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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 01:10 AM
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Default Late or Early Corvette

I'm having trouble figuring out if my corvette would be a late or early corvette, can anyone help me out? The last six digits of the vin are 420466.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 01:45 AM
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Looks like your Vette was built around mid March of '74....

As far as the early/late thing goes with C3s, there's never a definitive answer. Mine was built on 4/29/76. Sounds late right? But almost every time this question comes up on a part, I'm early...........
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:00 AM
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Cars are not early or late, parts are. Many cars have both.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 03:00 AM
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Originally Posted by jordan89
I'm having trouble figuring out if my corvette would be a late or early corvette, can anyone help me out? The last six digits of the vin are 420466.
So, we get to guess what year the car is?
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 10:21 AM
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"Early" and "late" usually refer to a specific running change made during production. Early cars were produced before the change, late cars were produced after the change.

Early and late can also refer to total model year production. A Corvette assembed in September at the beginning of the model year run is earlier than a car assembled in June when model year production was typically winding down.

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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by jordan89
I'm having trouble figuring out if my corvette would be a late or early corvette, can anyone help me out? The last six digits of the vin are 420466.
Early or late as in C1 vs C6?
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by mstanton
Cars are not early or late, parts are. Many cars have both.
Well said
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by jordan89
I'm having trouble figuring out if my corvette would be a late or early corvette, can anyone help me out? The last six digits of the vin are 420466.
From the number you provided I guess you have a 68????????

If that is the case...built May 68? Kinda late, but not late enough to see some 69 parts on there like those seen in August 68 cars.....

Is it a 68?
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Vettebuyer5869
So, we get to guess what year the car is?
My guess is that he's got an '83 and doesn't know if it's a late C3 or an early C4.

Am I close?
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:29 PM
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His profile shows a '74........

That's how I came up with the build month....
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:44 PM
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I think we fingered that one out and were just having fun. The correct answer is in post #3 and applies irrespective of which year the car is.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 05:03 PM
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My 82 was built in August. Wouldn't that make it an 83?

I was thinking about putting 30th Anniversary decals on it.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Vettebuyer5869
So, we get to guess what year the car is?
It's a 74, I forgot to mention that.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by rajsid
Early or late as in C1 vs C6?
I'm trying to figure out which are the correct wiper arms for my 74 and there are two different kinds, one with a metal hose for the washer, and one with the plastic or rubber hose. The one with the metal is for the early 74 corvette and the other is for the late 74 corvette. This is why I need help figuring this out.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 01:09 AM
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Originally Posted by jordan89
I'm trying to figure out which are the correct wiper arms for my 74 and there are two different kinds, one with a metal hose for the washer, and one with the plastic or rubber hose. The one with the metal is for the early 74 corvette and the other is for the late 74 corvette. This is why I need help figuring this out.
I don't own a 74, so I don't know the answer, but unless someone with a 74 helps, here are your options:

1. Buy a NCRS Technical Judging Manual for a 74. That's the best source for what is correct for your car.
2. Buy the same part as is currently on your car. Assuming it is original.
3. Compare a 74 with the VIN close to yours.
4. Ask the vender what is correct. Although most probably don't know.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 01:25 AM
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My 74 coupe #4286XX has rubber hoses for the washers, not the metal lines like my 72's and 70 have. Maybe tomorrow in the daylight I can shoot a photo of them for you. Hope this helps!
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 08:19 AM
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I hate the terms "early and late" when referring to parts or cars. These terms can be really confusing. Some "early" changes accure in the 1st month of production (66 427/450hp's becoming 425hp's) while some "late" changes didn't accure untill the last month of production (such as 79's switching to 85 mph speedos and the 2 door rear storage compartment). GM parts books usually list running changes for a model year as 1st and 2nd design, etc and I try use these terms, when possible, too.

As far as your 74's wipers, I think that the the switch over from the 68 -73 arms with brass lines to the later arms with hoses, probably accured in the first couple months of production. Most running changes made for 74, seemed to be completed before the first of the year. I have a 75 parts book (and maybe a 74) in my office, I'll check when I get in later and see if I can give you anything more definative.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Curby
My 82 was built in August. Wouldn't that make it an 83?....
Nope. That's August of 1982. 82 production ran in to October, 1982 before the last one was produced.

Jordan89: Purchase the '74 assembly instruction manual (AIM). If the wiper arms changed during production, the AIM page showing the installation was probably revised and the part numbers possibly changed . There will be a date for the revision in the title block at the bottom of the AIM page. Use that date to determine whether the change was before your car was produced, or after.


Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 5, 2009 at 01:28 PM.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Solid LT1
My 74 coupe #4286XX has rubber hoses for the washers, not the metal lines like my 72's and 70 have. Maybe tomorrow in the daylight I can shoot a photo of them for you. Hope this helps!
This will be very helpful, the guy I bought the car from gave me some other wiper arms that are for an older 60s corvette.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by jordan89
This will be very helpful, the guy I bought the car from gave me some other wiper arms that are for an older 60s corvette.
If true and they are genuine, they're worth a ton of money. I looked in my NCRS judging manual and it does not mention a date or S/N when the change over occurred.
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