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how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? #3032144 04/09/22 03:45 PM 04/09/22 03:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672 A Andrewh OP master
Andrewh OP master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672	I am not sure it is worth worrying about. my car came out of chicago, so the driveshaft is pretty pitted. but it doesn't have any significant horsepower to worry about twisting it or anything. I am going through the driveline now, and noticed how rusted it looked. 1965 coronet with a 5.9 mag in it now. was originally a poly. original 273 gears. do I just wait for it to fail if ever, or is it not even worth worrying about?

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Andrewh] #3032183 04/09/22 05:57 PM 04/09/22 05:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 8,271 fredericksburg,va C cudaman1969 master
cudaman1969 master C Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 8,271 fredericksburg,va	Since you started worrying about it, now you know you’ll have to replace it. Law a nature

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Andrewh] #3032189 04/09/22 06:16 PM 04/09/22 06:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 107 Long Island, New York 57Fury440 member
57Fury440 member Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 107 Long Island, New York	The driveshafts were not painted from the factory so they all rusted. They are pretty thick metal. Are you taking it down to replace the universal joints? If you are then I would clean the driveshaft as much as possible and coat it with a good rust inhibitor. Most of the driveshafts I have seen on the older cars are rusted and pitted.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: 57Fury440] #3032193 04/09/22 07:23 PM 04/09/22 07:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 707 California BigDaddy440 super stock
BigDaddy440 super stock Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 707 California	Originally Posted by 57Fury440 The driveshafts were not painted from the factory so they all rusted. They are pretty thick metal. Are you taking it down to replace the universal joints? If you are then I would clean the driveshaft as much as possible and coat it with a good rust inhibitor. Most of the driveshafts I have seen on the older cars are rusted and pitted. 2x 1969 A12 Roadrunner 1970 Plymouth Cuda 1968 Dodge Dart

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: BigDaddy440] #3032198 04/09/22 08:00 PM 04/09/22 08:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,931 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,931 Grand Prairie,Texas	Spray it down with ospho. I kills rust and is cheap at the hardware store. https://www.acehardware.com/departm...ng-and-disinfectants/rust-removers/13867

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: stumpy] #3032210 04/09/22 09:18 PM 04/09/22 09:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672 A Andrewh OP master
Andrewh OP master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672	yeah, was pulling it to put in new u-joints. I guess I will try that ospho stuff, my local ace has it for 16 bucks. thanks.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Andrewh] #3032211 04/09/22 09:22 PM 04/09/22 09:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 18,421 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN... N NITROUSN I Live Here
NITROUSN I Live Here N Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 18,421 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...	Originally Posted by Andrewh I am not sure it is worth worrying about. my car came out of chicago, so the driveshaft is pretty pitted. but it doesn't have any significant horsepower to worry about twisting it or anything. I am going through the driveline now, and noticed how rusted it looked. 1965 coronet with a 5.9 mag in it now. was originally a poly. original 273 gears. do I just wait for it to fail if ever, or is it not even worth worrying about? So for an accurate opinion we need to see how much rust you are talking about, Pictures always help.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Andrewh] #3032213 04/09/22 09:26 PM 04/09/22 09:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,787 A collage of whims topside Too Many Posts
topside Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 20,787 A collage of whims	That's the kind of thing that for me turns into a restoration ! Well, used to...nowadays the cost of paint & materials would probably preclude that... My 1st road Runner restoration started out with rear seat upholstery, and 1 cyl with weak compression. But for a regular-power street car, I'd try not to let it bug me if it's not pitted too deeply. Or, get another one or have one made...

