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I own a 69 vette manufactured in June 1969 (K27). I know my vette is a 'late' 69 model however it got me wondering, 'where did the early 69s end and the late 69s start?
My '69 is a February car and it has what's considered early parts...like the coffee can vacuum cannister rather than the later pie-plate type. I would say when changes like that were instituted on the line would be the accepted cutoff for early and late cars.
Parts may appear in any '69, late or early, depending on when they ran out of a certain part on the assembly line, but the general consensus is after June is considered "late" '69.
My 69 is a "late" too, but there were so many midyear changes that it's hard to identify things. Mine was a July if I remember right. I have the coffee can vacuum canister, the leather shift boot (versus early 69 rubber), the triangular metal vent ***** (versus late 69 plastic black ones), Late T-top weatherstrip, and a whole bunch of other mixed parts. I just went ahead and threw in 84-88 leather seats and some other non-stock stuff and said screw it.
We had a lot of midyear parts changes, and from what I have researched, a lot of the changes took place on different dates during the production run, and it's really hard to find out what your 69 is supposed to have....especially if it's a mid year model.
There is no generic date. Early and late usually refer to specific running changes. For '69s, it could also apply to before or after the strike (your car was assembled after the strike); before or after the 1/1/69 price increase and standard head rests; before or after they used up the left over '68 grilles, etc.
Early and late could also apply to the VIN; low for "early" cars, high for "late."
OK, some other quick questions regarding the vacuum system on the late 69vette.
I am having a problem keeping the wiper door closed when I turn the engine on. And it will remain open when I turn the engine off. I can manually push the door closed after turning the engine off but not while the engine is running. I have isolated the problem (I think) to the large green hose at the rear (firewall side) of the actuator. If I remove the hose from the actuator the door will remain closed when I turn the engine on. And there is vacuum at the hose. Does this mean the actuator (or the diaphram) is the problem? If not, where should I look next? And are the coffee can actuator and the pie plates type interchangeable?
If I remember right, yes the two type of cannisters are interchangable. Also if I remember right, the coffee can one cost a lot more...at least it used to. You really should search on the C3 forums under "vacuum problems" though before you buy anything. There have been MANY threads about this topic. I had problems with a bad check valve, leaking hoses, and large cams not making vacuum. There are so many things that can go wrong. You need a good vacuum diagram along with a sequence of operations explanation. My best help was a Doctor Rebuild diagram I got when I bought a new vacuum hose set from him. Good luck.