71 Hazard Flasher Knob
I am trying to clarify if the 71 Technical Judging Manual (JM) is correct about the hazard knob for cars with a VIN number over 9000. The JM states that for 71 cars over VIN 9000, the knob would be the short style and be made of black metal with the white letters that read "Flasher". I have a survivor car and the knob is indeed black with the white "Flasher" letters. However, it seems to be made of hard plastic, not metal. Can anyone verify if this is correct or not? Thanks
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Joe - It's a standard column.Comment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Seth------
It's really going to take some folks with late 1971's to provide definitive information on this. What I can tell you is this: at least early 1971's with standard columns used the same hazard switch knob as 1969-70. This is a chromed, metal (zinc diecast, I think) knob with embossed "flasher" script that is inlaid with black paint and which has integral threaded shaft. Later in 1971 this MAY have changed to a different knob which was retained to the switch by a separate screw. Whether, or not, it was used in 1971, it was used in 1972 through most, if not all, of the model year. I know very little about this knob, GM #9794114. It was only available in SERVICE for a very limited time from August, 1971 until May, 1972. If it was not used throughout the entire 1972 model year, then late 1972's used the GM #411525. The latter is a black plastic knob with embossed "flasher" script inlaid with white paint. It also uses a separate screw for attachment. The 411525 became the SERVICE knob for all 1967 through early 1977 applications.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Joe --- I am amazed at your knowledge and information you provided and I appreciate it. My car was built in early May, 71 and the flasher knob is black plastic with embossed "flasher" script that is inlaid with white paint and which has an integral threaded shaft. There is no separate retainer screw as used on later cars. I am unable to locate a part # on the knob which might be the #9794114 you had referenced. I'm just not sure given it has no part # on it. The judging manual describes my knob exactly for 71 cars with VIN's over 9000 (which mine is), except it talks about them being black metal and not plastic (which mine is). I was just a bit confused by this so I thought I would try to find out. I appreciate your help.Comment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Seth-------
I did a little more checking and I find I was incorrect that the GM #9794114 used a separate screw for attachment. It did have an integral threaded shaft for attachment. So, now I'm virtually certain that what you have is the 9794114. It's definitely not the 69-E71 GM #398165 or the L72-76 GM #411525. So, unless there's some other knob of unknown part number (which I HIGHLY doubt), I'd say it has to be the 9794114. GM never indicated that the 9794114 was used on a 1971 Corvette but, apparently, it was. This is not surprising since it was definitely used on early, if not all, 1972's.
However, I still don't know anything else about the 9794114, especially as to material. Can you post several close up photos of the knob (uninstalled on the car)?In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Here they are Joe...Comment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Seth-------
Yup, this has got to be the GM #9794114. From what I can see of it, it appears like it's plastic to me, too. In fact, if it were not mostly plastic and were metal, it would be basically the same as the earlier GM #398165 except for color. Its overall configuration is very similar to the 398165.
So, why did this piece only last about a year in PRODUCTION and SERVICE? Well, this design appears to be a plastic body with a metal threaded section somehow "bonded" to the plastic. I kind of expect that this design didn't work too well for a knob used for a push-pull type switch. So, GM went to a plastic knob which used a separate, central screw for attachment eliminating the problems with the "bonded" design. Remember, these knobs were not exclusive to Corvette; they were used across all GM car lines.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 71 Hazard Flasher Knob
Thanks Joe. Your analysis makes good sense. Fortunately, this knob won't be getting much use. I liked the chrome predecessor personally and think a GM bean counter in the day figured out how to value engineer the part and save a penny on production costs. In any event, thank you for help and expertise which is a great contribution to the hobby.Comment
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