Early/Late 78
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Early/Late 78
Is there any way to distinguish an early 78 from a late 78 besides from the courtesy light timer location?
I have the entire dash out and cant seem to locate the courtesy light timer box anywhere. I know it should either be behind the glove box or to the right of the steering column. The lights come on when the door is open and goes off immediately when they close - so I am going to assume maybe the previous owner somehow re-wired to bypass the delay timer and removed it?
If that is the case, how would i know what location would be correct if I reinstalled one? Is there a way to tell production time by the last 6 digits of the VIN?
I will post pics as soon as I get home to help give a better idea.
I have the entire dash out and cant seem to locate the courtesy light timer box anywhere. I know it should either be behind the glove box or to the right of the steering column. The lights come on when the door is open and goes off immediately when they close - so I am going to assume maybe the previous owner somehow re-wired to bypass the delay timer and removed it?
If that is the case, how would i know what location would be correct if I reinstalled one? Is there a way to tell production time by the last 6 digits of the VIN?
I will post pics as soon as I get home to help give a better idea.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
The last 6 digits of the VIN indicate the serial number of the car. They made about 46K regular vettes that year, so non pace cars would have numbers ranging from 000001 to 046xxx in the last six digits.
Pace cars had a different VIN sequence, with 6502 produced.
As a reference point, My 78 has a serial number in the 32K range and was produced on June 29, 1978, just one day shy of being a 25th anniversary corvette produced on the 25th anniversary of the first day of production (June 30, 1953).
Another way you can tell early 78 from later 78 is the stainless trim on the rear window. In the beginning of the model year, the trim was all stainless. They started painting the trim partially as the year progressed. Mine has the partially painted trim.
My light timer is in the glove box.
Pace cars had a different VIN sequence, with 6502 produced.
As a reference point, My 78 has a serial number in the 32K range and was produced on June 29, 1978, just one day shy of being a 25th anniversary corvette produced on the 25th anniversary of the first day of production (June 30, 1953).
Another way you can tell early 78 from later 78 is the stainless trim on the rear window. In the beginning of the model year, the trim was all stainless. They started painting the trim partially as the year progressed. Mine has the partially painted trim.
My light timer is in the glove box.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
My VIN ends in 431611. I purchased the car without knowing any real history behind it. I know the owner who had it before the seller i purchased it from had it sitting in his garage for almost 20 years.
Is the light timer physically different in the early/late models? All I see behind the glovebox is the wiring for the glove box light and what seems to be a flasher. From what I've read, the courtesy lamp timer is a orange box a little smaller than a pack of cigarettes with the PCB board inside.
Is the light timer physically different in the early/late models? All I see behind the glovebox is the wiring for the glove box light and what seems to be a flasher. From what I've read, the courtesy lamp timer is a orange box a little smaller than a pack of cigarettes with the PCB board inside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I have a C11 B2Z (Silver Anniversary paint scheme) with ZX2 or the convenience group. The ZX2 includes the timer delay feature...so your vehicle must have ZX2 to have the orange pack of cigarettes that was located behind the glove box...as you describe. You can tell if it's operational when you leave the car, the light will come on for 30 seconds at the rear spare tire...look and see if you have a light fixture up under the bumper.
My November car has the stainless steel trim and is VIN 9041, FWIW.
I have never heard of early vs late and this feature. Usually, when I'm at Carlisle, I look for these in the swap meets because the components go bad. Wilcox now makes the PCB board so an owner can keep their orange box and replace the board.
Is the light timer physically different in the early/late models? All I see behind the glovebox is the wiring for the glove box light and what seems to be a flasher. From what I've read, the courtesy lamp timer is an orange box a little smaller than a pack of cigarettes with the PCB board inside.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Yes we do make a board to fix this issue and we also had the insight fullness to incorporate a fuse on the board unlike GM. This means that if you have an issue in your car the fuse will blow on the board and it's about 14.00 to fix vs buying another board. There is info on our tech sight on how to test the fuse if you purchased one and it doesn't work.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/t...use-1978-1982/ If the fuse is blown on our board, then there is an issue with the car.
Based on the s/n I'd have to say late which would put your timer behind the glove box door. Early cars and I've only see a couple of these over the years.... the timer was behind the speedo and tach housing.... I thought I had a picture of this but I'm at home and don't have anything here on this laptop. I'll try to check tomorrow and see what I can find.
For me... what determined early and late.... I have no idea and in this case and as in most cases I'd refer you to a fella named "TOM"....
Oh Tom... did you ever get the info I sent you on my SA car?
Ernie
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/t...use-1978-1982/ If the fuse is blown on our board, then there is an issue with the car.
Based on the s/n I'd have to say late which would put your timer behind the glove box door. Early cars and I've only see a couple of these over the years.... the timer was behind the speedo and tach housing.... I thought I had a picture of this but I'm at home and don't have anything here on this laptop. I'll try to check tomorrow and see what I can find.
For me... what determined early and late.... I have no idea and in this case and as in most cases I'd refer you to a fella named "TOM"....
Oh Tom... did you ever get the info I sent you on my SA car?Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Aug 20, 2019 at 09:13 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Great set of documents! Certainly an interesting mix of both equipped and non-equipped options. What jumps out is the apparent lack of convenience options…was this intended to be a race car? I mean even tires are the 225s…with FE7. Would suggest the owner had intended to replace them. It has the same interior/exterior colors as my 78 SA, except mine is an L48, M38 and it has 35k miles.
- What makes it an odd car from your perspective?
- What’s the frame stencil look like? Can you get a photo?
- What else can I tell you about the car or what questions do you have? Thx for sharing.
- I know your proud of your daughter…especially that mix of languages. Critical in today’s work environment.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Yeah...it's loaded! I sent this back on June 1st:
Great set of documents! Certainly an interesting mix of both equipped and non-equipped options. What jumps out is the apparent lack of convenience options…was this intended to be a race car? I mean even tires are the 225s…with FE7. Would suggest the owner had intended to replace them. It has the same interior/exterior colors as my 78 SA, except mine is an L48, M38 and it has 35k miles.
Great set of documents! Certainly an interesting mix of both equipped and non-equipped options. What jumps out is the apparent lack of convenience options…was this intended to be a race car? I mean even tires are the 225s…with FE7. Would suggest the owner had intended to replace them. It has the same interior/exterior colors as my 78 SA, except mine is an L48, M38 and it has 35k miles.
- What makes it an odd car from your perspective?
- What’s the frame stencil look like? Can you get a photo?
- What else can I tell you about the car or what questions do you have? Thx for sharing.
- I know your proud of your daughter…especially that mix of languages. Critical in today’s work environment.
Hugh special ordered the car the way he wanted it and he had no intentions of racing it. I guess the non equipped options were what struck me as so odd. No cruise, no tilt wheel (I have a column here painted ready to install in it if I drive it, my legs are too long to let out the clutch) yet he got rear defrost, alum. wheels and power antenna.
E