I have been kicking around the idea of replacing the "bread box" on my 86 Vette. MAD has a replacement one for only 50 bucks. Are there any other versions/replacement out there? ie- Elckers, etc, that look better? Should I do it? Does it look better? Is it hard to install?

 

I've heard it's a real PITA to replace it - if you decide to do it, please document and share your experience with us :cheers:

 

Check your email, i just sent you a picture of my interior without a breadbox. Can't really comment on how easy it is to take out as my car came without it, but I read once there is some cutting of supports involved.
Thenagain, if you dont realy car about the BB, you could always be a little more destructive with the removal.
:cheers:

 

Danno, that looks nice, thks for the pic. I may do it. :)

 

I replaced mine with a real carbon fiber insert. It is a pain in the rear to do and I still do not have the A/C vent hooked up right but I think it is an improvement.

 

Sorry I can't send you a pic, but then you have already seen the finished product

Install is pretty simple, takes about an hour.

Use a hacksaw blade to cut through supports, particularly the lower on near the center of the dash.

Just take a little time to see where you are cutting and keep the blade from scraping anything that is going to show

Connecting the AC vent is really not a problem either

Jack

 

I replaced mine on Sunday with the MAD kit. It was a pain, but not difficult. You have to take off the cluster and radio bezels so you can get the top dash pad off. There are 3 screws behind the cluster bezel and two 7mm bolts behind the radio bezel. There are also two long screws on the ends of the windshield defroster vent. Once you get all those out, pull off the dash cover. As you are doing this you have to remove the air vent and hose. You will then be able to get to the two top 7mm bolts on the bread box braces. The two bottom ones are unreachable, but the braces are riveted to the breadbox, so you can just pop them out with a screwdriver. Now your bread box is removed and the bolts on the popped braces are accessible, so you can get them out as well. The kit came with a new hose but it was so stiff that I couldn't make it fit right, no matter what length I cut. So I just reused my old hose and it worked fine. Then just reassemble the dash. It took me two and a half hours, but I wasted 45 mins on trying to make the MAD hose fit. Take your time with your bezels so as not to scratch them and be real careful replacing them if you use a screw gun because they are brittle. Also, the flat panel scratches easily so don't put it face down on anything like the garage floor.

 

Definitely!!! I can't show you pics at this time since I don't have the car at the moment, but I think you've seen some pics already. I bought the kit through MAD and have no regrets.

The flat panel looks much better than the tumor growing out of the passenger's side panel.

 

I havent seen a kit that looks any good in person. I'm using the Hecklers kit. It doesnt match the interior well. but it looks kinda clean

 

If it ain't broke-don't fix it! :yesnod:

 

20 yrs from now when the C4s are considered classics (I already think they are) people will be paying Hecklers (I love that) and MAD big bux for repro bread boxes to install :D sorta like how back in the '60's people couldnt wait to get rid of the factory Rally rims and now theyre a grand a set :lol: :lol: :lol: :blueangel:

 

Not to mention all those folks who removed that pesky divider from the rear glass of their '63 coupes so they would look like the newer model. :cry

 

dbwade36,
I'm in the process of replacing mine this weekend. Got the dash cover off last night. I'm taking pics along the way. Hopefully I will have the pics up by Sunday evening.

 

Did you get the e-mail with the picture??

 

Hey BJ,

How's it going? You can't quite get away from refereces to your profession can ya? :lol: :cheers: :D

-George


[Modified by CoolVette86, 7:46 PM 10/13/2002]

 

I'd say leave it, unless it's really bothering you.

 

What's wrong with you people!!! :D I thought that "bread box" as you call it, was THE COOLEST thing ever back when i first saw them as a kid! You don't find them in any "normal" car, so the vette is a good a place as any for it!! Please! For the sacredness of childhood memories and fondness, go back to your breadboxes!!! Or mail them to me and i'll sell them back to people in the future when they see what they're missing!!! :jester

 

Wait, I don't think your 93 has a breadbox??? :lol: :)
Shoulda got an earlier C4 if you wanted one so bad. Mine is now gone but not missed...kinda like the period after the Dr on a Dr Pepper can.
:seeya

 

I would gladly bolt your old breadbox into mine!!! :jester

 

Personal preference, but mines going bye bye. If yours is in good condition and you think these things might go back up in value, then by all means, wrap it and store it for reinstall or sale in the future.
I bought mine to enjoy. The BB was trashed by the heat anyway so I'd just have to buy another. I'm going to probably custom craft an insert for gauges or GPS or???

I've seen a couple with out and I think they look great. If it wasn't a useless item, why would the general have removed them :D
Does anyone really know why it's there in the first place? If it was intended as a crah safety device... :jester :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Nose dive into that one at about 60 and see what happens :crazy:

Make the mod... :D :cool:
:cheers: :seeya
:flag