68 Instrument Panels and sides

[Dale C.]

I was doing some work on my side panels and using the Corvette America copy of the AIM. It was confusing as it referenced the pictures of both types of chart panels, 1, E2 and 1 E2.5. By using the origional AIM, I was able to clear up alittle of the confusion. Those winged type side panels were dropped after that CA 1,E2 and then the 1,E2.5 showed the replacement none winged type. Anyway here is how it was depicted and it shows what was used and when. Hope this helps if anyone is working on a 68 dash.

[Terry B.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Dale,

I could not read any of the dates on the sheets you posted. My December '67 Built Corvette does not use screws in the wings on the side console. Maybe your sheets confirm that but not sure. Mine uses the side slide in clips.

Terry

[Dale C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Terry
Sorry the dates didn't show up. The dates on this later revision of 1 E2 are; 4-22-68 (Pad drawing revision which removed the charts drawings) and 5-9-68 which established sheet 2.5 and showed the new chart covers, with the screws. Note, they also show the loss of the little pointy wings at the front of the covers. These were probably eliminated for the underdash braces that were added around this time.
Dale

[John C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Dale

The console side panels went through a couple changes for the 1968 model year. Early cars had a side panel with a long toe on it. Later cars went to a revised side panel with the long toe removed and a modified shape at the top front to clear the under-dash bracing that was added to convertibles midyear. The attached pictures show the different shapes. Both of these panels clip onto the console.

Although shown in the 1968 AIM, I'm not sure the screw on side panels with wings appeared on any 1968 cars. From what I have observed, I believe it was a 1969 model year change. I've seen 1968 cars built during the last week of production with out them. It's possible that the application of them could be based on interior color.

It will be interesting to see if any late 1968 car owners report the wings.

John

[Dale C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

John
The date on that AIM 1 E, 2.5 chart cover page was 5-9-68, kind of late in the production year, so you are probabbly correct in thinking it may have not showed up till 69 production. The 69 AIM uses the same 68 PN's for the chart panels and drops that little cover for the rag top brace. That little Left Hand chart cover (item 6, PN3954503) is kind of interesting in that I don't think it ever made it into the cars. The right one PN 3954504 did however make it into the cars till it was removed in the 69 AIM on July 25, 68. I would like to know when in that toe came off the chart cover, for that 68 brace change, as my car had the brace brackets installed but the braces never made it into the car. We have another March car around my date that had the same thing, brackets and no braces yet. It's like they were configuring the cars for the braces that were soon to follow. I can't wait to see the new JM to see when they made the call for the start date of that brace installation. They were origionally implying the change (to add the braces) as being around Feb but we have early March cars that didn't have the braces yet. Was it your car that was like mine? I'll look it up in the blogs. Sure hope they got it right.
Dale

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

I was doing some work on my side panels and using the Corvette America copy of the AIM. It was confusing as it referenced the pictures of both types of chart panels, 1, E2 and 1 E2.5. By using the origional AIM, I was able to clear up alittle of the confusion. Those winged type side panels were dropped after that CA 1,E2 and then the 1,E2.5 showed the replacement none winged type. Anyway here is how it was depicted and it shows what was used and when. Hope this helps if anyone is working on a 68 dash.

OK guys, when it says "chart" after the part number that means there is a chart showing the different part numbers for the different colors involved. The part is not called a chart. If you look on UPC 1, sheet E2 you will see that ALL the pads have the word "chart". They are all called pads, all four of them. As another example look at UPC 1 Sheet E 5. It shows the front console assembly with the word "chart" following the part number. I am sure you can find other examples, especially on the interior sections.

My AIM has 5 pages of UPC 1, sheet E2 and no sheet E2.5 -- so you are on your own for that one.

This is just from the 1968 AIM I have handy in my office. The others are in the garage, and not at hand. I don't recall what the new TIM&JG will say about all this, but I did have a sticky note on that page -- so there was some exchange of information about it, but I can not tell you where it wound up. You will have to stay tuned for the news at 11.

