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Corvette Console Side Panels question

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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 12:30 AM
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Default Corvette Console Side Panels question

There seems to be an "early" set and a "late" set for my 81, so how the heck do I know which I have?

My car is a Bowling Green car the 1,460th built out of 8,995 that model year in Bowling Green...... if that helps at all.
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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 12:45 AM
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Quick look in Corvette Centrals catalog shows 78-82 being the same with just 77s being different.
I can't see why there'd be 2 different ones for just 81.
They do show leather covered or correct carpet it yourself.
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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 09:23 AM
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I'm not aware of an early or late. They're hardboard panels covered with carpet. If there was an actual running change, the AIM should show a revison date for the part number.

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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 12:57 PM
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look at the picture of this one:

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1981early.html



Then compare to this one:

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...late-1982.html



In the picture the top panel is cut differently and they are labeled early and late. Early is for 1977 to 81 and late is 1981 to 82
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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 01:39 PM
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You're looking at Eckler's aftermarket leather covered panels. Stock were carpeted. I noticed the same pic is used for each of the listings.

Call Eckler's and ask, but my hunch on "early and late" refers only to possible color differences between St. Louis and Bowling Green cars for the leather covered set.

ZIP also lists an early and late.

Corvette Central does not.


Last edited by Easy Mike; Apr 2, 2012 at 01:51 PM.
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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
I'm not aware of an early or late. They're hardboard panels covered with carpet. If there was an actual running change, the AIM should show a revison date for the part number.

they are the same from 78 -81. if you are creative, you can reproduce them in marine grade plywood and cover them yourself from OEM carpet remnants and they'll last forever even if by come chance they get wet.
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Old Apr 2, 2012 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by srs244
they are the same from 78 -81. if you are creative, you can reproduce them in marine grade plywood and cover them yourself from OEM carpet remnants and they'll last forever even if by come chance they get wet.
Excellent recommendation!!!
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Old Apr 3, 2012 | 01:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
You're looking at Eckler's aftermarket leather covered panels. Stock were carpeted. I noticed the same pic is used for each of the listings.

Call Eckler's and ask, but my hunch on "early and late" refers only to possible color differences between St. Louis and Bowling Green cars for the leather covered set.

ZIP also lists an early and late.

Corvette Central does not.

Originally Posted by srs244
they are the same from 78 -81. if you are creative, you can reproduce them in marine grade plywood and cover them yourself from OEM carpet remnants and they'll last forever even if by come chance they get wet.
If you look at the uncovered ones (not leather) they show the same thing. The top panel in the pictures is cut differently in the early than it is in the late. I will call Eklers but I am wondering if the Bowling Green cars use a different cut side console panel than the St Louis cars for the 81 model year.

Uncovered ones (no leather)

EARLY ONES
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1981early.html

LATE ONES
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...late-1982.html
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Old Apr 5, 2012 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by KapsSA
Quick look in Corvette Centrals catalog shows 78-82 being the same with just 77s being different.
I can't see why there'd be 2 different ones for just 81.
They do show leather covered or correct carpet it yourself.
We are going to investigate this further and revise if necessary. It looks like there may be two versions for 81.
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Old Apr 6, 2012 | 07:14 AM
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Originally Posted by PHPD7102
...I am wondering if the Bowling Green cars use a different cut side console panel than the St Louis cars for the 81 model year....
Not to my knowledge. The 1980, 81, and 82 AIMs all show the same part number for the console panels and the same unrevised AIM page.

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Old Apr 6, 2012 | 01:08 PM
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I can see the difference for the 77 as that year had the new style console with the old style dash. Different fitment under the dash.
Buy WHY would there be any difference between 78-82? Everything's the same.
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Old Apr 6, 2012 | 01:42 PM
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only difference i see is about $120.00. Oh owe, better call willcox.
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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 05:37 PM
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I thought I'd post this for the next guy that comes along with the same question (like I did last week). These are the two panels that came out of my St Louis 81 this weekend, and Willcox tells me that they are "early" because the passenger side (top of photo) has a countoured lower edge. According to Willcox the "late" 81 passenger sides have a straight lower edge (seen in one of the Eckler's photos linked above). No idea if the cutoff is St Louis vs. Bowling Green or what...

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Old Jun 25, 2012 | 08:35 PM
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Whenever you get it sorted out, I can tell you I got the leather covered ones for my 82 and am very happy.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 11:08 AM
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Made my own from .25" plywood for less than $10.

Use the old ones as a pattern.

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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 12:18 PM
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there is a difference I have a late (Aug 4) '81 build. (bowling green) the panel on the driver's side is wider.
Ask me how I know I just finished doing my interior and the replacement panel I got was smaller than the original. So I had to make a new one out of fiber board.

When I get home I can post pictures.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by blckslvr79
Made my own from .25" plywood for less than $10.

Use the old ones as a pattern.

I was thinking about doing the same thing but with 3/32" Lexan or acrylic sheet. More expensive but it would be super thin and never break.
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 02:19 PM
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I have a brand new set of the black leather ones i need to get rid of if anyone is interested. I have a 77 and got these. well duh. they dont fit. Theyre for 78 to 81 or 82. If your interested send me a PM
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Old Jun 26, 2012 | 05:54 PM
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I had one of my panels off recently and written on the inside was "early".
My build date was 9/23/80.
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