What in the world is this thing?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Ellsworth AFB South Dakota
What in the world is this thing?
Brand new member here! AND brand new Vette owner. I just picked up a 1976 Corvette and fulfilled my 20 year old dream. I am going through the process of maintenance and learning everything there is to know about this beautiful car. I came along this under the steering wheel and left of the brake pedal. What the heck is it? Looks like the loose cable could plug into it. Thanks for the read.
http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/...vette%20Parts/
http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/...vette%20Parts/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I could guess but think its any of my guesses such as courtesy timer (not available in 76), power antenna relay, or defogger switch. But the tan wires could be traced on a wiring diagram and Dr Rebuild has wiring diagrams for 76 that are colored coded with location of electric devices. That's probably a first start and one that will serve you well down the road.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,303
Likes: 4,391
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi rb,
A NEW member, a NEW owner, and an OLD Corvette. You're in for some real fun.
I don't know what the part is, although that little square tab looks familiar for some reason.
I noticed you don't have any blood on your hands... if you really want to enjoy you car you need to scrape your knuckles enough for them to bleed!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
We'd enjoy a few pictures of the car!!!!
A NEW member, a NEW owner, and an OLD Corvette. You're in for some real fun.
I don't know what the part is, although that little square tab looks familiar for some reason.
I noticed you don't have any blood on your hands... if you really want to enjoy you car you need to scrape your knuckles enough for them to bleed!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
We'd enjoy a few pictures of the car!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Self-Oscillating Flyback Rectifier for Synchronous Rectification at speeds over 120mph 
Welcome to the world of smartazz C3 owners, we usually come up with an answer but these cars are quite old now and that won't be the only weird thing you find, many hands have been on it before yours and you never know what you'll find taped together.
Someone will come up with an answer if it's an original part or if it isn't is there any lettering / numbers on it ? Looks like a relay of some kind
Welcome to the world of smartazz C3 owners, we usually come up with an answer but these cars are quite old now and that won't be the only weird thing you find, many hands have been on it before yours and you never know what you'll find taped together.
Someone will come up with an answer if it's an original part or if it isn't is there any lettering / numbers on it ? Looks like a relay of some kind
Last edited by MotorHead; May 5, 2011 at 08:45 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Ellsworth AFB South Dakota
So far the two most common answers have been relay and flux-capacitor (from here and where I posted it to my car buddies on facebook). So I guess I should just get her up to 88 and go back to 76 and ask em! Thanks for the replies. I'll check with that guy on the wiring diagram. Also I will eventually get some pictures up but for now here are the guys pictures he uploaded when he put it up for sale. Note: I have no idea who the girl and baby are... http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/...tte/?start=all
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Congratulations!
Welcome to the madness! This forum is great, if they do not know, well it likely did not come on a Corvette!
I have got a 76 too, at first I thought it was a defroster switch, but not sure. Suggest you get a factory service manual, actually 74 with 76 supplements (bought mine I think from Helms which included the wiring diagram) and an Assembly Instruction Manual. All of this paper is simply invaluable to do anything to your Corvette.
Enjoy
I have got a 76 too, at first I thought it was a defroster switch, but not sure. Suggest you get a factory service manual, actually 74 with 76 supplements (bought mine I think from Helms which included the wiring diagram) and an Assembly Instruction Manual. All of this paper is simply invaluable to do anything to your Corvette.
Enjoy
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
So far the two most common answers have been relay and flux-capacitor (from here and where I posted it to my car buddies on facebook). So I guess I should just get her up to 88 and go back to 76 and ask em! Thanks for the replies. I'll check with that guy on the wiring diagram. Also I will eventually get some pictures up but for now here are the guys pictures he uploaded when he put it up for sale. Note: I have no idea who the girl and baby are... http://s1202.photobucket.com/albums/...tte/?start=all
LOL....good to see you're good natured about us joking around...!
"Flux Capacitor" = I dont know....but someone will !
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 12
From: Magnolia DE
What is it ?
Follow the wires to the fuse panel. If they connect to the lighting aux, I think it's the headlights on buzzer. (Headlightd on w/car off) The tan single wire on my 76 didn't exist, so I have no buzzer.
John
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Brand new member here! AND brand new Vette owner. I just picked up a 1976 Corvette and fulfilled my 20 year old dream. I am going through the process of maintenance and learning everything there is to know about this beautiful car. I came along this under the steering wheel and left of the brake pedal. What the heck is it? Looks like the loose cable could plug into it. Thanks for the read.
http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/...vette%20Parts/
http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/...vette%20Parts/
Jim
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Just a guess but I think its a buzzer and most likely is not part of the main harness. Some of those add-ons had a mini harness that just plugged in the IGN tap and Batt tap on the fuse box.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
For future reference, it's easy to post pictures through Photobucket iso a link.
On Photobucket put the cursor on the picture and click the bottom option that has the IMG code.
Click on it and it copies the code, on this forum simply paste:
In answer to your question:
These cars are 30+ years old.
Bubba is the imaginary shade tree redneck mechanic that seems to have worked on all our cars at some point.
If the previous owner had something jerry-rigged with scotch tape and paper clips we call that "bubba'd" or "bubba repair"
If you check the pic in my profile...I bubba'd my homemade side exhaust.
On Photobucket put the cursor on the picture and click the bottom option that has the IMG code.
Click on it and it copies the code, on this forum simply paste:
In answer to your question:
These cars are 30+ years old.
- No way of telling that this was original, it may have been a fix-it from the factory
- You are probably owner #27, it could have been a switch for something somebody installed and somebody else removed.
- It could have been "Bubba"
Bubba is the imaginary shade tree redneck mechanic that seems to have worked on all our cars at some point.
If the previous owner had something jerry-rigged with scotch tape and paper clips we call that "bubba'd" or "bubba repair"
If you check the pic in my profile...I bubba'd my homemade side exhaust.
Last edited by Imo Apita; May 5, 2011 at 03:39 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 912
Likes: 47
From: Kansas City MO
So, I was sitting on the crapper a little bit ago reading my one of my many corvette parts catalogs (Ecklers this time!). Here, I found what appears to be an identical photo of the part you had a question about. Pg 137 of their 2011 catalog shows the following: 1972-76 Seat Belt/Ignition Key Warning Buzzer, Ecklers p/n 51239 - $28.99. I think this could possibly be it? Either way, I agree with Roger. It definately appears to be a buzzer of some sort. Hope this helps!
