70 Drive shaft restoration

[Jordan S.]

I have my original 70 4speed 454 drive shaft with what appear to be original u-joints. The shaft is rusty and pitted. When I bead blast a small area it is obvious that I need to replace the tube. Here's the question...

Should I just buy a repro drive shaft or find a driveline shop to re-tube mine with the original yolks?? Also, I don't have any weights on my drive shaft. Did c3's typically have weights from the factory??

[Craig O.]

Re: 70 Drive shaft restoration

I would just get a repro, I believe typically the weights were all trapezoid in shape with two spot weld marks where earlier years were square with 4 spot weld marks

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Drive shaft restoration

I have my original 70 4speed 454 drive shaft with what appear to be original u-joints. The shaft is rusty and pitted. When I bead blast a small area it is obvious that I need to replace the tube. Here's the question...

Should I just buy a repro drive shaft or find a driveline shop to re-tube mine with the original yolks?? Also, I don't have any weights on my drive shaft. Did c3's typically have weights from the factory??

Jordan-----


I'd say it depends on the condition of the yoke ends. If they've suffered corrosion damage (likely, if the tube is in bad shape), then I'd just go with a new driveshaft OR find a good used driveshaft. If I went used, I'd only use one if it was PRISTINE in all respects. If your car is a manual transmission, any 63-67 or 68-69 with manual transmission driveshaft will work. All of those are, basically, the same.

[Joel T.]

Re: 70 Drive shaft restoration

I have my original 70 4speed 454 drive shaft with what appear to be original u-joints. The shaft is rusty and pitted. When I bead blast a small area it is obvious that I need to replace the tube. Here's the question...

Should I just buy a repro drive shaft or find a driveline shop to re-tube mine with the original yolks?? Also, I don't have any weights on my drive shaft. Did c3's typically have weights from the factory??

Jordan;

If you get a repro, take it along with your front yoke to have the assembly balanced.. You would be surprised how much these things are off....

Joel

[Jordan S.]

Re: 70 Drive shaft restoration

Thank you for the responses. Joel brings up a god point about balancing.

I think I'll contact a drivetrain shop and find out how much retubing and balancing will be vs. buyung a repro and having it balanced with the front yolk attached. Although the tube is pitted, the yolk ends only have surface rust. I'll post my research in case someone else is having the same "dilemma"

[Mike G.]

Re: 70 Drive shaft restoration

call david sokolowski at 310-329-5334. he has a corvette junkyard in california. he probably has a nice used rust free california car driveshaft. tons of parts.