Driveshaft Refurbish!

[Anthony P.]

What is the best procedure to renew a driveshaft to the original finish? This one has rust but we can still see the Green swath of paint near then rear u-joint area. Need Advise to a good proceedure.

As always Thank you in advance.

[Tom R.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

Tony

We've had several discussions on the topic and I've listed one below. Use "half-shaft restoration" as your search criteria and you'll find useful information for restoring the drive shaft. The link below describes the swath of green paint.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...ft+restoration

[Alan D.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

And take lots of pictures before you start!

[Anthony P.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

was the driveshaft shot peened also, same as the half shafts

[Ron G.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

A couple of things. First, it is almost impossible to put any type of rust removal agent on a drive shaft or half shaft, because for whatever reason the chemical has a reaction with the metal that is used for that application that changes the original finish. Just my opinion, if you are restoring it anyway, maybe you would want to replace the shaft itself. Using the original ends with replacing the tubing. The tubing must have a dark weld seam down on one side as the originals did. This endeavor can be accomplished with most drive shaft companies. In Connecticut where I reside there are a couple very good places to have this done. If you are interested you can contact me at goduti@att.net and I will do my best to direct you down the right avenue. Also, as far as shot peening is concerned, thanks to Bill Vyn who initailly had the conversation with Gib Hufsteader ? (hope I spelled his name right) it has come to our attention that all big blocks and LT-1 cars had their half shafts shot peened. It said that cars with the heavy duty caps are the ones that have the shafts shot peened. I just had some half shafts shot peened here in CT to the OE spec and with help of some dulling agents they now have the "look". I cannot answer for mid year small blocks, but maybe someone like Mr. Hinckley can. I am confident in saying that the drive shafts were not shot peened. I also obtained enough original type tubing to some day do another drive train restoration.

[Anthony P.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

Ron thanks for the insite and the offer to assist with the shops in your area! I will have to decide which direction to go on this. Thank you

[Alan D.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

Here is a 63/64 shaft I did a while back. Note the dark line down shaft, yes it was that wide while most I have seen are a LOT thinner. These shafts were never polished, in fact for 63/64 they were usually mostly covered in black out. The u joints/clips maybe hard to find since I understand those are production items only.

[Greg G.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

Anthony,

Do not shot peen the driveshaft. Only the halfshafts are shot peened and only on Big Block cars.

I've done several half and driveshafts. Just about any cleaning you do will be OK. I usually remove the rust with glass beading and then polish to the desired sheen. Don't make them too shinny. I've recreated the HEZ and lenght wise weld. If your tube is too rusty and has pitting there is not much you can due to bring that back to a smooth finish. Light pitting I would do the above and live with it. It's very hard to judge the finish when the car is on the ground.

Check out my service at the following link at our chapter web site for pics.

https://www.ncrs.org/mvc/SERVICES.HTML

[Terry M.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

Anthony,

Do not shot peen the driveshaft. Only the halfshafts are shot peened and only on Big Block cars.

I guess the word "only" attracted my attention in your post Greg. That is not quite true, but is the common missconception. The half shafts were shot peened on LT1s and, I believe, M40 equipped 1968-1972 Corvettes as well. There may also be shot peened half-shaft applications other than LS4 equipped Corvettes beyond 1972, but I am not qualified to address those.

[Ron G.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

if anyone thinks you can glassbead a drive shaft and not change the original texture, guess again, because the texture fo the metal will change.

[Anthony P.]

Re: Driveshaft Refurbish!

These are great suggestions as always, with this information I think that I will try to sand down the driveshaft because it is not pitted and keep going to finer paper till it appears as new, then I will deal with the weld lines and heat tinting, I will have the halfshafts reshot peened, and see what they look like then. I will attach a pic of the driveshaft in it's present condition. the shot is dark and might not show much.66 driveshaft before renew.jpg