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Were side mounted exhaust an option in 1970???
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Re: 70 side mounted exhaust
No, 1969 was the last year for this option. -
Re: 70 side mounted exhaust
Not only last, but ONLY year for the C3's.Comment
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And then....
they weren't available for the full year! Have a chapter member who was GM employee and original owner of the '69 side exhaust car he still owns in retirement. He told the story of it being on 'infinite' production delay and went to visit St. Louis on other company business to check things out. Said there were a NUMBER of side exhaust cars pulled to the side in various states of build completion just absorbing floor space.
Talking to plant guys they indicated there was some kind of 'beef' with Federal government agency regarding noise polution and they were 'holding' shipment of side exhaust cars until things were resolved. He said his car was one of the units built but set aside and had been 'gathering dust' for over a month!Comment
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Re: And then....
Jack,
Would that member mind telling us his vin#? How many more cars were released after his, what part of the production year was it? Thanks..Comment
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Re: And then....
VIN number's not a problem (in our shop records). If I remember right, it was into the '69 calendar year (after Christmas/New Year) that he took his 'visit' trip to St. Louis. As far as VIN #'s before/after, I assure you he isn't going to know this info. Guy's getting on in years and every now and then he gets 'fuzzy' on things. Remembers the big picture, but I wouldn't trust him as a valid source for minor detail.
There's a drawback with all three forms of research.... Looking at 'untouched' original cars (Bowtie/Survivor), there's just too darn few of 'em and I'll eat my hat when I see that TRULY untouched original car!
From the GM drawing system, we don't know what was done outside the system (temporary variance(s), plant initiated deviations, Etc.).
From those who worked there & actually built 'em, there's the issues of human memory frailty plus what happened on the shift(s) you were NOT there???Comment
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Re: And then....
John, I know of a documented 2nd owner 69 Convertible 350hp/4speed with FACTORY SME. The car was built around on June 25th, 1969, and the VIN is real close to
23,000, if I remember correctly. Hope this helps. DaveComment
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Re: And then....
There were major flaps going at that time with both the Feds and State governments over "pass-by noise" regulations, what sound pressure level constituted legal "excessive noise", how to measure it, with what dB scale, yadayadayadya, and many owners were outraged over getting excessive noise tickets with their brand-new cars, based on subjective judgments by police officers. The 1969 Camaro Z/28 had "chambered exhausts" as standard equipment until just before Christmas, 1968, when that system was replaced by the standard dual exhaust system due to customer complaints. The NC8 chambered exhaust system was made optional at that point, and then was cancelled altogether in mid-May 1969. At the same time, resonators were added to the "standard" dual exhaust system to further reduce noise. A similar scenario played out at the same time with the Chevelle SS big-block chambered exhaust system, and the General finally gave up on all chambered systems in May/June, 1969, and they were never seen again. Engineering didn't care, as the chambered systems were more restrictive than the "standard" systems and robbed power, but the Sales and Finance guys were unhappy to lose the appearance image and option profits.Comment
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Re: And then....
John, Looks like they had enough 1969 Corvette N14 parts to last to at least the end of June/69, anyway. DaveComment
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