1979 First design or second design.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Shelbina Missouri
1979 First design or second design.
OK this car is driving me nuts, seems like every part I ask for I get asked if the car is the early or late(first or second design). I know one time I asked and was told which but I forgot. When I was pricing the carpet the guy(MAM) asked if it was first or second design and he was able to tell me by the number of compartments in the rear section of the car, mine has three compartments which if I am thinking correctly makes this one a early/first design.
Anyone know the reason for the first and second designs.
Randy.
Anyone know the reason for the first and second designs.
Randy.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
On early 1979 cars, you have three rear compartment doors, a metal windshield wiper switch bezel and a turn signal lever that has 30 degree bend in it.
On late 1979 cars, you have two rear compartment doors, a plastic windshield wiper switch bezel and the turn signal lever was straight.
The turn signal lever change was from the lever getting broken off when the driver was getting in and out of the car. Why they changed from three doors to a two door rear compartment, I don’t have a clue except a running design change.
I would have to guess that GM may have changed vendors on the wiper switch bezel and thus the material change took place as well. Remember these were tough times for GM. Plastic had to be cheaper than metal.
There was bunch of other different parts which included the tach and speedo letters. (Early was blue numbers, late was yellow) The power antenna, the power antenna bezel (early was a black trim that fit in to the body, late was like the 1980) turn signal switch, the four speed transmission, the Air conditioning tubes, and I'm sure a ton of other items I don't remember.
Willcox Inc.
On late 1979 cars, you have two rear compartment doors, a plastic windshield wiper switch bezel and the turn signal lever was straight.
The turn signal lever change was from the lever getting broken off when the driver was getting in and out of the car. Why they changed from three doors to a two door rear compartment, I don’t have a clue except a running design change.
I would have to guess that GM may have changed vendors on the wiper switch bezel and thus the material change took place as well. Remember these were tough times for GM. Plastic had to be cheaper than metal.
There was bunch of other different parts which included the tach and speedo letters. (Early was blue numbers, late was yellow) The power antenna, the power antenna bezel (early was a black trim that fit in to the body, late was like the 1980) turn signal switch, the four speed transmission, the Air conditioning tubes, and I'm sure a ton of other items I don't remember.
Willcox Inc.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jul 17, 2007 at 10:26 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 528
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From: Grand Rapids Michigan
Excepy my car is # 52,107 out of 53,807 cars, pretty late, huh? I have 3 compartments, plastic bezel and 30 deg turn signal stalk. All orignal, guaranteed. I also have the late model halogens (vs incandescents) and 85 MPH speedo. My car is a frankenvette and came that way from the factory.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 48
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From: New Orleans Lousiana
This is odd...I have an earlyish '79. In fact mine is stamped Dec 1978 and the vast majority of the parts on the car are also stamped 1978. I have a 140MPH speedo, 3 compartments, a plastic wiper bezel, and a straight turn signal lever. Whenever I order parts, I usually order by 1978 to avoid confusion. (the blower fan relay changed in late '79 but apparently local auto parts stores dont differentiate and the only '79 one they carry is for the older cars, while the '78 one fits my car)
EDIT: I think mine is 13,720
EDIT: I think mine is 13,720
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 38
From: Space Coast Gator Territory
Excepy my car is # 52,107 out of 53,807 cars, pretty late, huh? I have 3 compartments, plastic bezel and 30 deg turn signal stalk. All orignal, guaranteed. I also have the late model halogens (vs incandescents) and 85 MPH speedo. My car is a frankenvette and came that way from the factory.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,372
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From: Beecher Illinois
Mine too. I'm always checking out 78/79s and have never seen a 79 with 2 compartments. It's gotta be a matter of running out of 79 parts and using 80 parts for just a handfull of cars. Same thing with the 85mph speedometer, just happened earlier.
As for the original question about carpeting, there is a difference in how the carpet attaches at the rear of the door jamb between earlier and later built 79s. My early 79(vin 35***)has a channel that attaches to an edging while my later 79(vin 51***) is just tucked in, no channel or edging on the rear of the door jamb. I'm ASSUMING this is how the 80-82s are.
Another thing about first and second design. I've been doing some fan belt replacing and when looking up numbers find that only the first month of 79 production is referred as first design and is listed with the 78s.
As for the original question about carpeting, there is a difference in how the carpet attaches at the rear of the door jamb between earlier and later built 79s. My early 79(vin 35***)has a channel that attaches to an edging while my later 79(vin 51***) is just tucked in, no channel or edging on the rear of the door jamb. I'm ASSUMING this is how the 80-82s are.
Another thing about first and second design. I've been doing some fan belt replacing and when looking up numbers find that only the first month of 79 production is referred as first design and is listed with the 78s.
Last edited by KapsSA; Jul 18, 2007 at 01:30 PM.
