Black Out

[Lee T.]

The technical manual says that the mufflers on my 1969 should be "blacked out".
Can someone tell me if it means the whole muffler should be blacked out, or just the bottom side?
I have new mufflers, not installed yet, and want them to meet judging rules.

[William C.]

Re: Black Out

Bottom side, what would be seen from a car behind yours.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Black Out pic

My interpretation:

[Lee T.]

Re: Black Out pic

Looking at the picture, I see an unpainted portion of the muffler on the far side. I assume that same muffler is painted, but on the bottom only?
Is this correct?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Black Out pic

Bottom and outer side.

Think like a 1969 hourly worker.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Black Out pic

No offense Patrick, but they are too smooth and too nicely done. That said, it is better than no black out.

[Edward B.]

Re: Black Out pic

You would get a fairly decent job out of a 1969 hourly worker compared to a 2007 hourly worker.

[William C.]

On the contrary

in 1969, the GM St Louis Facility was a hell-hole with regards union-management relations. The quality of build on the '69 models was so poor that Duntov was returned from another job to straighten out the Corvette. In comparision, the build quality and overall employee atmosphere in the Bowling Green facility is light years away from the 60's and 70's in the right direction. I love my old cars, but the new ones have demonstrably better build quality, a direct reflection on the improvement is both Plant management and the hourly workforce.

[George C.]

Re: On the contrary

Well said, Bill. I get a kick out of people fast to criticize the factory worker. Especially people who have no idea what it's like to work in a factory. Factory workers were doing exactly what they were told and the most important thing to management was "numbers".... get those Corvettes out the door ! The bosses at St Louis were slave drivers.
I got to meet some of the workers back then and we discussed quailty on all kinds of issues about the Corvette. One old timer( I'll never forget this one ) looked me right in the eyes and asked me if I had a garage ? I said yes, and he told me "you could paint a Corvette better in your garage than at St Louis". That plant was built in 1919, renovated in the early 50's and Corvette shared the plant with Chevrolet Truck and Car production. The workers then as now ALWAYS prided themselves by building America's True Sports Car. Almost 700,000 Corvettes came out of there, and because of the workers and a great man called Duntov the Corvette is still here today. Save the Wave.>George

[Greg L.]

Re: Black Out pic

Just curious when this black-out was applied, before body drop or after?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Black Out pic

Yeah, well, I did them installed on the car so had to be careful not to hit anything else. I made a nice cardboard backing that went all the way around and kept the paint ONLY on the muffler.

To do it right, and for the "next" time I do it, I'd likely hit it a lot harder, make it run, and extend it up the pipe towards the transmission. The few low mile original systems I've seen tend to support more coverage -especially up the pipe - than what I did.

Flight judges whacked me for the aluminized system anyway, and didn't care about the paint. Maybe next time if I overpaint they won't be able to tell.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Black Out pic

Based on the runs on the originals I have seen it was applied when the exhaust system was upside down -- so to answer your question definitely before body drop. That said, we occasionally see a little bit of over spray from this operation on the spare tire carrier -- maybe from touch-up. It is hard to tell for sure because the evidence is contradictory.

[Greg L.]

Re: Black Out pic

So was the blackout maybe performed before the exhaust was installed onto the chassis?

To me it would seem logical to install the engine and trans before the exhaust but that wouldn't be with the chassis still upside down so it looks to me as though the mufflers were blacked out BEFORE installation...upside down on a rack someplace.

The overspray on the tire carriers might have then been from "final assembly" or "trim" workers noticing some shiney spots down there and giving the mufflers a quick shot that was missed on the initial blackout. What do you think???

[Patrick H.]

Re: Black Out pic

"That said, we occasionally see a little bit of over spray from this operation on the spare tire carrier -- maybe from touch-up."

Would you mind sharing that with more chassis judges? I've been hit on the 72 every time it's been judged, and though I've not owned it since new I'd bet $1000 that the black paint on the spare tire carrier of my car is original. It had so much touch up done to it that I would have been surprised if they missed the carrier. If I were to ever remove the black paint (which I won't) I suspect there is yellow under it.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Black Out pic

The paint I was referring to is definately unintended over spray from muffler coating. That is very different than an attempt to cover body color on the spare tire carrier.