What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

[Tom H.]

Found this photo for sale on ebay. I've looked at it long enough and can't figure out what they are doing here.

Anybody know what this car is being measured for ??

[William N.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

This is an engineering test, where a prescribed input force is put into the body, (you will note the cylinder at the right rear of the body with a pressure hose attached) and they are measuring the amount of flex or movement in the various points of the body as a result of the input.
Think of it as a simulation of going over road bumps and reading the body response but eliminating the effect of the suspension.
Excuse me, that may be including the suspension as I see the attachment to the wheel hub.

[Tom H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

Makes sense to me. Thanks for clearing that up. I love that kind of stuff !! What is the I beam through the interior there for ??

[John H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

Makes sense to me. Thanks for clearing that up. I love that kind of stuff !! What is the I beam through the interior there for ??

The beam is a zero-datum point for interior deflection measurements (like the floor surface plate is for chassis and external underbody deflection measurement). This arrangement was commonly known as a "Torsion and Beaming" setup in the Chassis Lab, to measure resistance to torsional and fore-aft beaming deflection.

[Tom H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

Thanks John !

Awesome history lesson in these old factory photos. I wish I could have been there.

[Stewart A.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

All this time I thought the hoist had broken and they used some rods to prop it up so they could change the brake pads.

[Tom H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

All this time I thought the hoist had broken and they used some rods to prop it up so they could change the brake pads.

Stewart, you ain't right !

[Terry M.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

And I suppose when this kind of test was cone with the C6 the results lead to the claim of less chassis deflection than any previous Corvette?

I can't imagine how many hours of labor go into setting up this kind of test.

[Art A.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

And I suppose when this kind of test was cone with the C6 the results lead to the claim of less chassis deflection than any previous Corvette?

I can't imagine how many hours of labor go into setting up this kind of test.

Terry, since the late 90's most all of this type of testing has been done via computer, faster, cheaper and more accurate.

[Terry M.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

I'm sure ANY computerization of that rig would yield faster and more accurate results. Computers HAVE changed our lives in so many ways -- many we never think of, just like this.

[John H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

You should have seen the number of these setups that were done in mid-'67 for the crash redesign of the '68 coupe upper structure (which delayed the launch of the '68 coupe to February of '68).

[Stuart F.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

Looks a lot like test set ups more commonly seen in the aviation industry on new airframe designs.

Nice to know my 63 was so well designed. No wonder it has lasted so long.

Stu Fox

[Tom H.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

You should have seen the number of these setups that were done in mid-'67 for the crash redesign of the '68 coupe upper structure (which delayed the launch of the '68 coupe to February of '68).

John:

Got any other test facility pictures ???

[Art A.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

The one thing that I see missing from that Chevrolet Engineering Lab test set up is a placard. All TWO's (Test Work Order) testing that was filmed my our in house photographers had a placard that would give the basic information such as TWO number and date.
Each film frame was given a number, generally written on the back of the photo, and recorded in a index so they could be found at a later date. The index would give a description of the item being filmed and a DWO or TWO or BWO number.

As John said, there were lots of testing going on simultaneously, and the above was a way of keeping track of them.

I'm very sure that this type of photo would have been take by our in house photographers as security was very tight and outside cameras were verboten.

[Roberto L.]

Re: What is being done with this 63 coupe ??

Thank you for publishing this very informative picture!!!

And to the other gentlemen for the added details.

Best regards