Half Shaft Restore Question

[Rob M.]

I've read the archives and have found some information, but was hoping for more clarification. The question is, what is the best process for restoring and obtaining, the original finish for the half shafts on a small block?

I assume they should be blasted and cleaned up then painted. Now after that, some say cast blast and some have said semi flat clear. What do you suggest?

Thanks in advance

[Michael W.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

What do you suggest?

None of the above. The tubes were manufactured through a seamless extrusion process, so they looked more like a brand new exhaust pipe than a cast, machined or plated surface.

[Edward J.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Rob what mike states is true, but when we restore a car I think we all want to resemable something that at lease looks new, so my drive shafts on my 72 small block car I did use the powdered glass bead, then used alittle 320 sand paper to clean up, after the sanding used 0000 steel wood to get the finish I was looking for- not polished, but a clean look , after they were done they looked great.I then applyed the markings for my cars year, it was a dab of paint. forgot to say I did use semi gloss clear to protect them from rust. although this is'nt ncrs correct this is waht I did to my shafts, its a small point deduct anyway you look at it.

[Rob M.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Thanks Ed. You described the process that I surmised was the approach to take.

[Boyan B.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Rob, if someone painted them before you there is a good chance that they are in good condition already. I just used lacquer thinner to clean off the paint someone had sprayed on and was able to get an original fiinish. I know most wont be as lucky. It took 3 days with thinner and a toothbrush, but it worked. Try to avoid any kind of aggressive blasting or sanding.

Once you get them clean, if the tubes and tube ends have lost that "blueish" finish from the welds, you can either mail them to me or swing by my house and I will heat them up and get the blue back in them. I left mine bare unpainted. They get some surface rust after a month, but a rag with WD40 fixes that.

I know there has been much controversy regarding seamed tubing and seamless tubing. I have original shafts on my 63 and they are seamed. I dont know about other years.

Take care Rob and Happy New Year,
Boyan

[Michael H.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

I just used lacquer thinner to clean off the paint someone had sprayed on and was able to get an original fiinish.

Boyan,

If the shafts that you were working on are from a 63, they're supposed to be coated black, right from the factory.

[Boyan B.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Michael, please refer to the current 63-64 judging guide, pages 145-146 "natural extruded steel tubes welded to natural forged steel yokes" Note on page 146 "blackout paint is not unusual on all rear suspension components"

I have seen original cars both ways.

Boyan

[Paul J.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Boyan,

If the shafts that you were working on are from a 63, they're supposed to be coated black, right from the factory.

On one side, with runs, with a thick black asphalt based coating, not chassis black...am I right?

I think it was you (and others) who set me straight the last time this came up.

Paul

[Michael H.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Michael, please refer to the current 63-64 judging guide, pages 145-146 "natural extruded steel tubes welded to natural forged steel yokes" Note on page 146 "blackout paint is not unusual on all rear suspension components"

I have seen original cars both ways.

Boyan

Boyan,

I wasn't refering to the JG. I was refering to the way the 63's actually rolled off the line. ALL OF THEM. The entire rear suspension/drive (minus the spring) was coated black. That includes the differential, half shafts, control arms, backing plates, spindle supports, drums and about the first foot of the parking brake cable as it exits the backing plate.

This blackout process wasn't something that was done "sometimes". It was done on every 63 that was produced.

It may not be pretty but it IS correct.

And yes, it was me that started all this "blackout" stuff many decades ago. I eventually brought it to this discussion board where it was not welcome, at first. Now, though, restorers that pay attention agree completely on the incredible amount of chassis black that covers almost everything on the chassis/suspension of 63's and 64's.

Michael

[Gene M.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

[QUOTE=Michael Hanson (4067);461709]Boyan,

I wasn't refering to the JG. I was refering to the way the 63's actually rolled off the line. ALL OF THEM. The entire rear suspension/drive (minus the spring) was coated black. That includes the differential, half shafts, control arms, backing plates, spindle supports, drums and about the first foot of the parking brake cable as it exits the backing plate.

This blackout process wasn't something that was done "sometimes". It was done on every 63 that was produced.

It may not be pretty but it IS correct.

And yes, it was me that started all this "blackout" stuff many decades ago. I eventually brought it to this discussion board where it was not welcome, at first. Now, though, restorers that pay attention agree completely on the incredible amount of chassis black that covers almost everything on the chassis/suspension of 63's and 64's.

Michael[/QUOTE

Yes, Mike is saying it the way it was coming of the assembly line. But sadly you will not find the 63-64 cars on the NCRS flight judging field as such. At the last regional I judged chassis and "nobody" was black coated as original. My hands, I felt were tied since the judging standards in place currently do not look at 63-64 cars as they were produced by GM. It seem the requirements is no coatings so that's the way cars are presented. All wrong but that's the way it is .......

I don't feel this is anything that will change anytime soon. So many things in the 63-64 Judging Manual is left out or incorrect.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

....I know there has been much controversy regarding seamed tubing and seamless tubing. I have original shafts on my 63 and they are seamed. I dont know about other years......

Here's from a January 1964 California car, removed in 1968. They have longitudinal seams (probably ERW joining process). You can see the HAZ (heat affected zone) both for the end yoke and the seam.

As you found, the bright spots were factory covered with black "stuff", which I removed with lacquer thinner and Varsol. The part that did NOT have the black shows now as rusted. Ignore '65 BB shaft on right of first pic, and the same BB shaft on left side of the second; the shot peening removes all traces of HAZ coloring.

[Harry S.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

April 63 car.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Yes, Mike is saying it the way it was coming of the assembly line. But sadly you will not find the 63-64 cars on the NCRS flight judging field as such. At the last regional I judged chassis and "nobody" was black coated as original. My hands, I felt were tied since the judging standards in place currently do not look at 63-64 cars as they were produced by GM. It seem the requirements is no coatings so that's the way cars are presented. All wrong but that's the way it is .......

I don't feel this is anything that will change anytime soon. So many things in the 63-64 Judging Manual is left out or incorrect.

Gene, I've OJ'd chassis at couple of National events and have seen several correctly blacked out 63/4s. The blackout clause was added at the last revision of the JG for those who prefer accurate restorations. I expect to see more and more in the future.

tc

[Alan D.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Gene/Tracy,
Had the Black rear suspension at Regional. Now that section is worth 35/35 points (originality/condition) - final result was -6/-1 Here are the hits due to Black color-

For Diff & yokes -1, for replacement joints and Black, could have lost 2 here.
Drive & half -1,-1, rust on drive(yes it showed rust) & Black half
Strut -1, for Black (that was heavy)
Trailing arm & -1, French locks were Black, bolts were Black paint so unable to confirm they were black phosphate, some pitting, large rubber (so -1 was not bad)

Now the rear suspension was always Black. I've owned since 67 and original owner (who ordered car) did not have car undercoated! PS the front suspension was also All Black.

[Michael H.]

Re: Half Shaft Restore Question

Gene/Tracy,
Had the Black rear suspension at Regional. .

If I were to have a 63-64 judged, I would bring several factory photos that clearly show the black coating on the rear susp and drive. Also, there may be dozens of pic's in previous posts that I and others have posted here that show the remains of chassis black on untouched original cars. If not, I can try to post a few later today.

Judges should keep up with what's correct and currently accepted.