Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

[Lynn H.]

Thought I would let everyone know that the Michigan Chapter technical seminar hosted by Werner Meier at his shop in Madison Heights, and featuring a preview to John Hinckley's seminar that he is doing at the 2011 National in Novi, Michigan was one of the best I have personally ever attended. John is going to be putting on a seminar at the National covering assembly at the Corvette plant in St. Louis, where as many know he worked for some time in his very distinguished career. Yesterday he covered part of the seminar he plans on doing that covered the body shop, and paint areas of the line. John is an excellent speaker, and his fascinating and interesting look into Corvette assembly is something I would highly recommend to anyone with ANY interest into the building and assembly of these cars. Anyone planning on attending the National Convention next year will want to make sure to sign up for this presentation, as I am sure it will fill up early, once that opportunity presents itself. Thanks John for sharing this with us!!! I personally will be looking forward to hopefully getting another "preview" of some of the other aspects your presentation at some future seminars.
Lynn

[Stephen L.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Will John be Video Taping his presentation at the Convention???

[John H.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Will John be Video Taping his presentation at the Convention???

Steve -

I expect so - our chapter video "guru", Steve Rohde, will probably tape it, edit it, and put it up on the Michigan Chapter website, www.michiganncrs.org; there are several up there now that he's done of previous events and seminars.

[Larry M.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Steve -

I expect so - our chapter video "guru", Steve Rohde, will probably tape it, edit it, and put it up on the Michigan Chapter website, www.michiganncrs.org; there are several up there now that he's done of previous events and seminars.

John:

That would be outstanding! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Larry

[Tom H.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

I wasn't able to attend, but had a friend who did. He said it was great. Nice job, John.

[Bill M.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

We also got to listen to Waldron's round muffler for the solid axle cars. It is the OE straight-through design. Sweet!

[Lynn H.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

We also got to listen to Waldron's round muffler for the solid axle cars. It is the OE straight-through design. Sweet!

This was a bonus to John's discussion!! We had a short discussion on the reproduction of the C1 exhaust systems currently being reproduced by Waldron's in Centreville, Michigan, and then were treated to the lovely tune played by these mufflers on a restored chassis done by Masterworks. Tony was already reproducing the N11 exhaust systems, which he engineered, and now has done the off road mufflers for the early cars as well. Lots of work put into these to create the original sound produced by the original off road mufflers offered as an option on the C1 era cars.
GREAT STUFF!!!!!
Lynn

[Jean C.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Lynn et al,
Addmittedly I do not have a large library on C1 cars so I am drawing my information solely from the Corvette Black Book. I have a question on the mufflers discussed in this thread. specifically the reference to "...original off road mufflers offered as an option on the C1 era cars."

The only C1 that the CBB lists as having what perhaps was considered an off road muffler is the '62 model year that offered Option 441, Direct Flow Muffler System. I find nothing prior to '62.

Beginning with '63 model year, the CBB lists Option N11, Offroad Exhaust System that carried through the '68 model year.

Was there in fact a less restrictive muffler available on any C1 other than for the '62 model year? Thanks.

Best regards,

[Bill M.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Was there in fact a less restrictive muffler available on any C1 other than for the '62 model year? Thanks.

From Corvette News: straight-through mufflers were used in all '57 and '58 to '61 with mechanical cam. RPO 441 was available on all '62s.

[Jean C.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Bill, do you know if the Corvette News info you referred to is consistent with the NCRS position on this subject? Thanks.
Best regards,

[Bill M.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Bill, do you know if the Corvette News info you referred to is consistent with the NCRS position on this subject? Thanks.
Best regards,

Charlie:

It is in the '58-'60 Judging Guide. I don't have '57 or '61-'62 books.

Bill

[Lynn H.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

My understanding from the seminar is that they were the correct "off road" mufflers offered from 57-62 (he mentioned that they could most likely fit 55 V8's, but was not exactly certain of that application), and that they are different from the "N11" mufflers from the same time frame. Tony had a rusted out original that he showed us that he used as a model to get the interior baffles and construction of the mufflers EXACT as to achieve the original sound produced by these mufflers. As far as restriction in the mufflers I cannot say how much less than the N11's, but will say after seeing the design that there is little to no restriction in the "off road" mufflers. You can check the website for Waldron's Antique Exhaust at waldronexhaust.com and I would suggest calling and speaking with Tony at (269) 467-7185 if you have any more questions on these. He is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. I did not go over the whole website, but am not certain if the "off road" versions are listed on there yet as they are a VERY new product that is just hitting the market. I know they are going to be available at Corvette Central, but Tony mentioned they can be purchased directly through Waldron for $295/set. I am not really too much of C1 guy as I have only owned one (a 59) for a very short period of time. I stuck around a talked with Tony after the seminar and I was very impressed.

[Tom M.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Yeah it was a great show John put on for us on Sunday,
I learned some things about the mid year corvette . what a learning
experience on how the cars were put together, real nice.


I didn't want to be a newbie on the job in St. Louis or
paint cars back then, WOW !!!

[Dan D.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

Back in the early 60s I bought off the road performance mufflers from the local Chevrolet dealership. They had the GM part number on them, and they are still on my 54 Corvette (327 powered), although you probably cannot read the P/N any more.
Interestingly enough, they did not sound good initially. They sounded like a motor boat. However, as the years went by they gradually sounded better and better. By 1970 (last year the car was run) the sounded very loud and very good. Suspect that by that time they were just straight through.
I believe they were oval shaped - not round, but I would have to check to be sure. Been too long -Dan-

[Lynn H.]

Re: Michigan Chapter Tech Seminar w/John Hinckley

The mufflers being reproduced by Waldron are round. The original sample he had, showed that there was almost no restriction at all in these mufflers. One pipe going in and out, and just two straight through pipes on the inside.
Lynn