65 BB axle shafts .

[Bob J.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Maybe my monitor but it looks like the brake line, body mount, shim masking tape and frame got blacked out also.

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Bill,

Here are some pictures of the half shafts on the '65 396 Corvette that I am trying to finish. I'm sure there will be lots of comments about how wrong this is but it's done now and I'm not going back and changing it. There are not any green ink ID marks on the shafts it these pictures but the marks ave since been put on.


Thanks,

James West

James-----


That's definitely not the correct finish for big block half shafts. In my opinion, it's not the correct finish for small blocks, either. But, it's closer to the small block finish than it is to the big block. I wouldn't change them, either, though.

[Joe L.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Great photo Mike. The item that looks like a drivers side speedometer cable might be the backup light wiring harness. I don't think there were any drivers side speedometer Muncie tailshafts (#429) used in Corvettes.

Page-----


The GM #3846429 extension housing was used for all 1964 Corvettes with 4 speed.

[John C.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

James

After all the work it looks like you went through I wouldn't change the half shaft finish either, but one thing I would change is the orientation of your sway bar links. You have them backwards, the open end of the slight v shape in them should point to the front of the car.

John

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

, ......but one thing I would change is the orientation of your sway bar links. You have them backwards, the open end of the slight v shape in them should point to the front of the car. ...John

And STAMP RITE should appear on one side, and, IIRC, "made in Canada" on the other .



c

[Jim S.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

James

After all the work it looks like you went through I wouldn't change the half shaft finish either, but one thing I would change is the orientation of your sway bar links. You have them backwards, the open end of the slight v shape in them should point to the front of the car.

John

+1

[Bill W.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

from 17346.DSCN1493.jpg

[John H.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

I think they were shot at the same time as this one which is actually available as a reprint on the paper's website.

That negative was reversed when the photo was reproduced.

[Mike E.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Mike -- admittedly, it does look a little "brass-y", but IMO it's the nut on the reverse shaft that holds the short shifter arm. All Chevy 1965 MY 4-speeds had RH speedo outlets; it's spelled out as a change for 1965 in Chevrolet Service News September 1964 issue. I have a P0916 close ratio on a November 6 (or thereabouts) car.

Blame this February '65 business on Colvin .

Yup, after looking at the tail shaft housing again I have to agree, the speedo gear boss does not extent nearly that far from the main section of the casting, I also found this thread on the topic so it sounds pretty conclusive to me. Looks like I better look for a different one. Now back to you're half shaft finish thread.


Mike

[Mike Z.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Great pictures and great discussion. Bill, take a look at my e-Bay listing #201026253764 for restored BB half shafts. Finding a shop that can/will shot peen your shafts is only half the project. We find it takes about 8-10 man hours to rid the shaft of rust, pits, scrathes, etc. from 40+ years of use. There is quite a process to get the shaft to an acceptable condition-we get them to an almost chrome finish, then send them out for shot-peening; that is the only way to insure you will end up with a smooth finish. Then you have to understand, the shot-peened surface is not rust proof, so we apply a clear rust preservative (not paint) that wears very well and does not affect the appearance of the shot-peened surface.
Our research revealed; in Warren where the half-shafts were manufactured; to differentiate the BB (shot-peened) shafts from the the standard SB shaft (non-treaded), the green dab of paint was applied. We surmised the shafts were all sitting along side each other with u-joints and yoke installed (believe inspection paints for the joints was applied at the same work station) and the dab applied in the same direction; however, when installed in St. Louis, the dabs would be rotating in an opposite direction to one another. We apply the dab in the same direction, but our restored chassis will have one dab dripping down on one side and the other side the drip appears to travel up-interesting little detail, don't you think.
Good luck with your project,
Mike

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Mike -- interesting you should mention green paint dabs. Here's 4 pics of what I found on my late 396. I should have recorded more precisely where (and on what, or which end) the paint was exposed. I'm pretty sure the 2nd pic is of the outboard halfshaft. You can see there's a bit of green color on the yoke weld material, and a few flecks near the edge of the triangular rust area. I was sanding with fine paper, and saw the green being exposed. Problem is that in trying to see more, I was removing the paint, so I stopped.

I think the first pic is of the driveshaft, near the yoke. The 3rd and 4th shots are definitely of the driveshaft. The green color is more of a lime-green; whereas that on the halfshafts was a "canoe" green.

On the driveshaft, you can see what's left of a circumferential band of paint. On the last pic, you can see the longitudinal seam at the top of the tube.

[Mike Z.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Wayne-good pictures of original shafts. I believe the one that shows a green dab about 6" from yoke, is approximately the mid point of a half-shaft. The green dab very near the yoke, I believe to be of a drive shaft, which would be correct, along with the orange and green (different shade of green than the dabs, by the way) bands. Your pictures also reveal the texture/surface of a typical 40+ year old shaft-lots of evidence of rust and pits: that is exactly why we recommend and we do; with several grits of paper, sanding length wise (you don't want perpendicular marks-big time point lose-my opinion) get the imperfections out (as many as possible-deep nicks, not so much), and we finish it off on our big buffer-the result is a smooth finish similar to original. After you get it smooth is when you can send it out for shot-peening-the shot-peening will not cover up blemishes!
Mike Z

[Gary J.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

Mike what do you use on the half shafts to prevent from rust?

[Mike Z.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

We found a product about a year ago that we have been using: Rust Prevention Magic (RPM)-check out there web site, almost sounds too good to be true, but it seems to work. It does not affect the appearance (perhaps a very slight reduction is gloss), and so far we have not experienced any rust on parts we have applied. Now, having said that, I live in NM, so rust is never a problem; but, I have talked to several customers (living in wet climates) we have restored parts and applied RPM and they report no rust.
Mike

[Joseph S.]

Re: 65 BB axle shafts .

James, Great job! Don't worry about the comments. Max deduction for 1/2 shaft finish is .5 points. CDCIF gives you 20% for finish. There are 2 1/2 shafts, 1 drive shaft, 6 U joints, 2 flanges and a bunch of hardware. All together worth a total of 5 points. Regards, Joe