After speaking with the boss (the wife), she agree that if I could find a decent 77 or 78 (there are mostly 78's around here) with a black interior for around the $5k price tag it would cost for all new 77 interior panels/pieces. I could buy a running 78 parts car for my 77 project (I dig the sugar scoop, hence the reason I'm gonna use a 78 for parts).

Wondering if anyone has done the swap, if the mounting points are close, and how hard it is to do.

I'll make sure it's not a numbers matching car so I don't feel bad about cannibalizing. don't worry, once I get back to the mainland, the 78 will probably be parted out...or have a bigger engine transplanted...then I'll have a 77 AND a 78!

 

The interiors are different so I am sure you are going to have to make some adjustments. Like...the 77 has no Glove...umm 8 Track Cassette Box lol...and the 78 does. So I am assuming you would have to fabricate mounting points just for that alone....good luck

 

The dash, windshield moldings, front carpet, seats, rear storage compartment doors and console, can all be swapped over.

To use the 78 door panels, will require heavily modifying your doors, or using the complete 78 doors. The inside handle, lock mechanism, latch mechanism, rods and arm rest; are all different on the 78 doors.

You may be able to modify the rear carpet to work. The t-top headliners and targa bar interior panels, will not work in the 77 interior.

 

Not worth the effort. Purchase the 77 AIM and the 78 AIM and compare the installations. While the center cluster and console appear to be the same, they are different. 77 interior is the familiar 68-76 type; 78 and above are the "new" style.

 

gbvette - good point. I think I'm going to keep my car '77 from the doors back, and just swap to the 78 dash. I'm looking at pics of the two interiors side by side and as long as the dimensions weren't too terribly different (which, it doesn't look like they were), it'll take a little work, but very doable.

Good point, Dose.

EasyMike, i've decided that it's pretty much going to be a dash swap only. Keeping the 77 center console and cluster. As long as it sits right in the dash 'notch", it'll be fine.

 

Edit****

 

not sure why I have to justify myself.....but, it's what's called a "trade-off".

Either all new pieces for a 77 interior plain and simple.

Or a whole used 78/79 car which I could use as a parts car (and as a template for whatever mods I need to do to get the new dash to work) and part out what I don't need which would bring in money to use for my 77. The trade off part comes in where I'd have to refurb the interior to use or sell parts off in order to afford new interior pieces. Plus, I'd be able to spread the wealth to help others with what parts they might need from that particular car.

As far as all new interior costing $5k, I was including everything. I've done some cutting from the list (center gauges, new speedo/tach faces, interior panels mostly), to get it to where it is. Keep in mind that I shopped around a bit and listed the company with the lowest price.....most of it is Willcox, so you know no one is lower. Check the math with the parts I cut from the list, and you'll see it's almost $5k. Here's how I've priced everything brand new so far:

$900.48 - Willcox - Interior package (seat covers, carpet, door panels)
$593.98 - Willcox - Dash Pad Lower (pass & driver) 68-77
$296.99 - Willcox - Dash Pad Upper 70-77
$235.00 - Willcox - Weatherstrip Kit 73-77
---------
2026.45
---------
$115.00 - Corvette Forum - pre-cut insulation kit
$160.00 - Craigslist - Seat Foam Set 76-78
$159.00 - eBay - Radio Stereo 77-82
--------
434.00
--------
$ 93.98 - Ecklers - Sunvisor part# 28111
$ 79.99 - Ecklers - Speedo & Tach housing each part# 51579
$ 79.99 - Willcox - Shifter console side trim
$ 71.99 - Willcox - Map Pocket. 69-77
$ 59.98 - Ecklers - Seat back pair part# 34117
--------
385.93
--------
$ 49.99 - Willcox - Shifter plate with all cutouts
$ 45.99 - Ecklers - Console tunnel insulation part# 45394
$ 40.00 - Willcox - Dash Bezel Center Printed Circuit 77-82
$ 36.00 - Willcox - Dash lens set
$ 32.28 - Willcox - Seat Back Release Bezel. 70-78
--------
204.26
--------
$ 29.99 - Corvette America - gauge needle set
$ 27.99 - eBay - Parking Brake cover
$ 27.50 - Willcox - Sill Plate 68-77
$ 26.34 - Willcox - Dash defroster grille
$ 19.99 - Ecklers - Shift boot part # A6430B
$ 19.00 - Willcox - Interior Screw Set
$ 17.00 - Willcox - Ash tray door
--------
167.81
--------
$ 16.98 - Willcox - Seat Back Release Button. 70-78
$ 15.95 - Willcox - Door pull straps In color-Inner 69-77
$ 13.99 - Willcox - Ash tray
$ 12.99 - Ecklers - Insulation foil tape part# 57067
$ 8.99 - Willcox - Door latch handle emblems
$ 4.50 - Willcox - Dash Vent Deflector Seal Kit 68-82
$ 3.20 - Willcox - Dash Vent Deflector Ball seals 68-77
----------
76.60
----------
$3295.05 - grand total

 

If you go through with this swap, you'll need to use the 78 center gauge cluster, in the 78 dash.

The 77 cluster, looks the same from the front, but has "wings" on the side of it, that will prevent it from going into the 78 dash.

The 77 shift console will work fine, with the 78 dash, as the 77-82 consoles are all the same. You may want to use the 78 console side panels though, so that they properly line up with the dash and center cluster.

 

That was one of the things I noticed, and I don't think it'll be a problem. I bought the spare one I have from craigslist for $15 and it's not original, so i have no problem taking a dremel to it. If that doesn't work, I have a spare 77 one that I can sell to buy a 78 one.

I wasn't sure which one, because they both look very similar. Thanks for the info.

 

the hard part I'm seeing will be changing the tach to work with the 78 tach (I'm not very electronically inclined). It looks like I'm going to need to completely convert the connector to work with the printed circuit.

 

No one asked you to justify yourself.


Enjoy the cars and the restorations!

 

Vettebuyer, sorry I snapped at you...I hadn't eaten so I was very on edge.

There are methods to my madness (about the car stuff, not my comments)....and a big thing was to part the extra car out and help others.

Anywho, I think the 77 interior is out for sure, as well as buying another car.

Thanks to Burnt71, I am getting a good start for a decent price.
I know swapping the 78 gauges will be a challenge because of the connector like I said previously, but I'm sure it'll all be worth it in the end. I know it's possible....anything's possible, but if anyone's got any info on how to change the connector....let me know.

 

It can be done.When I purchased the vette it already had the interior swap.

 

that's what I'm learning as I look into it more and more. I thought the big issue would be the speedo/tach cluster, but looking at the connector and a map of the printed circuit, it is pretty straightforward.

I'm pretty sure the mounting points are all the same if not very similar. Like Dose said, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to reinforce the glove box. I am also going to need to get all new a/c ducts as well.

m and t's, is your dash solid? No rattles or anything like that? Any problem areas?

 

Everything functions like it was installed from the factory and no rattles or vibrations.The power door locks work too.

 

awesome! That's good to hear. I have a question about something I just saw. I'm looking at other pics online of the dash, and I see something that I have no clue what it is and there are no clear pics of it.

What is the ****/lever above the headlight switch?

 

On my car the wiper switch is above the headlight switch.

 

ah, I think it may be...I'm gonna have to find something to fill that hole with because my wipers are on my turn signal lever...

 

The 78 stuff will not swap to the 77 without a lot of work on your part.

Just a heads up.

 

Thank Easy Mike, but what exactly do you meany by work? What has to be done for it to work?

I'd like some specifics. How would I need to modify my car to fit the dash?