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Need automotive testing lab [message #307911] Tue, 27 September 2016 15:46 Go to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Not GMC yet but hopefully may apply in the future. As a side hobby I have reproduced a concours grade exhaust system for a GM muscle car application. Has correct raised letter and number stamping as well. GM Restoration parts has accepted our application but the company that does the liscensing and royalties collections needs a certificate of quality and safety to complete the process. Any of you retired auto industry guys remember any such labs you worked with? Upper Midwest area preferred. Thanks a million.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Need automotive testing lab [message #307934 is a reply to message #307911] Wed, 28 September 2016 07:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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JohnL455 wrote on Tue, 27 September 2016 16:46
Not GMC yet but hopefully may apply in the future. As a side hobby I have reproduced a concours grade exhaust system for a GM muscle car application. Has correct raised letter and number stamping as well. GM Restoration parts has accepted our application but the company that does the liscensing and royalties collections needs a certificate of quality and safety to complete the process. Any of you retired auto industry guys remember any such labs you worked with? Upper Midwest area preferred. Thanks a million.

John,

I have been pondering this since you posted it and am only answering now so that you have some answer.

During a long career in Detroit, I ran a number of automotive testing laboratories, while most were engine test and certification operations, not all were. We did do a lot of very strange things. Never did we get asked to test an exhaust system for quality and safety and to be honest, if I were asked I'm not at all sure what I would do.

Were I in your position, I would start be asking the licensing company what they wanted for a certificate. If you can talk to them, ask if they can provide a copy of said certification for a similar part. You may be able to get by with just a page written by an automotive engineer (the manufactures discourage engineers from getting a PE) that says that what you have built meets or exceeds all of the specifications that were current at GM at the time of manufacture. You may have a very hard time getting any copy of those specifications as that General Motors is no longer in existence and they have seriously divorced themselves from anything in the past.

Another good place to start might be NSF (National Sanitation Foundation (Really)) in Ann Arbor. They do a lot of certification of aftermarket components. These parts are usually body and trim, but they might be able to point you in the correct direction. If they can do the certification requested, get a quote or proposal and hang on. It will not be cheap, but it will be valuable information. I can't even begin to tell you who to talk to, everybody that I knew that was working at NSF is at least retired.

Best of Luck

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: Need automotive testing lab [message #307935 is a reply to message #307911] Wed, 28 September 2016 08:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
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Thanks Matt. I even typed and pasted a simple paragraph to the Mfg stating how the unit is fully aluminumized steel, double wall construction fully rolled seams etc that they can tweak and paste to their letterhead and send back to save time but nothing yet. One thing I have going is they make Corvette mufflers that are already GM licensed so a precedent is set. I'll try looking into what you suggested. When this is finished I would like to do the TZE exact system as I have a stock Y and nos tailpipe to copy. Also would be to do a cheater and use 2.25 head pipes and mufflers (retain torque) but Y to full 3" for the remainder back.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Need automotive testing lab [message #307996 is a reply to message #307911] Thu, 29 September 2016 00:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mrgmc3 is currently offline  mrgmc3   United States
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How about these guys;

https://www.element.com/locations/usa/warren

Oh and what is the application for your repro system?


Chris Geils - Twin Cities / W Wa 1978 26' Kingsley w/ very few mods; PD9040, aux trans cooler, one repaint in stock colors, R134a, Al rad, Alcoas, 54k mi
Re: Need automotive testing lab [message #308002 is a reply to message #307911] Thu, 29 September 2016 08:39 Go to previous message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
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Thanks for the info. The system is for 86-87 Turbo Regal (Grand National). Should be some pics up at www.highwaystars.net. Glen is also an AC Delco dealer as well as Standard M P.. I am trying to get him to carry the still available parts for the TZE as a Midwest source.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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