77 Interior in 80 Vette?
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Florida
77 Interior in 80 Vette?
Long story short I have an 80 that needs a new dash, gauges and door panels. I find the 68-77 Tach/Speedo to be infinitely more attractive and would like to simply buy new 77 interior components from MAMW and drop them in. Before I spend the money I was hoping to get a few questions answered:
1. Has anyone ever done this? I have been searching/considering this for months but most of my searches find full custom interiors. Would love to see someone else who succeeded.
2. Will the 77 dash mount directly into the 80 bird cage? Will the mounting points line up?
3. What specific components will I need? I know I'll need the tach/speedo panel, the map pocket panel, the dash topper, but will the 80's center 5 gauge cluster fit? And am I missing anything else?
4. Finally will the 77 dash interfere with 80 door panels?
Thanks in advance
1. Has anyone ever done this? I have been searching/considering this for months but most of my searches find full custom interiors. Would love to see someone else who succeeded.
2. Will the 77 dash mount directly into the 80 bird cage? Will the mounting points line up?
3. What specific components will I need? I know I'll need the tach/speedo panel, the map pocket panel, the dash topper, but will the 80's center 5 gauge cluster fit? And am I missing anything else?
4. Finally will the 77 dash interfere with 80 door panels?
Thanks in advance
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 1,031
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Man oh Man I have the answers to this question: I have a 1971 that the previous owner swapped in a 1980 oyster interior, and I'm in the process of swapping everything back to the '71 interior. It's all modular and EVERYTHING is interchangeable, below are my notes so far:
*Door panels fit but internal door handles and mechanisms are completely different. Door handle latches are in different locations inside the doors - both will fit all years.
*consoles fit but mounts are different - $40 in parts to swap, no big deal.
*dashes unbolt and bolt back in between the different styles. Of course the gauges and bezels are all different, as well as corresponding wiring harnesses.
*keep in mind years with cable driven tach vs the later 1980 HEI driven tach.
*all years have cable driven speedo
*mechanical vs electrical sending units on oil pressure/temp gauges - simple fix.
*Door panels fit but internal door handles and mechanisms are completely different. Door handle latches are in different locations inside the doors - both will fit all years.
*consoles fit but mounts are different - $40 in parts to swap, no big deal.
*dashes unbolt and bolt back in between the different styles. Of course the gauges and bezels are all different, as well as corresponding wiring harnesses.
*keep in mind years with cable driven tach vs the later 1980 HEI driven tach.
*all years have cable driven speedo
*mechanical vs electrical sending units on oil pressure/temp gauges - simple fix.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
Man oh Man I have the answers to this question: I have a 1971 that the previous owner swapped in a 1980 oyster interior, and I'm in the process of swapping everything back to the '71 interior. It's all modular and EVERYTHING is interchangeable, below are my notes so far:
*Door panels fit but internal door handles and mechanisms are completely different. Door handle latches are in different locations inside the doors - both will fit all years.
*consoles fit but mounts are different - $40 in parts to swap, no big deal.
*dashes unbolt and bolt back in between the different styles. Of course the gauges and bezels are all different, as well as corresponding wiring harnesses.
*keep in mind years with cable driven tach vs the later 1980 HEI driven tach.
*all years have cable driven speedo
*mechanical vs electrical sending units on oil pressure/temp gauges - simple fix.
*Door panels fit but internal door handles and mechanisms are completely different. Door handle latches are in different locations inside the doors - both will fit all years.
*consoles fit but mounts are different - $40 in parts to swap, no big deal.
*dashes unbolt and bolt back in between the different styles. Of course the gauges and bezels are all different, as well as corresponding wiring harnesses.
*keep in mind years with cable driven tach vs the later 1980 HEI driven tach.
*all years have cable driven speedo
*mechanical vs electrical sending units on oil pressure/temp gauges - simple fix.
Hah! I want to do the exact opposite. I want a full 80+ interior in my 73... but with the earlier speedo/tach bezel. Mine is black now, but when i do the swap i'm gonna color change it to red. At least i know it can be done now. I might just buy 80 doors to skip that hassle though... as long as i can find manual windows/locks in an 80 door.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,509
From: Virginia
Hah! I want to do the exact opposite. I want a full 80+ interior in my 73... but with the earlier speedo/tach bezel. Mine is black now, but when i do the swap i'm gonna color change it to red. At least i know it can be done now. I might just buy 80 doors to skip that hassle though... as long as i can find manual windows/locks in an 80 door.
OP, can you post some photos? I'd be interested in any 80 interior parts that are salvageable, especially if they are red. But it sounds like your car is already gutted?
The 77 was the first year with the plastic center console, so that should be a bit easier to swap. Certainly you can use the gauges from your 80 if you already have them, and refresh with a repro bezel. Here's a link to the replacement part, if you need it.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/77-cent...uge-bezel.html
The killer feature of the 77 was the pre-recall silver horn button. Hopefully you have one of those!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,248
Likes: 7,840
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I have a 77 silver horn button in my early 77. But, unfortunately it's not up for grabs. I will say this about the situation however. 77 was a change over year. the 77 had the same plastic 5 gauge center cluster as the 80. So, if you buy 77 parts they should line up with your 80 gauge cluster.
Keep in mind almost everyone on here say the replacement parts never fit as good as the original parts.
Corvette salvage yard for interior parts?
Keep in mind almost everyone on here say the replacement parts never fit as good as the original parts.
Corvette salvage yard for interior parts?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 1,031
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Hah! I want to do the exact opposite. I want a full 80+ interior in my 73... but with the earlier speedo/tach bezel. Mine is black now, but when i do the swap i'm gonna color change it to red. At least i know it can be done now. I might just buy 80 doors to skip that hassle though... as long as i can find manual windows/locks in an 80 door.
I'll also be removing the 1980 dash, gauges, center gauges and bezel, etc that was all swapped into my '71
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
We need to trade some parts then! I will be removing the 1980 door mechanisms, latches, and panels. Will need the earlier internals mechanisms, rods, door panels, etc..
I'll also be removing the 1980 dash, gauges, center gauges and bezel, etc that was all swapped into my '71
I'll also be removing the 1980 dash, gauges, center gauges and bezel, etc that was all swapped into my '71
I might just buy complete 80-81 doors... they're lighter too. Mine already have the beams in them, so either year will have to be gutted, so its all win. Just have to find some decent ones with no power stuff. That might be hard. I'll be using an older bezel. I hate that flat, 85mph garbage.
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