Topic: 68 C Code Drive Shaft restoration

[janschutz]

I an redoing the drive shaft that was on my 68 Coupe with a 289.  This coupe was built at the  Metuchen NJ plant of Feb 15, 1968.  I do not know if this is the original drive shaft but will assume so until someone can tell me if I am wrong.

What I started with.


Paint stripes after some soap and water to get the grease and dirt off.


Looks like a blue grease pencil mark through the paint stripes.


Made a tank out of 4" PVC to put the drive shaft in while it sits in Evaporust.


Tonight, I will check out the Drive shaft.

[janschutz]

After 28 hours in the Evaporust,


The stripes in the center of the shaft are black, white, pink and yellow green.  There is a Red stripe to the far right.


When I sanded on the black pain on the drive shaft, there was rust underneath it.  So the black paint was later in the cars life.  My coupe under carriage was all black and a person who new better than me told me that the way I restored it was not factory (Sorry Jeff for arguing with you).

The weld seam (Bottom line).


Hope to get it sanded tonite!

[janschutz]

All the paint and rust are now removed.  I sanded the drive shaft lengthwise with 220 to 600 grit.

This end has traces of primer!


Nice weld seam and one of the weights (before sanding).


Now time for paint.

[68 S Code]

Came out nice after the evaporust. Did it affect the machined surface at all. They still look shiney. Here's a tip as I just finished mine. Go to hardware store or harbor freight and pic up 4 soft nylon casters. Get a slightly grippy surface on them. Mount the casters on a 1x10 shelf board in pairs 8" inboard of the yokes at the ends. Set your driveshaft on the rollers and it's a breeze to stripe it. By mounting them inboard you can paint the yokes without any interference. Best $10 I spent.

[janschutz]

I do not think it affected the machine areas.  The camera flash makes it look shiner than it is.

Great tip on the casters.  I just happen to have some spares.

[68 S Code]

With a little practice you will get good enough to spin the shaft with one hand as you apply the brush with the other. Tried posting some pics but I guess I need to download the phone camera.

[J_Speegle]

With a little practice you will get good enough to spin the shaft with one hand as you apply the brush with the other. Tried posting some pics but I guess I need to download the phone camera.

I use (or the driveline can be striped on the car)  two 2x4's to set the driveline on located so they are away from the stripe area. and simply roll the driveline towards me or away from me in a single movement while holding the brush to the driveline. Make sure that the 2x4's are not to short or you will run out of board before you get all the stripe applied.

[janschutz]

Here is a picture of my caster setup to roll the drive shaft while I paint  the stripes.  Tomorrow morning I will use the bluing for the welds and if I have time, start applying the stripes.

[CharlesTurner]

Glad to see others following some of the restoration techniques set forth here.  Restoring original parts is such a great accomplishment when done right!

[janschutz]

This morning, I used gun bluing to recreated the weld heat marks and painted the stripes.



Next is Satin Clear the shaft and paint primer on the two ends.

[J_Speegle]

This morning, I used gun bluing to recreated the weld heat marks and painted the stripes.
Next is Satin Clear the shaft and paint primer on the two ends.

Looks good - did you remember to put a heat line down the length of the inside tube?

Just asking as I know ( I did it the first time) how easy it is to over look that short visible section

[janschutz]

Oops, I did not.  I will tomorrow.

[drummingrocks]

Made a tank out of 4" PVC to put the drive shaft in while it sits in Evaporust.

Excellent idea on the PVC pipe for the Evaporust.  How long did you let the driveshaft soak?  And how much Evaporust did it take to do the job?  I considered using Evaporust, but couldn't come up with an easy way to get the driveshaft immersed in it.

[janschutz]

  How long did you let the driveshaft soak?  And how much Evaporust did it take to do the job?  I considered using Evaporust, but couldn't come up with an easy way to get the driveshaft immersed in it.

It soaked 27 hours and all the rust was removed. 

It took 1 1/2 Gallons to fill after the drive shaft was in it.

[janschutz]

Catching up on my posting.  This mustang is my wife's daily driver.  I am trying to keep it as close to concours as possible but sometimes I have to sway for that. 

Ready to install drive shaft


Installed