Bread Box. Replace or no?
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (dbwade36)
I replaced my breadbox a year ago and now I can't stand to see one. After not having that "tumor" for a year it's like living without cancer. People no longer get in for the first time and say "What the heck is this thing for?" So you can say "for looks".
I didn't want to cut anything original on my vette so I decided to see if there was a way around cutting the 2 braces. There is. Get a 1/4" rachet and a couple of 6" long extensions and a swivel extension as well as the appropriate size socket. (I think it's 8mm, but don't remember. The 4 brace screws are all the same size and the top ones are pretty easy to get to.) After taking the dash pad off and the hush panel off below you will be able to see the inner lower screws holding in the breadbox and brackets. If you work the socket up through the maze of wires and parts using the extensions you will eventually be able to put the socket on the screws and undo them using the rachet. After that it is a piece of cake.
I didn't want to cut anything original on my vette so I decided to see if there was a way around cutting the 2 braces. There is. Get a 1/4" rachet and a couple of 6" long extensions and a swivel extension as well as the appropriate size socket. (I think it's 8mm, but don't remember. The 4 brace screws are all the same size and the top ones are pretty easy to get to.) After taking the dash pad off and the hush panel off below you will be able to see the inner lower screws holding in the breadbox and brackets. If you work the socket up through the maze of wires and parts using the extensions you will eventually be able to put the socket on the screws and undo them using the rachet. After that it is a piece of cake.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 20
From: Derby Kansas
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (STREETKNIGHT)
I believe it's there because when they were originally designing the "new" Corvette it was thought that federal standards for air bags would be in place when the car went into production. The breadbox should have been an air-bag.
When the air bag requirement was delayed after they had already detemined the size & shape of the container, instead of re-engineering the passenger side dash, they just molded the container with foam inside instead of the bag and components. I don't know if they actually designed a bag for the early C4 and decided it wasn't worth the cost to put one in if it wasn't required, or if the federal requirement dissapeared before they had actually designed the "internals".
:cheers:
When the air bag requirement was delayed after they had already detemined the size & shape of the container, instead of re-engineering the passenger side dash, they just molded the container with foam inside instead of the bag and components. I don't know if they actually designed a bag for the early C4 and decided it wasn't worth the cost to put one in if it wasn't required, or if the federal requirement dissapeared before they had actually designed the "internals".
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (dbwade36)
I restored mine and really like the look :yesnod: It's a job that requires a bit of patience though. Not the most well engineered thingy.
Here's a pic of mine.
Here's a pic of mine.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,459
Likes: 41
From: Spring Branch, Texas
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (dbwade36)
Hi all,
I finally got around to doing a writeup on replacing the breadbox (I replaced mine last weekend). Here's the link
http://aylstock.com/corvette/breadbox/
Let me know what you think.
Mike_88Z51, Your idea of the long extension and socket would probably be a better way to go to get them lower nuts off!
:seeya
I finally got around to doing a writeup on replacing the breadbox (I replaced mine last weekend). Here's the link
http://aylstock.com/corvette/breadbox/
Let me know what you think.
Mike_88Z51, Your idea of the long extension and socket would probably be a better way to go to get them lower nuts off!
:seeya
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (RamjetVette)
The bread loaf was a response to a never enacted federal proposal for a passive restraint. Read Dave McClellan's comments on page 124 of his fine book. Leave it in. :smash:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Bread Box. Replace or no? (RamjetVette)
Hi all,
I finally got around to doing a writeup on replacing the breadbox (I replaced mine last weekend). Here's the link
http://aylstock.com/corvette/breadbox/
Let me know what you think.
Mike_88Z51, Your idea of the long extension and socket would probably be a better way to go to get them lower nuts off!
:seeya
I finally got around to doing a writeup on replacing the breadbox (I replaced mine last weekend). Here's the link
http://aylstock.com/corvette/breadbox/
Let me know what you think.
Mike_88Z51, Your idea of the long extension and socket would probably be a better way to go to get them lower nuts off!
:seeya
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Largo Florida
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (CORKVETTE1)
I replaced mine in my last Corvette it was a 88 and I made a plate myself out of ABS plastic looks better than the kits. I have also replaced a few with Carbon fiber that come with the kits. I liked the looks of them as well. I thought about a tv or something if I had kept the 88 I would have put a tv in that space. I ended up useing a horn emblem and mounting it into the panel to dress it up some as well I will try and find a pic of it when I get home. The did make a glove box that looked like the original but have only seen one and it was broken. :crazy:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 3
From: atlanta ga
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (Topless94)
wow thats alot of extra space. must be 2 inches or so. what will you do with all that room. there has to be something that you can fit in your car now that you could not fit before. if you think of what it is let me know and i might remove mine.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 20
From: Derby Kansas
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (Topless94)
Kind of like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...869235879&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...869235879&rd=1
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Largo Florida
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (stillthere)
here it is with the emblem and alarm light that was with the keyless entry. And yup that would be the glovebox! :yesnod:
[Modified by Topless94, 11:36 PM 10/22/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 0
From: Yakima WA
Re: Bread Box. Replace or no? (stillthere)
Well guys, I have decided to hold off on replacing the Bread Box. I am actually not convinced that it looks better w/o it. I kinda like the way the BB looks, as opposed to some of the replacements.. Thanks for the input though. All the responses were very helpful in making my decision.
