaft centered in the torque tube housing.
Is the sleeve machined into the shaft or does it look like it is pressed onto the shaft?

1929 - 1957 Master Parts and Accessories Catalog
Group number 5.433, Seal
41-53, 3/4 ton, front propeller shaft bearing (Seal), part # 3689176+
+Note: Use with propeller shaft machined part length and with bearing Seal Sleeve pressed on.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/1929_57chevyparts/57cmpc0477.htm
Looks like the sleeve is an original fitment and is pressed on.

Someone may come along that knows for sure.

xfiles

Thanks for your quick reply.

Apologies, I should have said that I'd found Denny's brilliant set of photos, they saved a lot of earlier questions!

That info you provided from the catalog looks to explain it. The shaft is machined for about 5/8" along the shaft measured from the snap ring groove to a diameter of 1 3/8" and then the sleeve is pressed onto that with a 1 1/2" sleeve od for the oil seal to run on. I haven't used the speedisleeve repair type before but assume they'd be a lot thinner than what I've got here so original fitment is making sense (now!).

Back to the workshop then.

More info:

Group number 5.436, Shaft, Propeller, Front
48-53 3/4 ton, Type C (w/nut), Length 32 13/32", 10 spline, part # 3689204*
* Note: Includes bearing seal sleeve. (See group 5.433 for correct seal)
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/342.htm

Type C shaft
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/343.htm

Interesting diagrams.

I'd say mine matches a B at the front with the longer splined section and only partly machined shaft but a C at the rear with the snap ring groove and threaded end!!!

Its 10 spline and overall length of 32 3/8".

Seal and bearing wise hopefully it won't make a difference, its just interesting to look back 69 years and wonder if that's the original shaft as was fitted on the line or if it has since been modified or replaced or .....?

Drawings in a Master Parts Catalog are really not a exact replication of what the actual part looks like.

My feeling is the shaft you have is the original shaft that was installed on the assembly line.

The lath machinist could of just machined a little to much off of the front end of the shaft.
Or the machinist turned a B type into a C type.

Appreciate your time and advice.

Take care.

I've got mine all torn apart right now too. All original, looks exactly the same.
Now a question for you, have you found a source for the forward tube bushing yet>

Group # 5.451
BUSHING, Propeller Shaft Housing (torque tube)
37-53 3/4 ton GE, HE, KF ... front (1 9/16" I.D.- no inside grooves) Part # 596907

Dan'S Obsolete Gm Parts
Chinook, MT 59523
406-357-2615

Source: PartsVoice
https://www.partsvoice.com/

eBay has some, just do a search using Part # 596907