#77

I am a brand new corvette owner and brand new forum member. I must say I am very impressed with the willingness of members to help each other. And not only with information. One old thread I read had members offering to help another member who was "in over his head" by going to his house and helping him change an engine. Very impressive.
My question is this. As I begin making repairs and upgrades I have come across several parts that are different if the car is '76 Early or not. Mine was manufactured 7-'76 and the vin # is: 1Z37X6S441040. Does anyone out there know if it would be considered early or not?
Thanks.

Green73

according to what you've said and what the black book lists for serials, your car was built in july of 76 (last july car was number 44767.) That would make it a late car. An early car would have been built in August of 75. 01602 was the last serial for August 76. That makes 41,039 76's built before your car

#77

Thanks for the help. I am awaiting delivery of a black book that I purchased today on ebay. Maybe I can answer some of my own questions with it.
Thanks again.

markdtn

It would have to be a late car to be built July 76. Also late cars have short (A6) a/c compressors.

#77

thanks for the compressor info. It is missing and will be replaced. Reguarding other parts, sometimes a catalog listing will list a '76E (early) but have no listing for '76 late. Does this mean the part designated for '77 should fit?

BigBadRed

My 76 apparently was an early late car. Just about every part I bought was wrong. I forget the actual parts, but it went something like this. Bought new "early" master cylinder, turned out I needed the "Late" one. Bought a "LATE" water pump, turned out I need an "Early". It got to the point that anytime I bought a part I would get both and take whatever one I didn't need back.

Jud Chapin

According to Black Book, "A significant number of late-build Corvettes recieved parts normally associated with 1977 production, especially interior components". I have never seen dates given for the break of early/late. Some say the a/c compressor tells with the A6 (axial 6 cylinder-the long one) being early and the Radial 4 cylinder (much lighter) going on the late model. I know mine is an early production with a 2/76 production date.

Jud Chapin

BTW, the production date is on a sticker on the driver side door.

#77

That sucks! What month was yours made, Big Bad Orange? Were there any '76 late parts or were they the same as '77

#77

Thanks for the info, Jud. As luck would have it the A/C compressor is missing. Is that a pic. of your 'vette by your name? If so is it a '76 and are the chrome mirrors original equip? Mine was made in july of '76 and had bullet mirrors on it when I purchased it.

noonie

Mine is an early 77 with the A6 compressor.

PhotoVette1

Mine is a midling early '77 but had lots of early '76 parts--they must have put mine together on factory cleaning out day.

Mainly you have to look at images and match them up with what you have.

Jud Chapin

Yes, that's my '76 which came with just the driver's side mirror. In looking at Black Book, they don't show the "sports mirrors" option until '77. I would have to think that yours is a late model being produced in July as that is usually the end of the production run. The last serial no. for the '76 was 446558.

#77

Thanks, Jud.
Do you know if the mirrors are any easy swap? How is the view with the chrome mirror? I think the chrome look better. Also the sport mirrors seem like a poor design for the car. No matter how I adjust the glass in them I mostly see the side of the car! I think it's partly because they are very close to the window glass. The same mirrors are on my '81 Camaro and work fine but seem to be mounted in a better position.

#77

Thanks for info.

#77

That sounds like extra fun. Do you know the month of manufacture for yours? Mine was made July'76 and has serial # 41040. Was yours made before or after?

Jud Chapin

I don't know about swaping the mirrors but if you don't now have one on the pass. side, you will have to do some drilling to mount it on the door. I guess I like the sports mirrors better for looks. I do wish that I had two mirrors on my car, either chrome or the sports.

ccs96

I also have a 76 with sports mirrors and yes, it's tough to see anything on the driver's side. Be aware if you swap your sport mirrors for the chrome ones, the bases are not the same, so you might have an area of paint around the base of the chrome mirror that was messed up by the sport mirror. You'll have to remove the door panel to get to the nuts to remove your mirror, then if the paint under the sports mirror is OK, go ahead with the chrome ones. i would, but I have paint issues under my sports mirrors.

Also, if you replace weather stripping, you may have to get the "early 77" weather stripping for the T-Tops, it is made differently. Ask me how I know.

Good luck and keep asking questions.

#77

Thanks for the help and I will keep asking questions because I am realizing that my lack of knowledge is greater than I realized. It seems that the more I learn, the more complicated this question becomes. The issue with the paint under the mirrors won't be a problem as I am having the paint touched up and small crack fixed in spring. I'll mount them before that. I have already taken the door panels off once. Mine came with 2 missing power window motors. I am glad that you mentioned the weatherstripping for the T-tops. I am replacing all when it comes back from painter. Was it only the T-tops that were different or all the weatherstripping? How can I tell which one I need? Was yours made before or after mine? ( 7-76, # 441040)

PhotoVette1

December 1976 #16729.

You sure you have your serial# right--because you have a real early '77?