First Corvette
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Cruising
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 13
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First Corvette
Hey so let me start at the beginning. I'm buying a 1969 corvette from a private seller. Its not in bad shape needs a lot of work but nothing i cant handle. The biggest kicker to this is the interior was replaced with an 82 stingrays interior. To include the dash, gauges, and center console. Is there somewhere i can get the 1969 original dash gauges and center console? or should I get them off a parted out C3? what are some things i'm going to have to worry about going into this project? I want to get the interior as close to original as possible. I'm picking her up Saturday
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Congratulations!!!
Hey so let me start at the beginning. I'm buying a 1969 corvette from a private seller. Its not in bad shape needs a lot of work but nothing i cant handle. The biggest kicker to this is the interior was replaced with an 82 stingrays interior. To include the dash, gauges, and center console. Is there somewhere i can get the 1969 original dash gauges and center console? or should I get them off a parted out C3? what are some things i'm going to have to worry about going into this project? I want to get the interior as close to original as possible. I'm picking her up Saturday
Post photos!
On interior, I could check here in the parts for sale section and ebay. You might want to post a WTB ad here too. And I would then sell the 82 interior parts separately on ebay as somebody will want them. You can dye the interior panel parts as needed but you want to get the seats and the carpet in the color you want.
Cool and best of luck with your 69!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
FWIW: when you pick up the car, talk to the seller and determine what type of wiring changes were made when the 82 instruments were installed. You will need to undo those changes or purchase a reproduction 1969 main dash harness in order to change back to the stock 1969 instruments.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 136
Likes: 17
From: mackinaw IL
Welcome Mikey!
New dash are pricey but Willcox corvette thru this forum has them 20% off sometimes. Thats where we got our top and lower left dash and they fit very good. They also have great how to videos for you to do some research before starting that job. You might consider replacing the dash wire harness at the same time as bubba may have done some things in there.
Good luck
Dean
New dash are pricey but Willcox corvette thru this forum has them 20% off sometimes. Thats where we got our top and lower left dash and they fit very good. They also have great how to videos for you to do some research before starting that job. You might consider replacing the dash wire harness at the same time as bubba may have done some things in there.
Good luck
Dean
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
If everything 'works' and the gauges supply you with the info you need, just leave it as-is. You are opening up a "nest of snakes" by considering reversing direction for the present interior.
Can you return it to 1969 configuration? Sure, if you have the right parts and know what and how to change it. But, you need to consider whether there were any "permanent" revisions that went into the present configuration and determine if you can obtain the correct gauges/panel/wiring/hardware/sending units to get it back to original state.
If you do this, plan the change well and get ALL the stuff together that you need, in ADVANCE of actually making this switch.
If you do not intend to have your car judged by NCRS or other 'as stock' method, you will probably get as many kudos for having the revised interior as you would for having a stock interior.
Can you return it to 1969 configuration? Sure, if you have the right parts and know what and how to change it. But, you need to consider whether there were any "permanent" revisions that went into the present configuration and determine if you can obtain the correct gauges/panel/wiring/hardware/sending units to get it back to original state.
If you do this, plan the change well and get ALL the stuff together that you need, in ADVANCE of actually making this switch.
If you do not intend to have your car judged by NCRS or other 'as stock' method, you will probably get as many kudos for having the revised interior as you would for having a stock interior.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 6, 2016 at 01:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
If it's got the '82 seats, I'd consider it a good thing. They're way more comfy than the '60's and '70's buckets that came earlier. Agreed with the last post. It's a lot of work to pull the dash and interior (a lot!).
