SDVette

If you didn't see the other thread, I have been rebuilding the heater and related components in my '61.

I ordered a defroster box from Corvette Central 5 weeks ago. They told me it was back ordered and would ship to me on March 3rd. Nothing arrived.. I've contacted them and got the "we will check on it and update the ship date", which worries me.. this happened to me on another item (Jewel Blue seat belts) and 6 months went by before I gave up and cancelled the order...

I also ordered several items from Willcox (control cables, switch, *****). I've been waiting 4 weeks for those. After MUCH pestering, they finally sent me a tracking number indicating a delivery this week... Sheesh! It was like having a baby!

The Wilcox guy said "we aren't seeing much demand for C1 stuff"... That's ominous.

Anyone else having trouble getting delivery of C1 repro parts?

Loren Smith

I'm frankly surprised there are as many C1 repro parts available as there are. They didn't make as many as C2s, with lots of rolling part changes. Many C1s have already been either restored or restomodded. Some parts are simply not cost-effective to incur the tooling costs for a limited demand. Maybe the 3D printer tech in the future will make limited run repros more accurate and more cost-effective to produce?

SDVette

I guess until I can digitally print one, I'm going to have to put my 56 year old cardboard defroster box back into service!

AZDoug

Basically, all the cars have been built/restored. You just have maintenance demand now, and a manufacturer will wait until they have X many orders before they make a run of X+5, so they aren't sitting on a bunch of inventory.

Parts are a lot more available now, than they were in 1977.

Doug

Robert61

I have a heater I took out of my 61. I think all of the box is good

Frankie the Fink

Parts are around, sometimes it takes more than cruising a web site from your recliner to find the 'good', rare stuff.

Vette Gal, Fuelie Dave, Grossmuellers are all sources for the tough-to-find C1 stuff...

C-1 Generation 2

I guess I must be fortunate in that the previous owner must not have been able to buy a replacement heat box years ago and fabricated a metal one.

SDVette

I have beat the street pretty hard on this one.
VetteGal lives 5 miles from me - and I have got a few parts from her over the years..

Those vendors are fine for used parts that can be re-chromed, or cleaned up and painted.

On something like this.. a cardboard box basically... a used part is not going to work. The ONLY listing on ebay for one of these is in worse condition than mine (and he's asking $100!).

I assume there is only 1 supplier of this part... and if no one has stock, I'm just at the mercy of when he decides to make more.

SDVette

Robert.. is it the heater box or defroster box?

My heater box (that holds the core) was in OK condition and I cleaned it up and put it back in service. That is plastic. But the cardboard defroster box is what I'm looking for..

Fred

Robert61

That answers a question I had. Someone fabricated an aluminum box for the hoses to attach to

wmf62

they used to make a metal reproduction box; much better than that cardboard piece of crap...

Bill

Robert61

Mine does look like is was commercially made.

SDVette

Well good quality repro parts are even harder to get.....

I received my parts from Willcox today and hoped to get my car back on the road this weekend after 2+ months...

The air control cable was crimped wrong, so it doesn't push in all the way: Worthless.



The fan control **** had a bit of chrome interfering and would not fit on the cable: Worthless

I guess no one gives a crap about quality control any more? These products from Willcox come in "Corvette America" branded packaging.. Not sure if they are getting rejects, or if they all are poor quality.....

59BlueSilver

I made my own from fiber reinforced plastic and alum. angles, and parts from the old box. Works great. Couldn't see paying $150 for stapled cardboard!

SDVette

The cardboard are closer to $200 now.. That's a very nice solution.

AZDoug

Something like that is going to be my solution, when i decide to replace the box.

Another cardboard box, will end up looking like the old cardboard box, if you leave the cowl vent open and it rains.

Doug

Robert61

That's what mine looks like except it's aluminum. Considering all of the junk repairs made everywhere else on the car I knew whoever was doing them didn't construct the box.

jimh_1962

I had a really trashed one but replaced it with a tin one from CC in 2002 or so.


Good idea to make one yourself.


Sometimes, it is worth it to shop around and see who has what. I had to so this with a radiator support. It was on back order for almost 2 years. Finally, I decided to see if I could shop around. I found a nice original one from Keen within a couple phone calls. So my advice is to call first and see if they have the part in stock. Check other sources if a supplier does not have the item in stock. Don't forget to look on ebay and so forth. Might cost you more but worth it if you cannot find a reproduction.


Then again it might cost less...

i could have created a box for it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/58-59-60-61-...9YO18J&vxp=mtr

SDVette

eBay can be pretty nutty.. If this one is worth $175, surely mine is worth $250 easy!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-62-Corv...9XcJPa&vxp=mtr

I have looked far and wide and don't see ANYONE offering metal repros anymore.. Probably too niche of a market (non NCRS types only!)

abdo

For me, it depended on what parts I was looking for. Some were in stock and were shipped immediately, while I waited several weeks for others. I replaced the defrost box in my '61 two years ago and ordered it from Corvette Central and got it right away. It was cardboard like the original but it fit OK and it looks OK.

If I find a part backordered from some suppliers I will check with Zip. They will tell you if a part is in stock.

I think parts availability for C1s is going to be a problem in future years. Most of the surviving cars have been restored by now and it is just a matter of basic maintenance. And those parts will most likely become more expensive.