Self Cutters
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
Self Cutters
"Any Help would be appreciated??
I was wondering if anyone has found an irregularity in certain bolts and screws? As an example, both of my seats of my 1972 have one mounting bolt that is a self cutter. One of the three screws that attach the horn plate to the column has a self cutter. My car is an original survivor with lots of original 'like new parts" on it to confirm its originality but I can't help thinking 'Bubba' may have been there.
I was wondering if anyone has found an irregularity in certain bolts and screws? As an example, both of my seats of my 1972 have one mounting bolt that is a self cutter. One of the three screws that attach the horn plate to the column has a self cutter. My car is an original survivor with lots of original 'like new parts" on it to confirm its originality but I can't help thinking 'Bubba' may have been there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
May not have been Bubba. If the on-hand supply of regular production fasteners got low and if resupply/restock from the regular provider was delayed for any reason, the folks at the plant purchased equivalent fasteners locally from outlets at St. Louis. It is possible your self tapping bolts/screws could have been installed this way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
May not have been Bubba. If the on-hand supply of regular production fasteners got low and if resupply/restock from the regular provider was delayed for any reason, the folks at the plant purchased equivalent fasteners locally from outlets at St. Louis. It is possible your self tapping bolts/screws could have been installed this way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
Anything is possible my friend as it 's DOM is Sept '71, VIN says '72 and it has '73 wiring through the entire car. (maybe the first with '73 wiring??)... Cheers AL
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
A strike began in mid September, 1970 and ran through November, 1970, but this affected the 1971 model year.
There were no work stoppages during the 1972 model year run.
1972 model year production began in August, 1971. There would be no 73 parts on a 72 built during the second month of 1972 production. It is entirely possible parts used on 72s were also used on 73s the following year.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Nov 8, 2013 at 10:34 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
My Vette arrived early September '13 and prior I purchased a DVD Factory Assembly Manual '72 which included two different wiring diagrams, either of which were correct. The car had obviously been in salty snow as a lot of the metal had rust on it. As I started getting the alarm contacts and connections cleaned and operating, I noticed nothing married up with the schematic. A generous member whom I can not recall (my apologies) sent me a '73 wiring diagram and it is perfect. 
I currently have all the dash Left to Right and center console removed and working through little things that Bubba may have done, then she will be a Million Bucks to me.
I currently have all the dash Left to Right and center console removed and working through little things that Bubba may have done, then she will be a Million Bucks to me.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
My Vette arrived early September '13 and prior I purchased a DVD Factory Assembly Manual '72 which included two different wiring diagrams, either of which were correct. The car had obviously been in salty snow as a lot of the metal had rust on it. As I started getting the alarm contacts and connections cleaned and operating, I noticed nothing married up with the schematic. A generous member whom I can not recall (my apologies) sent me a '73 wiring diagram and it is perfect.
It's very probable that your AIM shows a wiring schematic that was subsequently altered during the '72 production year prior to your car being built.
The car doesn't have '1973 wiring'- the AIM just shows 1972 config prior to your car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
An AIM is essentially a snapshot in time. It represents a theoretical car built on a theoretical day. We all talk and complain about running changes on the cars and agonize over determining early or late parts. As such no AIM can be expected to show the correct configuration for each and every part or system.
It's very probable that your AIM shows a wiring schematic that was subsequently altered during the '72 production year prior to your car being built.
The car doesn't have '1973 wiring'- the AIM just shows 1972 config prior to your car.
It's very probable that your AIM shows a wiring schematic that was subsequently altered during the '72 production year prior to your car being built.
The car doesn't have '1973 wiring'- the AIM just shows 1972 config prior to your car.
Up until early September, Corvette was just a car I have wanted since I was a boy. But I am keen to learn so please clarify if that's OK??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
I'd also like to comment on the issue of self cutting bolts. In addition to all the other advice you've been given to help explain non-typical fasteners found your car, I'll offer that there are "repair" bolts for use on the line. When a bolt cross threaded or failed to reach torque for whatever reason, a repair bolt was used. The repair bolt is slightly larger than the production thread, which allows it to cut new threads instead of scrapping the item or sending it off line for a more complicated repair. In my earlier life, I worked in the GM seat assembly area. We used repair bolts for recliner- to-frame attachment when an operator messed up on the fastening. This was the case for other areas of the seat assembly too.
I hope this helps...
Last edited by redrdstr72; Nov 9, 2013 at 08:43 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
I hope this helps...[/QUOTE]
Sure does and Thank You!!
I am a perfectionist when it comes to my cars (aren't we all??) and am starting to be accepting of things that may be different. Put the Instrument dash back in today with the Speedo facing the right way (was crooked as it had no screws in it at all!!), surely we can chalk one up for Bubba on this occasion.
Sure does and Thank You!!
I am a perfectionist when it comes to my cars (aren't we all??) and am starting to be accepting of things that may be different. Put the Instrument dash back in today with the Speedo facing the right way (was crooked as it had no screws in it at all!!), surely we can chalk one up for Bubba on this occasion.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
OZVette: if you are a perfectionist, you need to learn everything there is to know about 72s.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
as the following is what US of A have sent me originally. To the best of my knowledge (so far) '72 had alarms as standard yea?? Second picture has Anti-Theft Horn but no rear swith, see why I ask so many questions.
Last edited by OZvette72; Nov 9, 2013 at 10:01 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Hi OZ. "AIM"= Assembly Instruction Manual. It's a loose leaf book, containing all the assembly drawings, plus torque specs, and other useful bits of info used by the assembly plant when putting these cars together. As Mike Ward indicates, all the engineering changes throughout the model year are also captured in the AIM. .
Individual sheets were changed/updated in the AIM every time a component changed fit, form or function. Given that there were always running changes on these cars, sheets might have been update daily or weekly.
The AIMs we have now don't necessarily represent the last day of production, the first or anywhere in the middle. Pretty much a mishmash of somewhere between.
Regarding the alarm, it was standard on '72. The switch is mounted on the rear fascia on both '72 and '73. I know of no wiring differences between the two years with respect to the alarm.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Just as an afterthought- what book are you using for wiring diagrams? Neither of the scans posted above look like GM info.
If it a Haynes or Chiltons type book, please burn it. They've been proven wrong so many times it's not funny.
If it a Haynes or Chiltons type book, please burn it. They've been proven wrong so many times it's not funny.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 215
Likes: 27
From: Australia
This is two pages of the '73 wiring diagram sent to me from the helpful member I mentioned previously and has been right on the money. (working from the back forward I am now at the windscreen and have found nothing incorrect on this schematic)
PSS ... Correction ... other helpful member
