ECL codes...????
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 44
From: Roswell GA
ECL codes...????
NCRS has a book that says it can translate "ECL codes" and you can learn what was on the car 'other than paint colors.'
How is this possible? Can anyone shed light on this?
Below copied form NCRS website --
This book provides the means by which original GM issued Corvette trim tag examples can be both INTERPRETED and IDENTIFIED with objectivity by any motivated person with the knowledge contained within and a few simple tools. The bottom line is that all Midyear tags came from a like master and demonstrate identically repeated aberrations. As a practical aid for enthusiasts, a huge number of these aberrations have been photographed, catalogued, and documented. This research allows for an extremely reliable system for identification of original trim tags. ((((((((The “translated” ECL code schedules mean that you can also identify appropriate options originally on the car with absolute certainty- not just exterior and interior colors! ))))) While this book contains extreme close-up photos of the various embossed characters to demonstrate the repeated aberrations, nothing more than a small flashlight and inexpensive 10-15x magnification loupe is necessary to benefit from the knowledge in this book. The book is coil bound, 8 1/2 x 11 inch format with 124 pages of text, tables, and extremely detailed photos
How is this possible? Can anyone shed light on this?
Below copied form NCRS website --
This book provides the means by which original GM issued Corvette trim tag examples can be both INTERPRETED and IDENTIFIED with objectivity by any motivated person with the knowledge contained within and a few simple tools. The bottom line is that all Midyear tags came from a like master and demonstrate identically repeated aberrations. As a practical aid for enthusiasts, a huge number of these aberrations have been photographed, catalogued, and documented. This research allows for an extremely reliable system for identification of original trim tags. ((((((((The “translated” ECL code schedules mean that you can also identify appropriate options originally on the car with absolute certainty- not just exterior and interior colors! ))))) While this book contains extreme close-up photos of the various embossed characters to demonstrate the repeated aberrations, nothing more than a small flashlight and inexpensive 10-15x magnification loupe is necessary to benefit from the knowledge in this book. The book is coil bound, 8 1/2 x 11 inch format with 124 pages of text, tables, and extremely detailed photos
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
ecl codes were used to alert line workers as to how the interior would be configured - power windows or no power windows, for instance, would require different door panels and center console inserts - and in the correct color, such is why they are attached to an interior color/material code.
An ecl cannot tell you if it was a 250 hp car or a fuel injected car, however . . . just things that IMPACT on interior panels, like A/C, P/W, etc.
An ecl cannot tell you if it was a 250 hp car or a fuel injected car, however . . . just things that IMPACT on interior panels, like A/C, P/W, etc.
Last edited by ctjackster; Dec 20, 2004 at 03:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,923
From: Washington Michigan
The trim ECL codes not only tell you what interior-affecting options the car was built with - they also tell you what interior-affecting options the car was NOT built with; makes it simple to determine options that were added-on AFTER the car was built originally. Each ECL code for an interior trim combination (usually eight or so) describes a different permutation of "with" and "without" option conditions involving things like Powerglide, power windows, N03 gas tank, shoulder belts, headrests, etc., all of which, in varying combination with each other, generate unique interior item part numbers, even for the same color parts.
ALL options, not just trim colors, had ECL codes (you'll see them as 2-character suffixes on each option listed on the tank and window stickers) - the production scheduling computer used them to generate the Body and Chassis Broadcast sheets for each car that identified each part for the guys on the line to put on that particular car, so they didn't have to decode an ECL chart of part numbers for each car to get the right part number for that car.
ALL options, not just trim colors, had ECL codes (you'll see them as 2-character suffixes on each option listed on the tank and window stickers) - the production scheduling computer used them to generate the Body and Chassis Broadcast sheets for each car that identified each part for the guys on the line to put on that particular car, so they didn't have to decode an ECL chart of part numbers for each car to get the right part number for that car.
