C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

[Mike E.]

I'm working on getting trying to get the finish on my 65' small block half shafts close to correct. The problem is I've not found any photos of half shafts on the web that don't have cast blast on them. The photo on the right shows where I'm at right now. I'm somewhat concerned about making them too shiny, as they might be already. Does anyone have an image they could point me to that would be close to correct. Mine were pretty rough to start with as the photo on the left shows.



Thanks!
Mike

[Tony S.]

Re: C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

Mike, here's a photo that I took at the 2012 Nationals of Mark Francois's original California '65. I think this is pretty typical for '65 small block cars. It's also how mine appeared. The black paint was applied from the top and the drips run down.
Hope this helps.Tony

[Mike E.]

Re: C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

Mike, here's a photo that I took at the 2012 Nationals of Mark Francois's original California '65. I think this is pretty typical for '65 small block cars. It's also how mine appeared. The black paint was applied from the top and the drips run down.
Hope this helps.Tony

Thanks Tony!

That is probably the blackout paint that was also applied on the mufflers. I was trying the understand what the finish of the steel tubes on the half shafts was when installed on the line prior to the blackout process.

It's going to thrill me to slop on blackout paint on a nice clean chassis. C'est la vie!

Mike

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

I too have seen evidence of half shaft black out on an original 65BB. My understanding was that black out was reduced in the rear area for 65 due to the disk brake set up (don't want to black out rotors) However judges do not want to see black out on these any ways so do not add or you will get docked a point or so (don't ask) Know the BB cars had the half shafts "shot-peen" - think some small blocks also got same treatment - but check that statement out especially for 65 up.

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

I too have seen evidence of half shaft black out on an original 65BB. My understanding was that black out was reduced in the rear area for 65 due to the disk brake set up (don't want to black out rotors) However judges do not want to see black out on these any ways so do not add or you will get docked a point or so (don't ask) Know the BB cars had the half shafts "shot-peen" - think some small blocks also got same treatment - but check that statement out especially for 65 up.

A knowledgeable judge would not deduct for chassis black on the differential or half shafts, especially on 63-64.

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Small Block Half Shaft Finish

... I'm somewhat concerned about making them too shiny, as they might be already...



Thanks!
Mike

Mike,

If you can imagine what the half shafts were like immediately after they were manufactured, I don't think yours are anywhere near as shiny as they would have been on the day of manufacture. Long Island Corvette sells newly made half shafts with the correct weld lines (one circumferential weld at each end and one longitudinal weld) and they have nice heat-affected weld zones and they are quite shiny, i.e., more shiny than the one in your photo. If a judge takes a deduct for a new LIC half shaft based on excessive shine, I suspect that's because the judge is not imagining what a GM half shaft could have looked like when brand new. Yes, those shafts would get a rust bloom very quickly, but there some could have came off the assembly line with no rust and quite shiny.

Gary