Yes, but think of the drama we'd miss out on. I read these threads when Coronation Street gets a little dull or I can't understand what they're saying.

 

I have seen several, probably a good body man can do it w/ the parts. No kit for 78-82 rear glass that I know of (no interesr here). To me putting a 78-82 rear glass on an earlier model is a total waste of time, money, etc.
If I were going to change the back glass the Motion style would add little weight. There was a Monza style kit.

 

There is a place for the emblem on the gas filler door. That is one of the many places for an emblem that needs to be attached. I am working on the vin. Where can I find the tag on this car?

 

OK everyone, I finally got to the car and got the VIN off of the driver's side a pillar. I can't figure out the first digit, but what I can make out is Z37L7S422976. Anyone know what year the VIN tag was made?, lol. Where would the trim tag be located at?

 

Anyone??????

 

The first digit is a number 1

1 = Chevrolet
Z = Corvette
37 = 2 door coupe
L = L-48
7 = 1977
S = St. Louis
422976 = Production #

 

Thank you sir. It is sounding more and more like what was said earlier about it. I think it has been pieced together from whatever was lying around. It has L82 badges on the hood, not L48, and has a 78 or later back end. If it has been grafted, someone did a damn good job on it because I cant find any grafting work on it. I will get some better pictures of the interior soon so you can all give me some feedback on what you think this Frankenstein of a car is.

 

The VIN is for a 77 built in mid Feb. 1977. Last 77 built in Feb. was VIN 24,662. The L indicates that it originally was an L-48 base motor, not the optional L-82, which would have had an X in place of the L.

From the couple pictures posted, nothing appears to be 77 on that car. The rear clip is clearly a 78-82 clip. The dash and seats are 78-82, also. From the style and location of the inside door handles, the doors are 78-82, too. It's hard to tell in the pics, but the steering column looks to be 78 up also. The 77 column has the wiper control incorporated into the turn signal stalk. It was a one year only column. 68-76 and 78-82 have the wiper switch on the dash. There is clearly a wiper switch on the dash of that car, does the signal stalk have one too? If not, its a 78 up column. The rocker panels on the car look to be 79-80 style, black with just a bare silver (aluminum) edge at the top. 77 rockers are all silver with the inset area just down from the top of the rocker painted black. 77 t-tops have 2 handles on each top, one in front and one in back. 78-82 tops (and possibly some very late 77's, much later than 22,976) have single handle tops, one handle in front and a pin that comes out the back and is activated by the front handle. Which tops are on this car?

Take a good look at the floors in this car. Does it look like it has been pieced together in the middle? I know of 2 77's in my area that have 78-82 rear clips with the fast back window added to them, both where bought by novices that didn't know the cars had the wrong rear clip.

The owner of this car should look into its history more and make sure that there aren't any legal issues with this car.

 

Just the door panels may have been changed.


I mentioned the wiper switch on turn lever by PM a while back.

 

Here's your answer...

 

I am wondering if this car was totalled and they switched a different VIN tag to the car with the matching title just to get it sold to someone who knew nothing about Corvettes, like my buddy's dad, lol. Thanks for all of the info guys. I am just going to get the car finished and hand him the keys and tell him to have fun. About all I can do from here right? Anyway, I will be looking very closely when I start looking for a Vette for me and will be leaning on you guys when that time comes.

 

The doors have the 78-82 release mechanisms on them and I also see holes in the steel inside of the door that I think are unique to 78-82 doors.

 

Someone this year posted pics. of doors about 77 & later about 79 w/o the panels & w/o noticeable differences. The inside controls would also need to be transfered.

 

What do the VIN rivets look like?

 

Can't see the rivets for the A-Pillar trim. I have looked and looked and I cannot find any where that it has been grafted. Either there was a really good body man somewhere in the life of this Vette, or the Vin tag was switched, although the tag looks kinda rusty like it belongs there. The turn signal switch has the end broken off, but there is a brown wire hanging out of the end of it, maybe wiper controls? This is getting more and more frustrating as I need to know what car I have in order to get the right parts. Did the 77 Vette have glass t-tops or was that introduced in 78?

 

Glass tops first were offered in March 78, with the beginning of 78 Pace Car production. Starting in late may, when the plant switched back from Pace Cars to regular Corvette Production, the glass tops were released as an option for regular production Corvettes. All original GM glass t-tops are the single handle type. Chevrolet originally announced a glass top option for 77, but it never made it to production. Some August build 77's, supposedly had the 78 style single handle tops, but they would not have been glass.

What does the trim tag on the jam door list? The date, and trim and paint codes listed there might be helpful to know. I would be curious to know what VIN is stamped on the frame and trans. of that car, too.

 

I was thinking the same thing. This could well be a 78/79 car that had the VIN tag changed for some bad reasons. So long as there is a matching title for the VIN, and the deed was well in the past, it outta be safe to use as a driver now. But I'm thinking that if it got stopped by cop who really knows and loves Vette's, it might get someone in some trouble. A 77 VIN on that car does not pass the smell test.

-W

 

Cross check the VIN tag with the VIN derivative on the frame - located driver side near the rear, on top of frame, you'll need a mirror to see it. VIN derivative on frame is stamped into the frame. It's worth a shot, I guess.

(edit) this is for a 78. I don't know where VIN derivative is located on a 77's frame. Someone else can chime in on that.

 

Mike, retirement must be good for you. The last few posts of yours have had me ROTHLMAO.

Pete

 

Alright guys. An update on this thread. I FINALLY found the VIN derivative stamped on the frame. I cleaned all of the dirt off and lightly sanded it and it showed through all the years of road grime and surface rust like a beacon of light. Here is the derivative:

19S405182

I am guessing by the fact that the second digit is a 9 that it is in fact a 1979 Corvette.