C4 Mufflers and pipes

[Walter F.]

I have been reading about early Corvettes having blacked out mufflers and pipes but can fine little infomation on newer C4 Corvettes. Some owners say their mufflers were blacked out. Is there any guide lines on what is correct for C4s. Were some mufflers blacked out or should they all be natural in color. Are points deducted for improper color muffler display on C4s being judged?

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

I have been reading about early Corvettes having blacked out mufflers and pipes but can fine little infomation on newer C4 Corvettes. Some owners say their mufflers were blacked out. Is there any guide lines on what is correct for C4s. Were some mufflers blacked out or should they all be natural in color. Are points deducted for improper color muffler display on C4s being judged?

Walter------


I believe that most, if not all, C4 mufflers were painted black. I can tell you for sure that the original mufflers on my original owner 1992 are black.

[Jake D.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

They were blacked out. Here's a picture of the factory exhaust on our '96 LT4.
96 Exhaust System (3).jpg96 Exhaust System (4).jpg

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Walt, there was a lengthly discussion on this matter previously. If you send me your email address I will send you a section of the discussion. It is long and could not be posted here.

Send to fulassoc@comcast.net

[Bill H.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Walter------


I believe that most, if not all, C4 mufflers were painted black. I can tell you for sure that the original mufflers on my original owner 1992 are black.

Same on my 92, just the mufflers & tips.
Though that system's sitting in my shed, just too quiet for me.

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Here is another photo from my stuff that I have gathered. This one addresses the over spray on the exhaust pipes. This Corvette was to have had only 900 miles on the odometer. Can not verify that fact.

These are photos that I have found doing research on various C4 items. This is not my Corvette.

[Joe L.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Here is another photo from my stuff that I have gathered. This one addresses the over spray on the exhaust pipes. This Corvette was to have had only 900 miles on the odometer. Can not verify that fact.

These are photos that I have found doing research on various C4 items. This is not my Corvette.

Charlie------


On my 1992 the pipes forward of the muffler were definitely not painted.

By the way, on the car pictured it looks like the left side muffler has been replaced. Note the slip joint.

[Pat M.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Charlie------


On my 1992 the pipes forward of the muffler were definitely not painted.

Agreed. On my 96 the black paint stops crisply at the pipes; even the welds are not painted.

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Folks, I am agreeing with you about what should or should not be painted. My 1995 has no indication of being painted past the mufflers.

I had come up the photo in my research and kept it for that purpose. I don't know if the photo represents the correct overspray painting of the mufflers.

[Pat M.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Folks, I am agreeing with you about what should or should not be painted. My 1995 has no indication of being painted past the mufflers.

I had come up the photo in my research and kept it for that purpose. I don't know if the photo represents the correct overspray painting of the mufflers.

Hi Charlie, I wasn't suggesting you were asserting otherwise. I was simply confirming what Joe said.

[Perry M.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

I purchased my C4 in 84. It has just turned 6,000 miles. The mufflers and pipes don't show any signs of ever having been painted or coated. Both the mufflers are connected with slip joints with guillotine type clamps. Again this is the first year of the C4.

[Tom H.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

There was also a service bulletin that instructed the dealer to repaint the mufflers on the C4 as the factory coating deteriorated. I will try to find that bulletin.

[Tom H.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

#33-17-01A: PAINT PEELING FROM MUFFLER (NEW REPAIR PAINT AVAILABLE) - (Dec 1, 1997)

REVISION: 04/13/95
THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD CARLINES AND CHANGE APPLICABLE MODEL YEARS. PREVIOUS DIVISIONAL PUBLICATION NUMBERS WERE: CHEVROLET - 93-97-10 GM OF CANADA - 93-10-159 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVISION: 11/18/97
THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD ADDITIONAL MODEL YEARS. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 33-17-01 (SECTION 10 - BODY). ----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBJECT: PAINT PEELING FROM MUFFLER (NEW REPAIR PAINT AVAILABLE)

MODELS: 1993-98 PASSENGER CARS WITH PAINTED MUFFLERS

************************************************** ******************** IMPORTANT:
GM OF CANADA DEALERS AND NAES DEALERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. ************************************************** ********************
CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY EXPERIENCE PAINT PEELING FROM THE MUFFLER.
CORRECTION:

CLEAN AND REPAINT THE AFFECTED AREA USING THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE AND PRODUCT.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT REPLACE COMPONENTS TO REPAIR THIS CONDITION.

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MUST BE COLD TO BEGIN THIS PROCEDURE.
MATERIAL REQUIRED: *WABASH PRODUCTS #KB-318-HHHS, AVAILABLE IN PINTS OR QUARTS AS READY TO SPRAY MATERIAL (NO MIXING REQUIRED). CALL WABASH PRODUCTS, 1-800-326-7269 OR 812-232-6097 FOR PRICING AND SHIPPING INFORMATION.
PROCEDURE: ON A COLD EXHAUST SYSTEM:
1. RAISE VEHICLE ON HOIST.
2. WHILE SUPPORTING EXHAUST WITH A TRANSMISSION JACK, REMOVE THE REAR EXHAUST SYSTEM HANGERS AND LOWER THE EXHAUST.
3. CLEAN THE AFFECTED AREA WITH A WAX AND GREASE REMOVER, LACQUER THINNER OR OTHER SUITABLE SOLVENT.
4. WIRE BRUSH THE AFFECTED AREA TO REMOVE FLAKING PAINT AND BLOW OFF WITH AIR.
5. SAND THE AFFECTED AREA WITH #80 TO 150 GRIT SANDPAPER TO REMOVE RUST, DIRT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS.
6. CLEAN THE AFFECTED AREA WITH A WAX AND GREASE REMOVER, LACQUER THINNER OR OTHER SUITABLE SOLVENT.
7. TAPE OFF THE REAR LOWER BODY PANELS AND EXHAUST PIPES FORWARD OF MUFFLERS TO PROTECT FROM OVERSPRAY.
8. APPLY PAINT TO AFFECTED AREA IN SEVERAL (6 TO 8) THIN COATS (TO PREVENT SAGS AND RUNS) OBTAINING APPROXIMATELY 1 MIL PAINT COVERAGE.
9. RAISE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH JACK, REINSTALL EXHAUST HANGERS, LOWER VEHICLE AND REMOVE FROM HOIST.
- ALLOW 30 MINUTES DRYING TIME.
10. IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA, START ENGINE AND ALLOW TO IDLE FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES UNTIL PAINT IS CURED AND DRY.
IMPORTANT: SOME "SMOKING" WILL OCCUR WHILE CURING THE PAINT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.

THE PAINT CAN BE HEATED AND CURED WHILE DRIVING, BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WET DURING THE FIRST 30 MINUTES.
WARRANTY INFORMATION:

LABOR OPERATION: A6150 LABOR TIME: 0.6 HR. - SINGLE EXHAUST ADD: 0.2 HR. - DUAL EXHAUST MATERIAL ALLOWANCE: GC
IMPORTANT: WHILE THE ABOVE PROCEDURE AND MATERIALS ARE CORRECT FOR VEHICLES FROM 1993 TO 1998, THE LABOR OPERATION AND TIME ALLOWANCE ONLY PERTAINS TO VEHICLES IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Pat, No problem,I didn't take it in any way other than this was the information I had gotten in some research and I could not verify it to be true.

Tom, what about your recommendation of John Deere Muffler Paint. That is what I used and it looks good.

[Pat F.]

Re: C4 Mufflers and pipes

Folks, here is a shot of a 1995 ZR1 with 34 miles on the odometer. That is what was advertised as the mileage.

There is no sign of over spray on the exhaust pipes.