Shot Peened Half Shafts

[Bill B.]

Anyone know of a good place to have my 72 LT-1 driveshaft retubed, and half shafts retubed and shot peened? Also is there a current spicer U joint number that is available for this application?

Thanks,
Bill Becker

[Edward J.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Bill, if your original shafts have minor rust I would glass bead them and use some 600 sand paper after to give them a sheen. you would be hard pressed to reproduce the originals, I have restored a few sets and had good luck, After I got the desired finish I use a torch on low heat to make the ends look like the were just welded. It will take some hours but I am a believer that where something like driveshafts that are re-tubed can have a margin for era. most driveshaft rebuilders don't have the quality control. Being in the automotive trade for 40 years I have not had good experiences.if you want to protect from rust spray with a satin or flat clear, or oil them.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

I had an engine shop do it on some parts for me. Unfortunately, that one near me is no longer in business and I didn't buy their machine when they were done.

[Mark D.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Greg Gorniak will make them look brand new...
937-369-5519
He’s in OH

[Ron G.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Anyone know of a good place to have my 72 LT-1 driveshaft retubed, and half shafts retubed and shot peened? Also is there a current spicer U joint number that is available for this application?

Thanks,
Bill Becker

Bill------


You definitely don't want to have your half shafts re-tubed and shot-peened. That would be, essentially, "self-defeating". Unless the half shaft tubes are damaged in some way, all you need to do in the case of your LT-1 tubes is to have them shot-peened.

As far as I know, Spicer no longer offers u-joints that mimic the originals. Your originals used a conventional forged steel body and were without grease fittings. You can obtain Spicer u-joints with a conventional forged steel body but with provisions for grease fittings. Or, you can obtain Spicer u-joints with forged powder metal body and without grease fittings (i.e. "lubed-for-life"). I would greatly prefer the latter as these are much stronger than the originals. The Spicer number is 5-1350X.

As a matter of fact, I have a large number of NOS GM half shaft u-joints [none for sale]. However, for my car I would use the 5-1350X.

[Edward J.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Ron, no matter how you restore a half shaft its still a restored part. as they say its only original once. When i restored them I do not put a sheen that make them shine. just something that closely resembles a bare tub.

[Bill B.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Thanks for the advice guys. Both my driveshaft and half shafts have a fair amount of corrosion on them. Since the driveshaft wasn't shot peened, I'll still need a shop to re-tube the driveshaft. At which point, might as well re-tube the half shafts also, and then send them to be shot peened. I may soak one in evaporust for a while and post a picture for your thoughts.

And thanks Joe, I'll take a look at the Spicer number you gave.

[Joe L.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Thanks for the advice guys. Both my driveshaft and half shafts have a fair amount of corrosion on them. Since the driveshaft wasn't shot peened, I'll still need a shop to re-tube the driveshaft. At which point, might as well re-tube the half shafts also, and then send them to be shot peened. I may soak one in evaporust for a while and post a picture for your thoughts.

And thanks Joe, I'll take a look at the Spicer number you gave.

Bill-------


All big block half shafts were shot peened. I thought that LT-1 were also shot-peened. However, perhaps all were not. Generally, small block half shafts were not shot peened. In fact, I don't think that any of the 1963-69 small blocks used shot peened half shafts.

The non shot peened half shafts were discontinued from SERVICE a very long time ago and replaced by the shot-peened type. Those were ultimately discontinued and replaced by the 3" 1975+ type.

[Terry M.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Bill-------


All big block half shafts were shot peened. I thought that LT-1 were also shot-peened. However, perhaps all were not. Generally, small block half shafts were not shot peened. In fact, I don't think that any of the 1963-69 small blocks used shot peened half shafts.

The non shot peened half shafts were discontinued from SERVICE a very long time ago and replaced by the shot-peened type. Those were ultimately discontinued and replaced by the 3" 1975+ type.

Joe

LT1 half shafts were shot peened. So were all automatic transmission equipped Corvettes regardless of engine size.

As others have said: Just my personal observation.

[Gene M.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Anyone know of a good place to have my 72 LT-1 driveshaft retubed, and half shafts retubed and shot peened? Also is there a current spicer U joint number that is available for this application?

Thanks,
Bill Becker

[Bill B.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Gene,

These will be judged, so trying to re-create a set that will loose as few points as possible.

Thanks,
Bill

[Ron G.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

Joe, As Terry mentioned earlier, all big blocks, automatics, and
LT-1’s were shog Peened with size number 31 size shot. When you purchased them over the counter during the 1980’s over the counter two things were different. First they were a much thicker diameter and secondly they were a smooth semi sheen finish because they were not shot peened.
Ed, I get that whole thing that they are only original ones, but it sounds like Bill and restoring his car so it probably wouldn’t matter as long as the finish and configuration of the shafts were factory typical.

Ron------

Yes, about 1976 or 1977 the 2-1/2" half shafts were replaced for SERVICE by the 3" 1975+ half shafts. These were never shot-peened either for PRODUCTION or SERVICE. I was aware that 1965-74 big blocks and 1970-72 LT-1 were supplied with 2-1/2" shot-peened half shafts. I was not aware that all automatic trans equipped cars were so-equipped. I'll have to check on that after I get home.

[Gene M.]

Re: Shot Peened Half Shafts

In any event replacing the welded tube today, one need to use a seamed tube to be correct. The seamless tubing of today that typical used in drive shafts would be incorrect. Also note the method of projection welded weights as original is not common practice today.