48 Stylemaster: Leaking Drive Shaft - 08/28/22 04:40 PM
Hello all! This is my first post so bear with me if I make any mistakes. I should probably add that I am probably a youngster by the standards here (early 20's), and thus am doing a LOT of learning to figure this all out on my own. Please bear with me if I don't yet know any terms, phrases, etc. Also - as you are about to see - I am a very detailed person. I type extremely fast so writing a lot isn't a big deal to me and, I will bet the details will make this answer a lot easier to find.
Quick history: I got my mostly original 48 Stylemaster at auction back in May and have been having fun learning as much as possible and getting my hands as dirty as I can to fix it all. The car was beautifully restored to its original condition I believe in the early-mid 2000's and then sat in some sort of climate-controlled display up until I got it in early 2022. However, despite looking great, there have been many interesting mistakes/issues I have found from a mechanical perspective that went unnoticed since the car wasn't operated. Example: The float in the Rochester B was upside down... so obviously the needle valve's ability to operate properly was fubar. My point is that if any part of this post appears to be something that was simply put together wrong, or something (a seal) is just missing, it wouldn't surprise me. This issue however has somewhat stumped me simply because I can't figure out what this part is called in order to then look up information on it, how it's assembled, why it may be leaking, and get replacement parts/seals. I also can't seem to find anything in my shop manual (or the Old Car Manual Project manuals) about it, although not knowing what it's called does make that more difficult.
Specifics: 3-speed on the tree which I believe is original, replacement 1959 manufactured 235.
Should the photo's on this post ever get deleted somehow, there is a bright silver cuff that screws onto what I believe is the output of my transmission, and seals it to the enclosed drive shaft. This is directly above the spring for the parking break. I am seeing transmission fluid leaking out from the cuff and onto the spring below it regardless of whether I drive the car or just let it idle.
What on earth is this silver cuff and/or sealing assembly called?
I noticed rather quickly when it was leaking that many of the threads were visible, so I tightened it down first by hand, then using a strap wrench, although there were still a few visible threads despite me tightening it down as much as I could. If tightening this down was the wrong move, oops, but I again can't find any information on what this thing is called or how it should be assembled.
Much to my surprise... after just a little bit of driving, it unscrewed itself??? After that, I think it was either completely off or only hanging on by a thread or two. I ended up pulling it off to reveal three metallic cuffs/shims inside it. A thin one, a thick one, and another thin one. From the research I had done, I was expecting to see a cork seal in here as well. But, to my surprise, looking back into the silver cuff and into the inside of the joint, I don't seem to see one...
This post seems to be talking about something similar, although I am not confident it's the same exact thing: https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/449049/driveshaft-leak.html
It indicates there should definitely be a cork seal in here - if it's talking about the same thing.
And that post indicates this... https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detai...Ball_Seal_Kit_For_Drive_Line_Manual.html ...kit has the cork seal that should (potentially) be part of this assembly. If truly missing, I would assume that the cork seal goes between the furthest back (in regards to the front/rear of the car) metal shim and the metal cuff that screws on. Also, it seems that the forum post indicates the cork seal has a cut in it such that it can be put on without having to disconnect the drive shaft... I really hope that's true.
Any information on what this part/assembly is called, how it's assembled, why it may be leaking, if there should be a seal, and if so what seal that is called and what's required to put it on, would be greatly appreciated.
Quick history: I got my mostly original 48 Stylemaster at auction back in May and have been having fun learning as much as possible and getting my hands as dirty as I can to fix it all. The car was beautifully restored to its original condition I believe in the early-mid 2000's and then sat in some sort of climate-controlled display up until I got it in early 2022. However, despite looking great, there have been many interesting mistakes/issues I have found from a mechanical perspective that went unnoticed since the car wasn't operated. Example: The float in the Rochester B was upside down... so obviously the needle valve's ability to operate properly was fubar. My point is that if any part of this post appears to be something that was simply put together wrong, or something (a seal) is just missing, it wouldn't surprise me. This issue however has somewhat stumped me simply because I can't figure out what this part is called in order to then look up information on it, how it's assembled, why it may be leaking, and get replacement parts/seals. I also can't seem to find anything in my shop manual (or the Old Car Manual Project manuals) about it, although not knowing what it's called does make that more difficult.
Specifics: 3-speed on the tree which I believe is original, replacement 1959 manufactured 235.
Should the photo's on this post ever get deleted somehow, there is a bright silver cuff that screws onto what I believe is the output of my transmission, and seals it to the enclosed drive shaft. This is directly above the spring for the parking break. I am seeing transmission fluid leaking out from the cuff and onto the spring below it regardless of whether I drive the car or just let it idle.
What on earth is this silver cuff and/or sealing assembly called?
I noticed rather quickly when it was leaking that many of the threads were visible, so I tightened it down first by hand, then using a strap wrench, although there were still a few visible threads despite me tightening it down as much as I could. If tightening this down was the wrong move, oops, but I again can't find any information on what this thing is called or how it should be assembled.
Much to my surprise... after just a little bit of driving, it unscrewed itself??? After that, I think it was either completely off or only hanging on by a thread or two. I ended up pulling it off to reveal three metallic cuffs/shims inside it. A thin one, a thick one, and another thin one. From the research I had done, I was expecting to see a cork seal in here as well. But, to my surprise, looking back into the silver cuff and into the inside of the joint, I don't seem to see one...
This post seems to be talking about something similar, although I am not confident it's the same exact thing: https:/
It indicates there should definitely be a cork seal in here - if it's talking about the same thing.
And that post indicates this... https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detai...
Any information on what this part/assembly is called, how it's assembled, why it may be leaking, if there should be a seal, and if so what seal that is called and what's required to put it on, would be greatly appreciated.