BB half shaft photos wanted

[Bill H.]

I m restoring a 66 BB and I would like to see original BB half shaft Photos to try to replicate shot peen look. (these half shafts were restored by quanta to small block look, so I basicly have a new looking half shaft)
I'm not sure if they shot peened the whole shaft or only the weld areas to stenghten the ends.
also were the ends (the piece that bolts to traing arm) shot peened. I believe not but a Photo or two would help.
hope this wasnt addressed recently, but I did search the archives.
thanks in advance

[Patrick H.]

Re: BB half shaft photos wanted

hope this wasnt addressed recently, but I did search the archives.
thanks in advance

Um, you asked. 3 days ago. Don't be afraid to bring your own thread back to the top if you're still awaiting an answer. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Now I'll even be nice and show you the original thread I was referencing.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...inish&uid=4017

Also, finding pictures of original half shafts with a surface "good enough" to copy or learn from is not easy. The photos in the thread above of the restored ones "might" be as close as you get. And, realize that as has been noted previously you can obtain the exact correct finish by having the half shafts shot blasted.

[Bill H.]

Re: BB half shaft photos wanted

sorry I didnt Know how to readdress wanting more photos. Looking at the photos that Terry posted it showed a fairly clean area where the stenciled numbers are, (not peened) vs. the restored ones that look blasted all the way. ( any input appreciated)
I just didnt want to copy someone elses opionion of what they looked like. I did email Terry and he replied but was on the road tour without his references.
will try to research more b4 I post anything again.

[Wayne M.]

Re: BB half shaft photos wanted

I m restoring a 66 BB and I would like to see original BB half shaft Photos to try to replicate shot peen look.

Bill -- here's a pic that I posted way back in some thread (I can't find it in the archives, either).

Shaft on left is original from a late 396. You can compare surface finish with a '64 halfshaft on the right --- you can see the "blue-ing" on the weld HAZ (heat affected zone. The BB shot peening obliterates this surface signature. The non-rusted areas on the '64 is where the black paint / coating was applied. The runs were where it was heaviest, and the remaining coating came off when I used solvent. So you can see a bit of the original tube surface.

The BB shot peen shows best at the weld line, although the process was applied to the entire shaft and yokes. It is very fine; not at all like a sand blast.

[Terry M.]

Re: BB half shaft photos wanted

Bill,
The stenciled numbers are on the driveshaft. That part is not shot-peened.

I posted two pictures. The first shows part of a 1972 big block automatic halfshaft. The second shows the stencil on the driveshaft of the same 4-mile car. As I recall those are all the pictures I have that show the shafts on that car.

I posted the text of the shot peening instructions in another thread. Using those instructions I know one restorer who was able to find a heat treating shop to shot peen a set of half-shafts with good judging results. This was, however, on a C3. Being as you are asking about a mid-year, your mileage may vary.