1964 Off Road Exhaust

[Michael J.]

So I need to replace the NTFP exhaust system on my '64, it is an off road unit, but I am wondering about the blackout. Did the blackout go all the way to the mufflers and cover them too?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

So I need to replace the NTFP exhaust system on my '64, it is an off road unit, but I am wondering about the blackout. Did the blackout go all the way to the mufflers and cover them too?

Michael-----


I don't know of any 1963+ Corvette that didn't have at least the bottom of the mufflers painted black.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Thanks Joe, this is one issue (are there others maybe?) that is not well covered in the TIM&JG.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Michael-----


I don't know of any 1963+ Corvette that didn't have at least the bottom of the mufflers painted black.

Here's a '64 on a rod test article (Motor Trend)



c

[Michael H.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Here's a '64 on a rod test article (Motor Trend)



c

That's a great picture, Wayne. It shows exactly what I've been trying to explain to folks for the last 35+ years.

[Michael J.]

[Michael H.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Thanks guys, since I am doing this car to be as accurate as possible, even if the TIM&JG says nothing about all this blackout, I want to try and get it right. I have heard and seen some others that are like this as well, pretty sloppy looking, but guess that is the way it was. Hope the judges don't deduct for this……..

Michael

Even though the latest 63-64 JG has taken a huge step backwards on the rear suspension/drive blackout, I think it still agrees that the mufflers were coated with chassis black.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

It is my belief that the runs, bare spots, etc on the exhaust paint came from the protective coating that Walker or Arvin used to prevent rust. St. Louis made no attempt to wipe it down, rather just sprayed the blackout over top of it.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

It is my belief that the runs, bare spots, etc on the exhaust paint came from the protective coating that Walker or Arvin used to prevent rust. St. Louis made no attempt to wipe it down, rather just sprayed the blackout over top of it.

Dick

Not so. If you look at assy line photos from the 60's, you can see that there is no blackout on the mufflers/pipes until the chassis gets close to body drop. The pipes are shiny metal. Final blackout occurs just prior to body drop.
It's all very well documented.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Mike, Not to stir the pot, But I remember working at the dealerships in the 70's as a tech.and remeber the pipes where not a bare carbon steel pipe, It did have some sort of a coating on the pipes that did change color as the car heated up the first few times, It appeared to be some sort of a very thin coating maybe a clear of sorts.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Mike, Not to stir the pot, But I remember working at the dealerships in the 70's as a tech.and remeber the pipes where not a bare carbon steel pipe, It did have some sort of a coating on the pipes that did change color as the car heated up the first few times, It appeared to be some sort of a very thin coating maybe a clear of sorts.

Edward

Good memory. In the 70's, things were completely different at the St Louis plant. I don't remember the exact year but by around 1969-70, most/all of the blackout would have been eliminated in production. (for various reasons)

I think mufflers around that time were coated with a black paint that appeared to be flat, or near flat.

The rest of the system had a light somewhat clear oily coating from the pipe mfg.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

Edward

Good memory. In the 70's, things were completely different at the St Louis plant. I don't remember the exact year but by around 1969-70, most/all of the blackout would have been eliminated in production. (for various reasons)

I think mufflers around that time were coated with a black paint that appeared to be flat, or near flat.

The rest of the system had a light somewhat clear oily coating.

The black out thing is not something I can not honestly speak about, but remember the pipes coated . Oil??? As you say 60's era may have been done somewhat different.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1964 Off Road Exhaust

The black out thing is not something I can not honestly speak about, but remember the pipes coated . Oil??? As you say 60's era may have been done somewhat different.

Edward

In the mid 60's, things weren't just done somewhat different. They were almost completely different. In the late 60's, the EPA was getting quite active and this had a serious effect on the way things were done in all auto plants.
Processes changed dramatically at St Louis.