St Louis Water test

[Keith W.]

Just seen a picture of a C1 having the water test done at St Louis - am aware that all corvettes were manufactured on the first floor, where did the water test take place on the first floor or ground floor ?

Generally I've seen final water test carried out at end of line - just curious.
thanks Keith

[Jack M.]

Re: St Louis Water test

From John Hinckley (see top):

[David H.]

Re: St Louis Water test

Keith,

Water test before interior installation.

Dave

[Michael J.]

Re: St Louis Water test

That's an interesting map, as it shows the underbody assembly in the basement, as well as the AO Smith bodies coming from the basement. I had heard those things were not correct. Anyone know for sure?

[Richard G.]

Re: St Louis Water test

I just can't envision and C1 passing a water test of any kind!

Year ago I used to get a kick out of the "other drivers" coming upon me in my 57 with the top down, on the freeway, in the rain. My goal was to never go below 35mph! It was a kick.... So was driving it on the beach! I had a blast in that car.
Rick

[David H.]

Re: St Louis Water test

That's an interesting map, as it shows the underbody assembly in the basement, as well as the AO Smith bodies coming from the basement. I had heard those things were not correct. Anyone know for sure?

Michael,

John Hinckley A.O. Smith article (link below), indicated AOS bodies were stored into a scheduling area. Seems like moving into and out of a basement would be a lot of effort.

“Final Assembly And Shipping: Holes in the cowl and dash for the heater, wiper transmissions, dash grommets, fuse block and steering column were taped over, and the finished body was vacuumed out and water-tested. Following the water test and final inspection, the completed body on its wheeled build truck was loaded on a tri-level railroad car and shipped to St. Louis. Transit time varied from four days to two weeks. The train came right into the plant at St. Louis, and the bodies were unloaded into a scheduling area, where they were stored until they were required for production.”

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/knowledgebase/file.php?id=71

Dave

[Jerry G.]

Re: St Louis Water test

Water test sitting still, not real world. The wind lift(vacuum) at freeway speed is what creates the large gap between header and weatherstrip. Terrible design. Don't know of any good fixes.

[Richard G.]

Re: St Louis Water test

I agree, I could stay dryer with the top down and not slowing down than with the top up and water dripping onto my lap....
But again the W/S was old and the fits not so good.

Ever look up on a C2 Corvette Coupe while doing 100mph? (Passenger seat of course) The doors gap 1/2, or more, at the top. Quite the sight.
But again it really doesn't matter. The noise is part of the experience. Not comparing C2's to modern cars. Apples and oranges so I won't even try.

[Keith W.]

Re: St Louis Water test

I've been 100mph plus and with the top up you can see the sky between the header and the first bow very worrying, you're almost waiting for the top to be ripped off - I agree with the top up you have water constantly coming in, either you of the passenger has to towel up the water.

Did GM test the hard top only cars the same way as soft tops ?

[Frank D.]

Re: St Louis Water test

10 years of driving my 61 in Florida monsoons...

You get your own personal rainstorm over the convertible top header bar at speed...I used to keep a towel which I draped over the dash behind the rear view mirror when it happened trying to protect the radio speaker a bit. Then trying to drive with the lame defrosters only clearing up about a dollar bill sized patch of windshield and the clown car wipers and fogged up gauges made for exciting rides.

I had sealed the cove side spears and two rearmost stud holes on the fender windsplits and the windshield body channel well, along with the rain gutter at the front of the upper door jamb....so that header bar was the big issue...