Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

[Pat M.]

Here's the prototype tip that's now been chromed:

[Sal C.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I'm usually tough on reproduction parts, but that looks pretty darn good from here.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Has the weld been changed?
The weld on one in the picture appears to have been "flattened" compared to the previous pictures but still doesn't quite look like the several examples of originals shown on here a couple of weeks ago.

Patrick

[Dave S.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Has the weld been changed?
The weld on one in the picture appears to have been "flattened" compared to the previous pictures but still doesn't quite look like the several examples of originals shown on here a couple of weeks ago.

Patrick

I agree with both Sal and Patrick. Pretty nice reproduction piece as it is. Looks like Richard took our advice and made the welds less stated. I do think the welds could still be a little less again. If he does that they will be awfully close. Nice job..........

[Pat M.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I sent Richard pictures of several original welds, including those shown in that previous thread. His repo's weld does appear smoother and flatter to me than it was originally. For whatever it's worth, his repo's weld looks a lot like the weld on my original first design tip shown below, even though mine is a bit flatter:

[Steven G.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Patrick is right, Myself, I would rather see a perfectly bead weld and take deductions even though they did seem to vary from factory, they never had a perfect weld, some of the welding does look good. Steve

[Bill L.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I have my original pair and the welds are very similar.


Bill Lennox

[Dick W.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I talked with Richard at length about the tips. What he reproduced is in the middle of the samples and photos that were submitted. I, for one, do not believe that every one had identical welds

[D S.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Given what we have for reproductions today and what we know the originals looked like back in the day Fortier's tips looks like a dream come true for us 1970-1972 owners. I believe his are what Corvette owners wished they had when their Corvettes were new. I'm ordering me a pair of Fortier's tips. Ever try to find nice, original 1st Design tips for less than $400?

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I like them. They look like the best out there today and it is encouraging to see a vendor even try this hard for correctness. Does he plan on 2nd design anytime soon?

Ken

[Edward J.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Second Design I Beleive Is On The Way, I Sent A Deposit A Few Months Back, As Soon As He's Happy With The First The Second Design We'll Be Coming Soon.he Is Looking To Take Orders For The Second Design.

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Second Design I Beleive Is On The Way, I Sent A Deposit A Few Months Back, As Soon As He's Happy With The First The Second Design We'll Be Coming Soon.he Is Looking To Take Orders For The Second Design.

Thanks, Ed.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

No doubt that the welds on originals would be different if machine welded or hand welded so anything close should pass judging. Two people welding by hand or one part to next will not be the same. In the day we had automatic welders but the one's I remember were used on round welds like the torque converter welds.
I would say gas shielded wire would have been used on original tips and the weld put down by a worker not a machine. To duplicate the weld I would try to tell what method welding machine was used in the 70's on those tips.

[John H.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

I would say gas shielded wire would have been used on original tips and the weld put down by a worker not a machine. To duplicate the weld I would try to tell what method welding machine was used in the 70's on those tips.

In 1970-72, they would have been welded manually; multi-axis programmable robots in that area were very crude, hydraulic, and only able to spot-weld (Unimates).

[D S.]

Re: Fortier First Design Repo Tips Update

Buy American!