70 Lt1

[James S.]

What is the correct paint color for the rear end housing and drive shaft and half shafts for a 70 Lt1 or were these parts never painted. Thanks Jim.

[Mike G.]

Re: 70 Lt1

natural on both. bright natural finish

[James S.]

Re: 70 Lt1

Parts are very rusty. The rear end housing is really rusty. Can this be bead blasted or is there a better way to get the natural finish back. Seeing how this is a all number matching car I'm trying to go back to show room quality as close as I can. Car sit outside 15+ years. Thanks Jim

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 Lt1

You can bead blast rear end housing it but it will rust very quickly without protection. I did the same thing on my 70 and used RPM rust prevention magic on rear end housing. Seems to work well. A search on this forum will yield some answers regarding the half shafts and drive shaft.

I did my half shafts by very lightly bead blasting the tubes and bead blasting the ends. Used various grades of steel wool to further clean up the tubes on the half shafts and to simulate extrusion marks. Protected them with Cosmoline. Getting ready to remove cosmoline as the RPM does not attract as much dirt and does not change the appearance like cosmoline does. I did have all the u joints out when I cleaned them up too.

Hope that gets you started. I am a real amateur here but this is what I did and it came out pretty well.


Bill

[David S.]

Re: 70 Lt1

For the rear end housing, I would send it to Bair's Corvette. They have a process of shot-pinning it and then they coat it (not sure what the coating is). The final product is excellent.

For the half shafts / driveshaft I would send them to Quanta. Their process of restoration is great. Not sure exactly their process but they come back nice and polished.

Best,
Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Lt1

Parts are very rusty. The rear end housing is really rusty. Can this be bead blasted or is there a better way to get the natural finish back. Seeing how this is a all number matching car I'm trying to go back to show room quality as close as I can. Car sit outside 15+ years. Thanks Jim

Jim-----


The problem is if the corrosion has pitted the surface. In that case, after the rust is removed by any process the surface will be "pock-marked". When that occurs, there's no way to restore the original appearance of the parts.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 70 Lt1

Since LT-1 half shafts were shot peened like big blocks, they don't have to be smooth enough to be polished.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 Lt1

Since LT-1 half shafts were shot peened like big blocks, they don't have to be smooth enough to be polished.

Correct.
Many engine machine shops can shot peen them for you.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Lt1

For the rear end housing, I would send it to Bair's Corvette. They have a process of shot-pinning it and then they coat it (not sure what the coating is). The final product is excellent.

For the half shafts / driveshaft I would send them to Quanta. Their process of restoration is great. Not sure exactly their process but they come back nice and polished.

Best,
Dave

Unfortunately, unless Quanta has changed their process in the last year or two, the highly polished look their shafts have is NOT TFP and will receive a deduction in judging in NCRS. Other judging organizations want the car to look as it might have been; and they love the polished shafts. Decide what game you want to play in, and act accordingly.