1965/1966 muffler blackout

[Tony S.]

I found an original black and white photo of a 1966 production muffler showing blackout paint. If you present your 1965 or 1966 mufflers with this level of blackout, you will get a "happy face" on your judging sheet!

Remember, we are all in this together!

Tony

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Tony,

There is a bit more discussion of that photo here:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...764#post902764

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

If I were the chassis judge, absolutely!

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

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[Michael J.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

1964chassisBlackout.jpgmuffler blackout.jpgHere is a set of an original '64 muffler, and a MotorTrend picture of a new '64 on the lift:

[Gary B.]

Michael,

Thanks for posting those photos. Am I correct that in the photo of the 64 muffler off the car, we are looking down at the top surface, and outboard is toward the top of the photo, for a drivers side muffler?

Gary

[Gary B.]

Michael,

Also, do you have more information about the car that the 64 muffler came from? Early or late build?

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Yes, it is the driver's side, and I believe it is a late build, May 64 or so.

[Gary B.]

Michael,

Good example.

Its interesting to me that do much of the top is uniformly covered, and that surface faces mostly upward and inward, which would be hard to see from any vantage point when the muffler is installed on the car.

Gary

[Michael J.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Yes, I have heard the stories that the blackout on the exhaust was done to make the exhaust system not standout when seen from the rear of the car. But it seems it would appear more as drips and runs. I guess the other story was that it was done to reduce corrosion and rust, if so it was pretty sloppy and inconsistent for that as well.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Yeah, the long trails of runs on that Sept 28, 65 body drop car would be very obvious to see when looking in from behind the rear wheel from the side of the car.

Gary

[Gary B.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Back in 2012, Alan Drake posted this photo which he said is of a ‘65 with what is purported to be the original muffler with blackout. It’s look pretty similar to the Sept ‘65 blackout treatment with long runs of blackout.

it look like the paint fell off the aft half.

Gary

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[Michael J.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

Yes, whatever they were trying to do, they did a very poor job of it.

[Tim G.]

Re: 1965/1966 muffler blackout

I believe blackout was also to make the side view look pleasant behind the wheel. The muffler really does blend in even with a little black paint on it

[Gary B.]

Tim,

Im with 100% Michael on this one. If blending in was GMs goal, they did a p&$s poor job of it on some cars. Lots of long, parallel paint runs that look like zebra stripes would get a failing grade from me if I were the inspector.

Gary