[John C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Dale

I don't know when the toe was dropped but it had to be on or before the introduction of the convertible bracing. I don't believe the panels with the toe will fit with the bracing. Does your car have the panel with the toe or the revised shape? My April built 68 has the bracing and the revised side panels to clear them.

As you state, I'm not sure that the wing on the drivers side was ever used. My 1969 built in Dec. 68 does not have one. It seems to serve no purpose as it is almost impossible to see the brace it was supposed to cover up while sitting in the car.

I believe the passenger side wing was dropped when the under-dashed bracing configuration was changed during the 1969 model year. With the revised bracing configuration the brace that the wing covered was no longer visible from the passenger compartment. So at that point the wing served no purpose.

John

[Dale C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Terry
Thanks for the clear up on the chart thing. I could not understand why it was called a chart. Makes sense now. That brings up, if they had different PN for different colors from a chart then they probably were different colored plastic and not just painted from a generic color, as some would say.
Dale

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Terry
Thanks for the clear up on the chart thing. I could not understand why it was called a chart. Makes sense now. That brings up, if they had different PN for different colors from a chart then they probably were different colored plastic and not just painted from a generic color, as some would say.
Dale

Good point Dale, and we don't know because to the best on my knowledge no one has produced a chart for any of these early C3 parts. And to that extend my theory about the chart is speculation, but I would rate is likely speculation. I suppose they could have been painted by the supplying vender and still have different part numbers, right?

[John C.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

I'm not sure about later cars, but the early C3 console and side panels were not painted plastic. They were a plastic core that was wrapped in the correct color vinyl.

It's hard to imagine that each one did not have a separate part number. Without that, how could they keep track of inventory?

John

[John H.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

I'm not sure about later cars, but the early C3 console and side panels were not painted plastic. They were a plastic core that was wrapped in the correct color vinyl.

It's hard to imagine that each one did not have a separate part number. Without that, how could they keep track of inventory?

John

John -

Each one DID have a separate part number by color - that's what the "chart" had on it; any single part that was released in trim colors applied by or molded at the supplier level had a unique part number by color, shown on a "chart" drawing. In the Assembly Manual, only the "chart" part number was shown, instead of cluttering up the page with a long list of part numbers by color for the same base part.

Generally, if a single part was painted at St. Louis in colors, the Assembly Manual callout will show only a single part number, as that's what came from the supplier.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

I am pretty sure my 1970 (Bight Blue) is painted, but I am relying on memory but it is long term memory. Might be gettign close to time to look.

[Mike K.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

All: I have an early built '68 (10/67) and the console side pannels are exactly like John Carlson shows...plastic covered in vinyl.

[Dick W.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

[QUOTE=Terry McManmon (3966)

This is just from the 1968 AIM I have handy in my office. The others are in the garage, and not at hand. I don't recall what the new TIM&JG will say about all this, but I did have a sticky note on that page -- so there was some exchange of information about it, but I can not tell you where it wound up. You will have to stay tuned for the news at 11. [/QUOTE] From the new manual For 1968, the radio access side panels at the front of the console fasten with clips on the back

I guess that is something for the next revision

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Instrument Panels and sides

Terry
Thanks for the clear up on the chart thing. I could not understand why it was called a chart. Makes sense now. That brings up, if they had different PN for different colors from a chart then they probably were different colored plastic and not just painted from a generic color, as some would say.
Dale

Dale-----

I don't think that any of these interior parts were painted at St. Louis. Thus, regardless of whether the part was painted or whether it was made from colored substrate material it had a different part number for each color. With respect to these console side panels, all original ones that I have seen were a hard plastic core with a vinyl covering. I've never really noted whether the vinyl was "through-colored" or painted but for black interior it was "through-colored". In SERVICE only black was available and they had to be painted the appropriate interior color.