76E vs. 76L Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
76E vs. 76L Question
I have a 1976 model, and I've noticed that there must have been a change mid-year on some of the 76 parts. How can you tell the difference between an early and late model 76? The door VIN tag with th build date is gone, so all I have to go on is the VIN. Any idears??
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 722
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Vin number
If you have the vin number, you can do a search here or internet search and find the website that will tell you the car's birthday or build day or close within supposedly a couple of days.
My 76 Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM, you can buy on ebay) has all sorts of "running changes" that were made during late 75 throughout 76 production years. The dates of the various changes varies. I not sure if there is an exact split on 76E vrs 76L, I would guess it depend on what part you are looking at.
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
This is a pain with 76's. My experience has been that the changes were made one at a time, so unless you have a really low or a really high VIN, you are very likely to have a mixture of early and late stuff. I've had to deal with each issue individually.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
My VIN ends with 435745 which makes it late May '76 and it's mainly fitted with the 'early' version of the major parts that were changed:
- early t-top pads and centre piece
- early radiator assembly (shroud, radiator, support)
It's got the late rear Corvette emblem but I'm sure that could have been changed.
Maybe that helps?
- early t-top pads and centre piece
- early radiator assembly (shroud, radiator, support)
It's got the late rear Corvette emblem but I'm sure that could have been changed.
Maybe that helps?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
You can use your VIN and references like The Corvette Black Book to determine when your car was built.
Early and late usually refer to specific running changes. The biggest change for the '76s was the swap from the old A6 AC compressor to the R4 type in the spring of '76. That change included the compressor hardware, AC hoses, radiator support, etc.
Some late '76s received what were to become 77 interior parts.
Early and late usually refer to specific running changes. The biggest change for the '76s was the swap from the old A6 AC compressor to the R4 type in the spring of '76. That change included the compressor hardware, AC hoses, radiator support, etc.
Some late '76s received what were to become 77 interior parts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Go here http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/index.html and type in 1976. Check calendar for June. You can get close to an assembly date for your car by estimating about 120 cars assembled per working day. The plant was probably running on Saturdays, but not on Sunday or any other holiday.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 782
Likes: 1
From: Magic Valley ID
Cool! Thanks a lot for that info. From what I can tell, my car was made on either the 11th or 12th of June...some where in there anyways. And of COURSE it's built right in the middle of the year, which will only make it that much more difficult to weed out the early and late 76 parts. Oh well, such is life I suppose.
I really appreciate the help here, and this is just a reminder of why I love this forum! Thanks guys!!
Trevor
I really appreciate the help here, and this is just a reminder of why I love this forum! Thanks guys!!
Trevor
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Hey, Trevor, have you seen my old thread about '76 VINs?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...s-similar.html
Judging by the list there, yours was born soon after 3rd June.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...s-similar.html
Judging by the list there, yours was born soon after 3rd June.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
Ive always been curious,do Car build dates start from Jan - to - Dec ? Or do build dates start sometime in the middle of the year? For example, new cars start to come out in Sept of the year before its model date. So an early Ser# on a car could be from a start date of say Sept 1975 for a 1976 car?
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
That's the best advice - and after 33+ years who knows for sure? It's all part of the joy of C3 ownership and repair.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Ive always been curious,do Car build dates start from Jan - to - Dec ? Or do build dates start sometime in the middle of the year? For example, new cars start to come out in Sept of the year before its model date. So an early Ser# on a car could be from a start date of say Sept 1975 for a 1976 car?
Corvette production usually began in August and new models usually went on sale in September, but there are exceptions.