1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

[Kevin S.]

Hello NCRS,

First, I did a few searches in this site for restoring drive shafts. A lot of information. I think at this point I've learned that the 1969 drive shaft was extruded and there is a dark stripe along the lenght of the shaft from the extrusion process. 1969 drive shafts were not shot peened. Sandblasting is not the best way to strip them due to heat stress and possible negative effect to the steel (weakening?). Mark the fore and aft ends of the drive shaft where it connects to the universal joint and yokes to be sure it goes back on how it came off. Note location of the drive shaft balance weights.

I'm still wondering what is the best way, process for restoring my drive shaft. I have a L-46 350 with M-21 4-speed? I have the Quanta Products stencil kit and would like to get the drive shaft looking great so that I can stencil it. My half shafts are just beautiful. I sent those to a NCRS friend in NW Washington state to be restored and they look like new. Photo attached.

Drive shaft is still on the car. I can do media blasting 70 grit aluminum oxide, glass bead, or soda blasting. I would have to build jig or tub if soaking in Rust Remover soak is the best way to go. I have not looked up drive shaft restoration companies in the Charlotte, NC area. I'm afraid they might screw it up since not many (if any) get the NCRS finish details right.

Thanks in advance for your patience and advice.

Kevin

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Thank you, Brian.

I'm feeling very confident at this point.

I'll be sure to post some Before and After pictures of my drive shaft restoration.

Kevin

[Robert P.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

I would soak the shaft in evaporust and then clear it with satin clear
Bob

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Hey Bob,

I was going to start with taking a bunch of Before pictures so that I make sure I put everything back like it came off the car. Then, I was planning to de-grease the drive shaft with Dawn dishwashing liquid and a soft bristle brush. Then, figure out a tub to soak the drive shaft in Evapo-Rust or Rust-Oleum Rust Remover Soak. I have used both products with good results. Then, wet hand-sanding going length-wise with 220 grit and working my way to 550 grit and maybe even 1000 grit until I can get a nice finish on the shaft.

I will have to figure out something for the u-joint bearings, bolts, nuts, u-bolts and retainer clips. I'll probably deal with the hardware separately.

10-4 on the satin clear. I also have a matt clear that works nice too.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions.

Kevin

[Stewart L.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

A plastic gutter piece and a couple of end caps from Home Depot work well for a soaking tub.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Hey Stewart,
What a fantastic idea for a drive shaft soaking container. I would have never thought of that on my own.

Kevin

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

I have built odd shaped tubs for soaking long parts in Evaporust out of plywood and lining them with plastic garbage bags. Worked well for me and easy to build.
Jeff

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Hi Jeff,
I was thinking the same thing. I have some scrap lumber and plastic tarp that I could fabricate a soak container from.

Kevin

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

I've used a tall vase from Michael's crafts as a tub for a half shaft. You can do each end of a drive shaft in a similar manner.

Don't leave it in the Evaporust too long. I have found that items will blacken; I suspect it's a phosphating that is occurring.
I did have an engine machine shop blast (I think vapor blast) two halfshafts and they looked extremely nice when they were done, and for a nominal fee. I would do that again over Evaporust any day as it was quick, cheap and easy.
The center sections need to look smooth but not shiny.

In looking at your photo, to be factory correct I would expect the welds at each end of the center section to be darkened. You can mimic this using gun bluing and a small Q-tip or tiny brush. I've also used this to make the weld line down the length of the shaft by placing blue tape for each side and then gun bluing the line of exposed metal.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Hi Patrick,
I will have to look into the vapor blast idea. I'm certain they do that in this area since I am right in the middle of NASCAR country and buisnesses that support racing.

I see that I missed the welds on the half shafts and I will fix that when I do the drive shaft. Thank you for the idea of using gun bluing. Follow-up question regarding gun bluing: cold bluing or hot bluing? And, one more question: how wide is the bluing stripe down the length of the drive shaft? It looked like about 1 1/2" wide from some photos that I have seen but that is just a guess on my part?

As always, thanks for your continued support.

Kevin

[Robert P.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

4" pcv pipe and a end cap glued on is also an other option
Bob

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

cold bluing. I have 4 different brands here.

The weld seam stripe is about 1/4 in wide running lengthwise. You should be able to see it on the driveshaft after cleanup.
You might be thinking of the paint ID stripes, which are 1/2 in or more wide. Those run circumferentially. Look for those too.

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Thanks for the additional details, Patrick.

I'll start getting my supplies together. My retired mechanic friend is coming over Tuesday to help me drop the drive shaft so I can start the restoration steps.

[Gary B.]

IMG_7891.jpg

[Kevin S.]

Re: 1969 Drive Shaft Restoration

Hey Gary,
THAT is very cool. What a great piece of information to have for drive shaft restorations. Takes all the guess work out of the width dimension. Thank you for sharing that.

Kevin