My Repro Exhaust Bezels

[Brooks G.]

Last year I retired after doing machine work for about 35 years. Something I always wanted to to was to make reproduction Corvette parts. In 1974 this was my rendering of '56 & '57 Exhause Bezels. They were made from solid bar stock and turned on a tracer lathe. I also made the template used to get the outside shape. That year at Corvette Expo in Knoxville, TN I met a fellow who had started making exhaust chrome for '56 & '57s. His rendering was a one piece bezel and lower spear together cast of aluminum and chrome plated. I told him what I was working on and he asked to see them. I went to the car and got them. The follow whose name eludes me looked at them and said they looked like a piece of sh_t to him. They did smell of cutting oil but I did not expect that degree of rudness from him. It was obvious they were not finished. I decided I was not going to lower myself to his level. By then a small crowd had gathered around. I then took a bezel in each hand and extended my arms at full length away from my body. I then "clanged" them together with a ring. I then asked that fellow if he could do that with his. He just turned and walked away. If you look at the pictures you can see that they are not polished or plated. At that time I thought they were pretty good considering my age and experience. One picture showing 4 bezels has originals on the ends with my repro's in the center. Someone who saw these years ago told me that early '56s used one piece bezels instead of two pieces that are brazed or welded together. Does anyong know this to be fact or is it fiction? I have wanted to do this post for some time. I thank my buddy, Ed, for helping me put the pictures with the article. In my opinion the article would be worthless without the pictures.

[Patrick H.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

In my opinion the article would be worthless without the pictures.

Um,

there aren't any pictures....

[Stuart F.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Rrooks;

I would agree the pictures are very helpful, but you need to try again. I don't see them on my system.

Stu Fox

[Edward M.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

OK guys, Brooks is having ntechnical difficulties, so he emailed the pics to me, Here they are....in the next post.

[Edward M.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

The pics as promised

[Brooks G.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Thanks, Ed, the pictures were there till I clicked on submit and then they disappeared. I sure felt like I had egg on my face. You surely saved my bacon.

[Patrick H.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Thanks, Ed, the pictures were there till I clicked on submit and then they disappeared. I sure felt like I had egg on my face. You surely saved my bacon.

Brooks,

That's why the button that says "Preview Post" is so helpful.

But, we've all done similar things.

Patrick

[Roy B.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Brooks
Dont feel bad my first and only repro is the 55 shielding because I could never find a set for one of my 55's.
My 57 had seams

[Mike M.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Last year I retired after doing machine work for about 35 years. Something I always wanted to to was to make reproduction Corvette parts. In 1974 this was my rendering of '56 & '57 Exhause Bezels. They were made from solid bar stock and turned on a tracer lathe. I also made the template used to get the outside shape. That year at Corvette Expo in Knoxville, TN I met a fellow who had started making exhaust chrome for '56 & '57s. His rendering was a one piece bezel and lower spear together cast of aluminum and chrome plated. I told him what I was working on and he asked to see them. I went to the car and got them. The follow whose name eludes me looked at them and said they looked like a piece of sh_t to him. They did smell of cutting oil but I did not expect that degree of rudness from him. It was obvious they were not finished. I decided I was not going to lower myself to his level. By then a small crowd had gathered around. I then took a bezel in each hand and extended my arms at full length away from my body. I then "clanged" them together with a ring. I then asked that fellow if he could do that with his. He just turned and walked away. If you look at the pictures you can see that they are not polished or plated. At that time I thought they were pretty good considering my age and experience. One picture showing 4 bezels has originals on the ends with my repro's in the center. Someone who saw these years ago told me that early '56s used one piece bezels instead of two pieces that are brazed or welded together. Does anyong know this to be fact or is it fiction? I have wanted to do this post for some time. I thank my buddy, Ed, for helping me put the pictures with the article. In my opinion the article would be worthless without the pictures.

i've never seen an early 56,with original bezel/lower spear welded or brazed together. i have seen repo aluminum bezels/lower spears that were either one piece castings or some rube goldberg such attacment of the two pieces.Sorry to hear you were treated rudly back in '74. hopefully that rude guy isn't still repoping c-1 pieces. mike

[Brooks G.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

Roy, your '55 repro shielding looks really beautiful! The bezels I made were the largest pieces I made. I also made small parts for FI units such as bellcranks and link pieces. At one point I made seat back cranks out of stainless steel that I used in my '67. I showed these pieces to Al Knoch but he wasn't interested as he told me he had enough junk seats to last the rest of his life. Over the years I met several folks who made repro Corvette parts. Most were really nice folks. I even met a couple of guys who were burned by Terry Michaelis in the late '70's. They were left with a sour taste for repro parts. I am truly glad that there are many many others who don't and our hobby has prospered because of the efforts of these manufacturers and their parts.

[Roy B.]

Re: My Repro Exhaust Bezels

I'm not a person that's promotes repro parts because I like the treasure hunting to locate the original parts. I know you have to at times use repro parts to complete a Corvette but then you should try to locate the real part.
It would be hard today to restore any Corvette with out using repro parts which I also have done like using weatherstripping. Tires and seat covers.
What worries me now is that so many Corvettes use (hard items) repro parts that people dont realize or know what the real original parts should look like in ( design ,logos and material or first & second designs) .
I've seen a few real original parts fail judging now