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: 57Fury440] #3032215 04/09/22 09:33 PM 04/09/22 09:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 18,421 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN... N NITROUSN I Live Here
NITROUSN I Live Here N Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 18,421 UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...	Originally Posted by 57Fury440 The driveshafts were not painted from the factory so they all rusted. They are pretty thick metal. Are you taking it down to replace the universal joints? If you are then I would clean the driveshaft as much as possible and coat it with a good rust inhibitor. Most of the driveshafts I have seen on the older cars are rusted and pitted. Shafts were not always painted. I would not want anyone touching my unpainted shaft.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: NITROUSN] #3032218 04/09/22 09:41 PM 04/09/22 09:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672 A Andrewh OP master
Andrewh OP master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672	I was going to but didn't get a camera out that day. can't take it down for another week. Will post pics if I see anything more questionable.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: topside] #3032227 04/09/22 10:15 PM 04/09/22 10:15 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 3,062 N.W. Florida F Fat_Mike master
Fat_Mike master F Joined: May 2003 Posts: 3,062 N.W. Florida	Originally Posted by topside ........Or, get another one or have one made... ^^^This is where my head is. Fortunately there are still folks that specialize in drive shafts.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Fat_Mike] #3032231 04/09/22 10:48 PM 04/09/22 10:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 10,554 Rittman Ohio fourgearsavoy I Live Here
fourgearsavoy I Live Here Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 10,554 Rittman Ohio	Originally Posted by Fat_Mike Originally Posted by topside ........Or, get another one or have one made... ^^^This is where my head is. Fortunately there are still folks that specialize in drive shafts. Order a new Strange Engineering shaft from Doctordiff and put your mind at ease Gus 64 Plymouth Savoy 493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow 5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box Dana 60

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: Fat_Mike] #3032236 04/09/22 10:59 PM 04/09/22 10:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,368 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,368 Iowa	I put this one in a PVC pipe with one end capped. Then I filled it with vinegar. After about 12 hours I took it out and hosed it off and scrubbed the thick areas with a wire brush. Then put it back in for another 12. I can't remember how long it took to completely derust it. I also did one with EvapoRust. The key is to pick a pipe ID that isn't much bigger then the driveshaft OD. That way it takes less liquid to fill the pipe. If you try this method, you'll probably have to weight down the driveshaft so it doesn't float to the top. I used a brick to keep the driveshaft submerged. Here it is all cleaned up next the the original driveshaft from my Dart. I'm planning on having this one cut down to fit since I replaced the 7-1/4 with an 8-3/4.

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: cudaman1969] #3032349 04/10/22 02:35 PM 04/10/22 02:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,117 Tucson, AZ Ramrod39 My New Title
Ramrod39 My New Title Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,117 Tucson, AZ	Originally Posted by cudaman1969 Since you started worrying about it, now you know you’ll have to replace it. Law a nature This is what always happens to me...

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: burdar] #3032366 04/10/22 03:43 PM 04/10/22 03:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 28,597 Shopping @ HoBo Fright 340SIX Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin
340SIX Doc Flappergas's Evil Twin Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 28,597 Shopping @ HoBo Fright	Originally Posted by burdar I put this one in a PVC pipe with one end capped. Then I filled it with vinegar. After about 12 hours I took it out and hosed it off and scrubbed the thick areas with a wire brush. Then put it back in for another 12. I can't remember how long it took to completely derust it. I also did one with EvapoRust. The key is to pick a pipe ID that isn't much bigger then the driveshaft OD. That way it takes less liquid to fill the pipe. If you try this method, you'll probably have to weight down the driveshaft so it doesn't float to the top. I used a brick to keep the driveshaft submerged. Here it is all cleaned up next the the original driveshaft from my Dart. I'm planning on having this one cut down to fit since I replaced the 7-1/4 with an 8-3/4. Vinegar and add some Lemi-Shine. By the soap stuff st any food store, Wal-Mart etc. [img]https://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee87/fast340six/sig%20pics/2840886-340SIX-1.jpg[/img] VP of the MPM in New Orleans 73 Dart Sport 340/ 70 challenger vert. That may still get built, If I live long enough

Re: how much rust is too much on a driveshaft? [Re: 340SIX] #3032369 04/10/22 03:49 PM 04/10/22 03:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672 A Andrewh OP master
Andrewh OP master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,672	that is pretty amazing clean up.

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