C3,early/late

[Mike B.]

!977,can someone give me the date for the early/late production? I'm assuming that is what is ment in some posts by L or E.Perhaps there is a birthdate for early/late? I'm learning everyday. Thanks again,Mike

[Jack H.]

Re: C3,early/late

This comes up all the time (definition of 'early' vs. 'late')... There is no universal definition. During a given model year, there are individual running changes and with respect to a SPECIFIC item/issue, early vs. late mean before/after that particular change was made.

Typically, the NCRS Judging Guide addresses these issues, one by one, with advice on what constitutes 'early' vs. 'late' on a point by point basis. Ususally, we almost never have a FIRM change date or VIN since most changes were phased in on the assy line (do NOT scrap existing inventory, stop the line & make retrofit). So, there are 'fuzzy' periods where early and late versions of a given part may be intermixed on production jobs.

[Mike B.]

Re: C3,early/late

Thanks for reply Jack.I must suppose at this time,that when ordering a part,
it could be a mystery of sorts,because the part might fit an early car but not a late car. regards,Mike

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3,early/late

Over the years, judges have noted the VINs where running changes occured, and in a few cases, these are noted in some TIM&JG. During the transition period, both types of parts may be used in sporadic/random application until the old stock is exhausted.

The better vendor catalogs will make distinction when two versions of a part were used, and will indicate one catalog number as being "early" and the other as "late". When you are shopping the swap meets, however, YOU have to know if your model year car had a running change in a part, and which side of the changeover VIN range your car falls. If you make a mistake, then you'll have something to ebay.

[Terry M.]

Re: C3,early/late

While specific items carry the connotation early or late designating before or after a certain change, as Jack mentioned. The production date of the car can carry the same connotation for the entire car. Generally (but not always – it depends on the context) any car within the first one thousand produced, or the first month production of the model year (I know those are not necessarily the same number -- they generally produced more than one thousand cars per month) is considered early, and similarly a car produced in the last month or last thousand of production is considered late.

[Tom R.]

Re: Two examples might help illustrate

what has been explained here in great detail. First, in 77 with VIN 18637, the brushed aluminum horn button was changed to match the interior color (safety issue). A recall also went out. From VIN 13504 to 18,637 the locking was brushed aluminum, and afterward became interior trim color.

Second, the alarm switch was moved from the front driver's fender to the door lock mechanism effective with VIN 23,737...the alarm function is integrated into the driver's side door lock. So after 23,736 there should not be a door lock by the cross flags on the driver's side fender.

So...is anything after VIN 23,737 considered "late" or is anything after 13,504 or even after 18,637 considered "late?" So it's part dependent rather than the car itself.

Vendors too often through out the "late" vs "early" stuff for their convenience but its up to the owner to know what that means in the context of their Corvette model. It becomes a heads up note that the owner, if they are not sure, must do some research, not unlike what you're doing here.