rustyablades

I have seen threads and commentary that all describe the blackout of the exhaust differently.
Most of the threads said the blackout was only on the bottom of the pipe and the top was bare because it was applied from underneath before delivery of the car.
The newest NCRS manual says that it applied from the top before the body drop and was heavy on top and dripped down on the bottom side.
Most of the restoration photos that I have found show it on the bottom sprayed from underneath.

Does anyone really know or is another one of those "guesses" that make this hobby so challenging?

65hihp

our best guess is: the exhaust system was installed after the engine was installed.. The chassis was right side up when the engine was installed. The black out could not have been applied with the chassis upside down... the black out was sprayed on the outer bottom aspect of the mufflers from below.

65 Pro Vette

I was always under the impression that the frame came down the assembly line upside down, where the rear suspension and front suspension were installed. The mufflers and intermediate pipes were installed at the same time and blacked out. That’s why the paint ran down the muffler, and was on the sides of the muffler. Then the frame was flipped over and the engine and transmission were installed at that time. Here is a photo of the assembly plant with the engine being put in and the pipes are already in the frame. I know there is some pictures of the frame being built upside down on the assembly line. I just don’t have it in my phone.

KingRat

Here are a couple threads that discuss this. I'd believe what JohnZ said about it:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-mufflers.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-exhaust.html

silver837

JohnZ was and is the gospel .Believe it .