SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1968 Shelby GT350/500/500KR => Topic started by: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 09:36:25 AM

Title: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 09:36:25 AM
Mine has what I imagine is the usual 50 year coating of rust and dirt.
I found a post on concoursmustang where the shaft was immersed in a bath of evaporust in a tube of 4"pvc(smart idea!)and then scrubbed off with 220 to 600 grit.
Is this the accepted method, or are there other ways?
Thanks as always.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: 68blk500c on August 13, 2021, 09:51:01 AM
Mine straight out of the evaporust bath, with a light water rinse, without scrubbing.

Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Rickmustang on August 13, 2021, 10:02:00 AM
That's what I did too. Dead Nuts On does restore driveshafts.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: csheff on August 13, 2021, 10:22:15 AM
 know it's a typo, Dead Nuts
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 13, 2021, 10:26:48 AM
Quote from: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 09:36:25 AM
Mine has what I imagine is the usual 50 year coating of rust and dirt.
I found a post on concoursmustang where the shaft was immersed in a bath of evaporust in a tube of 4"pvc(smart idea!)and then scrubbed off with 220 to 600 grit.
Is this the accepted method, or are there other ways?
Thanks as always.
What are your expectations for the end result?
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 10:36:51 AM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on August 13, 2021, 10:26:48 AM
Quote from: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 09:36:25 AM
Mine has what I imagine is the usual 50 year coating of rust and dirt.
I found a post on concoursmustang where the shaft was immersed in a bath of evaporust in a tube of 4"pvc(smart idea!)and then scrubbed off with 220 to 600 grit.
Is this the accepted method, or are there other ways?
Thanks as always.
What are your expectations for the end result?

This is the end result on the thread I was looking at, I would be happy with that.
I did see the new ones at deadnutson and dont expect it too come up that good.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 13, 2021, 11:01:07 AM
Quote from: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 10:36:51 AM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on August 13, 2021, 10:26:48 AM
Quote from: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 09:36:25 AM
Mine has what I imagine is the usual 50 year coating of rust and dirt.
I found a post on concoursmustang where the shaft was immersed in a bath of evaporust in a tube of 4"pvc(smart idea!)and then scrubbed off with 220 to 600 grit.
Is this the accepted method, or are there other ways?
Thanks as always.
What are your expectations for the end result?

This is the end result on the thread I was looking at, I would be happy with that.
I did see the new ones at deadnutson and dont expect it too come up that good.
A lot depends on the condition of the drive shaft to start with. A lightly corroded one with get good results but a more heavily corroded one will get poor results. They will not not all come out the same using the described methods. If you are doing yourself then you can accomplish that look using the example process with a minimally corroded driveshaft .Those minimally corroded examples are not too common. Typically they will have many rust pits in the surface of the metal even after all of the restoration work. They typically will not be good enough for show . To guarantee a result similar to your expectations is to side step the process and have Jack (Dead nuts On)build you one. Also if you are having someone else restore the drive shaft for you the hourly rate involved with a typical shop and a 50-100 shop rate the labor would quickly add up making the end result comparable in price to one of Jacks drive shafts and it would still most likely not be show quality.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Jack4159 on August 13, 2021, 11:20:00 AM
The deadnutson ones are nice but I would guess freight to Australia would be around $300- minimum, most likely more...good option to have though.
I think I will give the evaporust a go as I will be doing it myself so no real cost involved.
At least now I know now to prepare myself for a likely less than stellar outcome, so that is handy knowledge.
Thanks Bob and everyone.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Jack4159 on August 23, 2021, 01:24:32 PM
Well, I thought about it and...ordered one from Jack at dead nuts on. Freight to Australia US$170- so not too bad.
Thanks for the advice once again.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: J_Speegle on August 23, 2021, 02:46:09 PM
In the reusing or restoration of drivelines, since they are bare steel as a final finish and look, it all depends on what the condition of the original is. Too much pitting? Then not many choices. If in good condition you can restore them to look like new. Also depends on you much time or money you choose to invest in either path.

Good luck with your choices
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Side-Oilers on August 23, 2021, 03:18:43 PM
I bought one a few years ago from Jack at Dead Nuts On, for my KR, and it is extremely well done.

But, I have since added a Gear Vendors overdrive to my car, so I had another driveshaft built/shortened for that install. 

The first one is just sitting in my garage, and I'd sell it for a very reasonable price, if anyone's interested.   

It was only in the car for less than 500 miles.

It is for a 4-speed.

Yes, I will post this in the For Sale section too, but this thread topic just made me remember I still had it.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: 1175 on August 23, 2021, 03:23:59 PM
I installed one of the repos from dead nuts on yesterday.  Quality piece!

