Are there any differences in floor pans 68-75, other than Auto vs Manual?

Are the seat belt mounts the same?

Is the tunnel the same?

I understand that 76 had metal pans. Would there be any advantage in installing metal floor pans? If so what?

The bird cage in my convertible is very rusty and I will be replacing it. I am trying to look at all my options. Buy a new or used convertible bird cage and use my floor pan or buy a bird cage with the floor pan and fire wall still in it and work from there. I have a lead on a 68 convertible cage with floor pan and fire wall (the fire will have to be modified or replaced to fit the steering column lock and power brakes.

Any and all help, thoughts, advice, concerns are appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

 

Yes. Look in an assembly manual. Cars with automatic had a small cutout at the pass side of trans tunnel. This extra bump give clearance for trans dipstick and corner of transmission

 

The seat belt reinforcements vary by year. There are a variety of different seat and shoulder belt mounts for 68-75. 68, 69, 70 & 71 have standard adjustable belts, 73-74 have retractor belts, and 74-75 have a different design retractor belts.

There are minor differences in 68-75 floors, mostly involving the type and location of seat belt reinforcements, and the mounting of (or lack of) firewall and floor insulation and splash shields. The tunnels didn't change until 76, when it was enlarged slightly to eliminate the need to modify each floor going into a car with an automatic.

Chevrolet went to the metal floor in 76, in an effort to reduce the heat coming into the interior from the catalytic converter. The 76 floors might help insulate the interior from heat, but probably no more than one of the good, modern heat mats, installed under your carpet would.

If you can find a convertible clip with a solid cage, I would think that it's a lot easier than replacing your old cage. There will be differences with a 68 clip, but nothing to major.

From your profile name, I assume you have a 72. As mentioned before, the belts in a 68, are completely different than a 72, but the 4 reinforcements you need are available for about $220. The biggest difference between the 68 and 72 birdcages is in the lock pillar area. The 68-69 convertibles didn't have the male and female alignment pin and receivers, that the 70-75 convertibles have. You'd need to modify the 68 lock pillars to add the indented area to mount the female receiver, from your 72. The alignment pieces are necessary to keep the doors of 70-75 convertibles, properly aligned.

 

Where would one find a good 72 convertible bird cage with floor pan and firewall or firewall to rear end clip. (Please be advised I am doing this on a budget) Know of any Corvette junk yards that won't charge an arm and a leg. Or someone on here that has one that they want to get rid of.

Has anyone converted a 68-69 birdcage to have the alignment pins?

 

Good convertible bodies/rear clips are not easy to come by. Clips for coupes are everywhere, but not for rag tops. There weren't as many of them to start with, and people are always looking for them to convert coupes into convertibles, so used ones go quick.

It shouldn't be a big deal to modify the 68 lock pillar. You have all of the parts you need already on your 72 body. The mounting bracket for the female door guide, is bolted to the top of the lock pillar. I think there's also a nut plate for the mounting bracket, on the body below the deck latch. Depending how bad the rust is in your birdcage, you may be able to cut the portion of the lock pillar off, that the bracket bolts to, and add it to the 68 pillar. If you can't reuse the top of the lock pillar, any good body shop should be able to modify the 68 lock pillar using your 72 as a guide.

 

Jim, if you can get to Carlisle this week, Thursday-Saturday, you will find everything you need. There is a vendor there that sells almost the entire birdcage in new pieces. I can't recall his name, but he also sells many of the pieces to various Corvette vendors. It's a great way to start if you're inclined to repair yours'.

It may not be possible for you to get there, but if you know someone going, give them a list and at least they can be looking for you. There will be some terrific deals in parts and pieces and some not so terrific deals, but there will be deals!

Good luck... GUSTO

 

Caledonia Classics of Belding MI, is who I think you're referring to. Gary's been on L row at Carlisle in the past, the next row over from where Al Knoch is, maybe spaces 110-115?

 

Glenn, thank you, that is exactly who I was thinking of. I stop by their tent every year to see their latest innovations. Great folks to talk to and they make some very high quality products.

I sometimes wish Carlisle would publish a useful diagram listing all of the major/long time vendors. It would make it so much easier to run down a vendor after the fact. Unfortunately their list of vendors is very incomplete and mostly lists the name of the individual that rented the space, and in most cases the actual name of the vendor isn't listed.

Oh well, just another good reason to keep going back!

GUSTO

 

try DOC's corvettes in Tulsa, Ok.

 

Thanks. I wish I could get to Carlisle but it won't happen this year. If anyone can get the contact information or web site for them I would appreciate it. Same for Doc's in Tulsa OK.

Thanks

Jim

 

call Doc's , they cn ship the pans.

 

Using mobile I couldn't tell where you are but there's at least three vette salvage yards in Texas and others sprinkled around US when I Googled "Corvette salvage yard". Good luck.
jim