1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

[STEVE MUELLER]

Dear Sirs:

Just a few quick question:

1) Were the exhaust tips chrome or stainless steel from the factory?

2) Were the mufflers painted flat black on their bottom side?

3) The screws on the Alum moldings were they painted black or left natural and if they were natural were can you get them?

4) Was the car frame flat or satin black?

5) Were should the coolant temp sensor be I have looked at dobbins but can't make it out?

6) The Clips that hold the coolant Temp sensor's wire that are held in by bolts on the valve cover on the driver side. Does any one have a part # or where I could get them?

7) The screws on the rear Lens should they black or natural?

Thank you so much for all of your help

Steve

[Jerry Clark]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Hi Steve:

I will take a shot at some of your questions from memory here, always subject to someone who may have a J.G. guide in hand, which by the way you should consider purchasing with a Vette that nice.

1) Were the exhaust tips chrome or stainless steel from the factory?

I believe they were polished stainless.

2) Were the mufflers painted flat black on their bottom side?

Painted ( Black out )

3) The screws on the Alum moldings were they painted black or left natural and if they were natural were can you get them?

I think you are referring to the rocker panel molding screws, they should be black and are available from most Corvette vendors

4) Was the car frame flat or satin black?

Semi Gloss Black

5) Were should the coolant temp sensor be I have looked at dobbins but can't make it out?

Pass on this one

6) The Clips that hold the coolant Temp sensor's wire that are held in by bolts on the valve cover on the driver side. Does any one have a part # or where I could get them?

Ditto

7) The screws on the rear Lens should they black or natural?

They are a silver plate, zinc or silver cad ...?

jerry

[Jack H.]

Pass on it....

Don't understand wire routing and 'clip' issues regarding coolant sensor. Sensor wire was routed inside alternator wiring harness and temp sensor installed in front side of LH cylinder head (between #1 and #3 spark plug) on SB engines (further back on BB).

The only thing that 'clips' up top are the wires for TCS emissions solenoid (along inside length of LH valve cover). Base cars had the clips made captive component of the stamped steel valve covers. Cars with 'dressy' cast aluminum valve covers, I believe, used clips that mounted between the valve cover hold down nuts and strain relief plate. These should be a dime a dozen in just about any repro parts catalog (Paragon, Corvette Central, Dr. Rebuild).

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Steve and Jerry-----

I think that Jerry answered most of the questions, but I'll try to fill in the gaps.

My recollection is that there were two temp "senders" used on 1972 Corvettes. One was the temp sender for the dash gauge and the other was the temp switch for the TCS system. The button or pin head sender on the left front cylinder head fitting is for the dash gauge and the two bayonet switch on the right rear cylinder head fitting is for the TCS system. I believe that this was reversed for 70-71.

The valve cover clips for the wires were GM-discontinued years ago. You can buy them under Dr. Rebuild's part number 3386102 for $6/pair. I'm sure that the other vendors have them, too. These clips were used in several other applications during the 60-72 time period, and probably thereafter.

Frames were originally painted with an asphaltic-type coating which appeared generally semi-gloss black as Jerry mentioned. This was not really a paint, though. It was not very durable, either, and although still available from Quanta Products, is NOT RECOMMENDED by me for a driven car. Semi-gloss black paint looks almost the same and is FAR more durable. I prefer DeRusto semi-flat black. This is a slow drying, high solids paint which is very durable.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Steve,

Should I ask you how soon you are going to buy a judging manual? $30 from the folks on the home page. It has answers (the correct ones) to most of these questions.

Let me correct, and amplify where needed the previous posts. My recollection is that there were two temp "senders" used on 1972 Corvettes. One was the temp sender for the dash gauge and the other was the temp switch for the TCS system. The button or pin head sender on the left front cylinder head fitting is for the dash gauge and the two bayonet switch on the right rear cylinder head fitting is for the TCS system.

Stop right there Joe, the next sentence in your post is not applicable. The senders stayed in the same location through 1972 (and a little longer too, I think.)

Jack is right on target - your temperature sensor wires do not go through clips attached to the valve covers. An Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) has drawings that are worth a lot of words. They will show you the routing of the wires, and a whole lot more. BY one $22.95 retail, $17 to members, from the friendly folks who pay for this board.

Original exhaust tips were chrome plated steel, NOT stainless. There are two different designs. There is a drawing in the Judging Manual I mentioned above that shows the differences.

There is also a photo on page 42 of the same judging manual that shows black screws for the tail lamp lenses.

Terry

[STEVE MUELLER]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Dear Joe:

I am puzzeled on this tan wire that goes through the driver side valve cover that goes to the front of the engine. It shows this in dobbins book. I have a tan wire that is all wound up by my distributor. I assumed that it was for a coolant sensor? Then what is it for? maybe the Air system? Also on the exhaust tips where could I get those?

Steve

[STEVE MUELLER]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Terry:

I hope that I have not offened you by asking all of these questions on my 72. I am just gathering research. By the tone of your E-mail you sound a little frustrated. I will be buying the AIM and the Judging manual when I get chance. I'm in the planning stages of my project. So, I really appreciate all the help You and your members have provided.

Thank you

Steve

[Tom B.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

We're just a little curious, Steve. We all think it's good advise, especially in your case to have the JM at hand. Please keep up the good work. TBarr #24014

[Craig Jewett]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

Hi Steve,

Regarding your question as to the material used for the rectangular exhaust tips, I can offer the following; My original, early build (Oct. 1971)1972 LT-1 that I owned from 1975 to 1985 came with chrome plated steel exhaust tips. I had to replace them twice during the 10 years that I owned the car, since they rusted at the weld where the pipe joins the flange. The GM replacements were also chrome plated. In addition, I had the replacements re-plated before installing them since the GM chrome was of poor quality. I also painted the inside of the tips with hi-temp white paint to stop the rusting inside, where even the re-plated chrome was very thin. Hope this helps. Good Luck.

Craig Jewett NCRS #28049 '67 L-79 A/C coupe

[Sal C.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 Muffler/ and Question's

The tan wire that runs through the 2 clips on the upper 2 bolts of the driver's side valve cover connects to the carburetor idle stop solenoid.

[Terry M.]

Re: Vent & rant

Glad to hear you have JM & AIM on your resource list. FSM (Factory Service and Overhaul Manuals) are a good idea also if you intend to do some of your own work.

No offence taken or intended, but yes to frustration. Now the rest is not intended to offend, so please don't take any.

We (judging manual revision team) spent a lot of time and effort to put needed information into judging manual. After several posts asking questions that are detailed in the manual - and seeing folks spending time answering them in detail when, in some cases, photos are available in the manual I get frustrated. I understand that many have these kinds of questions, may be reluctant to ask and all benefit from the posts in response to individual.

Manual is not always as detailed as folks want and the only way it gets more detail and inaccuracies corrected is by folks asking questions. So we do want questions. No one has to go out of their way to make me happy, but I think most of us feel better about helping someone who shows some effort at helping themselves. Merely stating purchase of reference books is in the works makes all (well me anyway) fell better.

No excuses here guys. Just raw human emotions brought closer to the surface by fatigue. Hope I don't sound too much like the ogre, but venting helps once in a while.

Terry

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Vent & rant

Hi Terry:

Given your efforts on behalf of the society it is understandable that you become a bit frustrated when seeing the same questions posted so often when you have already covered them with such detail years before. I believe all of us who respond frequently share some measure of your sentiment.

jerry