Jon

Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Steve Z on August 23, 2021, 05:58:07 PM
    Since on this Topic. Can some one clarify the meaning behind the paint markings and the proper location of the colors? Thanks
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: J_Speegle on August 23, 2021, 06:40:52 PM
Quote from: Steve Z on August 23, 2021, 05:58:07 PM
    Since on this Topic. Can some one clarify the meaning behind the paint markings and the proper location of the colors? Thanks

Like many items than made up the suspension and drivetrain paint markings were applied so that the workers could quickly look at the buildsheet. identify a color or combination of colors for the part of the car and quickly locate and install the correct part on the car.  Not all are listed on the buildsheet. Often some were placed inb a subassembly elsewhere in the car plant or at the supplier of the subassembly. Example rear ends (though there can be one mark added at the car plant depending on year and plant) and transmissions.

In the case of the drivelines for 68 the drivelines were marked with three colored stripes to identify the application while there are often additional markings. The markings were applied at the plant that cut the tubing and assembled the drivelines by adding the end yokes and finally marking them. The guy or kid that applied the stripes didn't always apply them in an exacting way or always exactly in the same spot. There was more than one worker assigned to the task given it was shift work and depending on volumne

Pete Disher's 68 site has a buildsheet identification stripe chart so no reason to replicate it here
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: 68stangcjfb on August 23, 2021, 06:57:19 PM
Quote from: Side-Oilers on August 23, 2021, 03:18:43 PM
I bought one a few years ago from Jack at Dead Nuts On, for my KR, and it is extremely well done.

But, I have since added a Gear Vendors overdrive to my car, so I had another driveshaft built/shortened for that install. 

The first one is just sitting in my garage, and I'd sell it for a very reasonable price, if anyone's interested.   

It was only in the car for less than 500 miles.

It is for a Top Loader.

Yes, I will post this in the For Sale section too, but this thread topic just made me remember I still had it.


Did you have to alter the floor pan to install the Gear Vendors Overdrive? Sorry to hijack the thread.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Steve Z on August 23, 2021, 09:01:10 PM
   Jeff, Can you elaborate as to what a specific color would refer too? Thanks
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: J_Speegle on August 23, 2021, 09:46:46 PM
Quote from: Steve Z on August 23, 2021, 09:01:10 PM
   Jeff, Can you elaborate as to what a specific color would refer too? Thanks

Specific colors have no "meaning" as fair as I can figure and have been told. They were likely just randomly chosen,  finalized and applied by the supplier. Believe the colors may have been chosen by Ford but can't be certain but on a few engineering drawings I've seen of drivelines sometimes the colors were included in those drawings

So bottom line is that each individual stripe color can not be used to decode the tube size, length or other details
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 23, 2021, 10:03:24 PM
I think logically the combination of colors had to do with the specific makeup of the given driveshaft for the specific optioned car it was designed for. Maybe no meaning to Ford but the combination of colors possibly meant length and maybe the u joints and yokes to the mfg. Specific combinations of colors are seen consistently on specific optioned cars which seems to support the combination of colors had a build meaning. 
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: J_Speegle on August 23, 2021, 11:11:29 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on August 23, 2021, 10:03:24 PM
I think logically the combination of colors had to do with the specific makeup of the given driveshaft for the specific optioned car it was designed for. Maybe no meaning to Ford but the combination of colors possibly meant length and maybe the u joints and yokes to the mfg. Specific combinations of colors are seen consistently on specific optioned cars which seems to support the combination of colors had a build meaning.

Just for discussion purposes and to share thoughts.

If the colors were related to a feature such as tube diameter, length and yoke size or type we would see the same color used on all of the 68 drivelines that used the same dia tubes.  I'm not seeing that.

Half way down the page

http://www.thecoralsnake.com/SUSPENSION.HTML (http://www.thecoralsnake.com/SUSPENSION.HTML)
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Side-Oilers on August 23, 2021, 11:17:37 PM
68stangcjfb:   The Gear Vendors went in pretty easily...no metal bashing or cutting necessary.

Nice to be able to drop the rpms on the freeway.   Works well on the track too.
Title: Re: driveshaft restoration
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 24, 2021, 12:01:05 AM
Quote from: J_Speegle on August 23, 2021, 11:11:29 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on August 23, 2021, 10:03:24 PM
I think logically the combination of colors had to do with the specific makeup of the given driveshaft for the specific optioned car it was designed for. Maybe no meaning to Ford but the combination of colors possibly meant length and maybe the u joints and yokes to the mfg. Specific combinations of colors are seen consistently on specific optioned cars which seems to support the combination of colors had a build meaning.

Just for discussion purposes and to share thoughts.

If the colors were related to a feature such as tube diameter, length and yoke size or type we would see the same color used on all of the 68 drivelines that used the same dia tubes.  I'm not seeing that.

Half way down the page

http://www.thecoralsnake.com/SUSPENSION.HTML (http://www.thecoralsnake.com/SUSPENSION.HTML)
It is obvious we do not have all of the answers . Why would Ford go to the trouble of list specific colors on build sheets that correlate to specific variations of Shelby's. There are not too many high profile examples of Ford putting random coding on build sheets. And in this case it would be done many thousands of times. Random is not logical in this situation . It is hard to say what exactly they are for . But given Fords MO on the way they do things random is extremely unlikely. I think rather then labeling them random it would be more prudent to be categorized as  "waiting for more conclusive information".