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,508
Likes: 501
From: Bussey, IA
Mikey, welcome to the forum. great group of guys here that are willing to help and have lots of info and wisdom to share. Many of us are various stages of restoration or modification. So we stumble into a lot. No matter what you find, somebody has a post on it somewhere! We are a visual group so please stimulate the eyes with lots of pics of your progress. Concerning your situation, I would agree with what these guys have chimed in on already. Enjoy for a while before you tear it apart. Once you take it apart, you WILL find more problems and "while I'm here" attacks then too. So drive it! But go thru it first, make it safe, make it stop, make it go. Then enjoy and drive it like you stole it! Then worry about making it pretty and making it "right" (if you still sense the need to) and making it go faster! Anyway, keep us informed and glad to have you along.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Hey so let me start at the beginning. I'm buying a 1969 corvette from a private seller. Its not in bad shape needs a lot of work but nothing i cant handle. The biggest kicker to this is the interior was replaced with an 82 stingrays interior. To include the dash, gauges, and center console. Is there somewhere i can get the 1969 original dash gauges and center console? or should I get them off a parted out C3? what are some things I'm going to have to worry about going into this project? I want to get the interior as close to original as possible. I'm picking her up Saturday
I would highly recommend you purchase the complete interior from a suitable C3 donor. My experience has always been you don't know what you will need, until you start reassembling. For that reason, I would recommend if at all possible, that you remove the interior from the donor car yourself. You will then know better how the original goes back in your car, and also just what you will need to complete the transformation.
The good news is that the '69 was the most prolific of the early C3's (chrome bumper cars) so the odds of finding a suitable donor are very good.
Good luck... GUSTO
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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welcome aboard. You are embarkng on a great trip. Restating what has been said,
Make it safe
Drive it to see what it needs and what you like
Buy an AIM. Asemmbly inspection Manual, it will let you know what belongs where
Buy from a donor car, post in the c3 parts wanted section, get as many original parts as possible, they can be re dyed to match the intrerior color you want. Some newer psrts like door panels, etc, may not fit without trimming. Some new switches suck, especially the wiper switch. There are vendors here that have many old original parts like that.
Get a new interior wiring harness, you will need it for the plug ends
Start a new thread labeled 69 interior help or something so people will chime in. Lots of knowledge here
Good luck
Make it safe
Drive it to see what it needs and what you like
Buy an AIM. Asemmbly inspection Manual, it will let you know what belongs where
Buy from a donor car, post in the c3 parts wanted section, get as many original parts as possible, they can be re dyed to match the intrerior color you want. Some newer psrts like door panels, etc, may not fit without trimming. Some new switches suck, especially the wiper switch. There are vendors here that have many old original parts like that.
Get a new interior wiring harness, you will need it for the plug ends
Start a new thread labeled 69 interior help or something so people will chime in. Lots of knowledge here
Good luck
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 7, 2016 at 05:31 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Purchasing an "all new" interior is another route into that 'nest of snakes'. Might make the vendors wealthy; but you will have difficulty getting all those aftermarket parts to fit properly. Lots of cutting and fitting to make it look decent. Sorry, I'm not a fan of that idea.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
yikes, if you care that the interior has been modded then this might not be the 69 for you, 7t1 might sound a bit negative but he is right on the money it could be costly and time consuming to get it back to a correct 69 interior and I am a person who loves mods, the 80-82 clam shell seats are far better sitting than the earlier seats and many dig the 78-82 dash and console etc better, I was thrilled my 69 had 80 seats, perhaps wait til you get the car and fix broken stuff and do lots of thinking about the interior before changing it...most c3s being built today are not bone stock but rather are modded a little or a lot....
I want to add the disclaimer I said the above not knowing how cheap you got it and what condition the cars in.
I want to add the disclaimer I said the above not knowing how cheap you got it and what condition the cars in.
Last edited by The13Bats; Apr 9, 2016 at 01:04 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
Ask the guy if he has the old parts of the interior or where they may be now while you are the current buyer.
But I'd just get the thing and drive it like it is for the season. See what works and doesn't, work on brakes first. Look toward the interior after the mechanical work is sound.
But I'd just get the thing and drive it like it is for the season. See what works and doesn't, work on brakes first. Look toward the interior after the mechanical work is sound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,240
Likes: 221
From: Dryden MI
Be careful, if the previous owner did sloppy work, and it appears that he did, this car could be an electrical nightmare and fire hazard. How well does the engine run? Sometimes these projects can become over whelming and cost a fortune to get right and you are better off getting something in better condition. I have an 80 and I hate the speedometer, it is ridiculous to have that in a Corvette!