1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Jim - I know that was a problem on the early cars. I have a December 68 that also has the black plastic glove box lid. The one I am working on now is a June car which I believe is after the change over date from plastic to the masonite glove box lid. Im trying to figure out how recreate that light switch plate that was added to the fiberboard doors to insure that the switch plunger was pushed all the way down to turn the light off.

Brad Hillhouse

[Dale C.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Brad, I just went through my stuff and couldn't find one. I thought I had an extra, maybe just may be buried deeper. Sorry, I'll help you with dimension's if I can.
Dale

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Dale - I appreciate your help very much. At this point, my search will continue for an original, but will probably proceed with trying to make one that replicates the look of an original. Still searching for a GM part number than may also help me in the search for this part.
Brad

[Richard T.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Brad,
My 68 # 15742 built on 4-10-68 has the bare Masonite doors and does have the plate. It's approx. 1 1/2" long by 3/4" wide. Also there is tiny Mfr. logo or number stamped into the face. I took a couple of pictures , hope they help. Once I can move the car I'll take the plate out and get some better shots and decipher the logo. Rich

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Thats a fantastic picture Rich, Thank you so much!

Brad

[Richard T.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Brad,
Hope this info is in time to help for judging. I removed the part this morning and here are some better pictures. Also the logo is "SP" in script. I needed a 10 power loupe to read it but I'm old. The part is chrome plated . If you need anything else jcmsp062@aol.com Rich

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Rich, that is an extremely helpful set of photos and I cant thank you enough for going above and beyond to remove that to take the photo for me. Im not sure that I will ever find an original, so your photos are going to be a template that I will use to try and recreate this piece.

Thank you again so much!

Brad Hillhouse
37766

[Richard T.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Would it help if I make a tracing of the plate and send it to you?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Brad,
Hope this info is in time to help for judging. I removed the part this morning and here are some better pictures. Also the logo is "SP" in script. I needed a 10 power loupe to read it but I'm old. The part is chrome plated . If you need anything else jcmsp062@aol.com Rich

Rich------


Note that there is a very slight curvature to one side of the plate. This would have been unnecessary for the application on the Corvette rear compartment door. So, I expect that this was a part originally used for some other application, Corvette or not, that was "pressed into service" for this application.

As I previously mentioned, I can't find any part number for it so it may well be a part that was never available in SERVICE OR it was available in SERVICE but only cataloged for whatever its original application was. In the latter case, without knowing what that application was it's nearly impossible to find.

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Rich - Not yet, you have done too much already. For some reason I have it stuck in my mind that I have seen this exact part used somewhere else. Im still thinking about where that is. I will let you know if I need to take you up on your offer.

Brad

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Joe - I have just now figured out what part they used, and I also know where it came from. Ever since the photos were posted a day ago, and then the close up of Rich Thomas photo, it stuck in my head that I know that is a Corvette part, just used in a different location. I now know what it is and where it is located elsewhere on a 1968 Corvette.

I only want to know if I will get mentioned in the front cover of the new 6th edition TIMJG when it comes out for figuring out this mystery?

Brad

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Rich - Thanks to your photos, I have figured out where this part was originally designed to be used in a 1968 Corvette. Thank you so much for removing yours for better photos. You helped me solve the mystery! Crazy thing is I have the exact part in stock off another 1968 Corvette and will use it to complete my storage door assembly.

Thank you again,
Brad Hillhouse
37766

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Thanks to the help of this thread, I am sure that I have identified the GM part name and number. It is GM #3935509 SPACER - HEADER GUIDE. This was used on convertible tops between the guide pin and the front of the convertible top on the 1968 Corvette. I removed one from another 1968 Corvette that I am restoring, and it has the same "SP" stamping that Rich Thomas shows in his photos and has a somewhat poor chrome finish - worse than the guide pin that has a nice chrome finish. The spacer was not seen, so the finish did not need to be as high quality?

Is it possible as they figured out the the new style masonite door did not close tightly against the glove box light switch, someone at the plant said, go find me something that we can use as a spacer to make this glove box lid thick enough to fully depress the glove box light switch and this was the first thing they came up with?

Again, Thank you to this discussion, and I hope that this will also help someone else complete their glove box door restoration to be more accurate.

Thanks,
Brad Hillhouse
37766

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Thanks to the help of this thread, I am sure that I have identified the GM part name and number. It is GM #3935509 SPACER - HEADER GUIDE. This was used on convertible tops between the guide pin and the front of the convertible top on the 1968 Corvette. I removed one from another 1968 Corvette that I am restoring, and it has the same "SP" stamping that Rich Thomas shows in his photos and has a somewhat poor chrome finish - worse than the guide pin that has a nice chrome finish. The spacer was not seen, so the finish did not need to be as high quality?

Is it possible as they figured out the the new style masonite door did not close tightly against the glove box light switch, someone at the plant said, go find me something that we can use as a spacer to make this glove box lid thick enough to fully depress the glove box light switch and this was the first thing they came up with?

Again, Thank you to this discussion, and I hope that this will also help someone else complete their glove box door restoration to be more accurate.

Thanks,
Brad Hillhouse
37766

Brad------


The GM #3935509 was used for the guide pin spacer for both convertible and C-07 tops. However, it was specified for use only for 1968 and, possibly, very early 1969. It was discontinued from SERVICE without supersession in January, 1982. I can't figure out why it was deemed unnecessary after 1968. The 1968-75 tops, both convertible and C-07, did not change much over the years.

[Brad Hillhouse (37766)]

Re: 1968 Glove box lid - late design plate to shut off light

Joe - Thats good information. Would you agree though, that from Rich Thomas photo that it is the same part, although not used as it was originally intended to be used?

Brad