C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

I am now fitting my carpet and 4-speed shifter plate on my 1960. The shifter plate does not fit centered between the sewn-together vinyl edges on either side, but the lower left corner of the shifter plate overlaps, whereas there is a half-inch space on the lower right. Is this how it was on original cars? If not, what sort of adjustments can I make?

Thanks,

Bob

[Don Izzo]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet

Same on my 60 with an original NOS plate and unmolested transmission tunnel.

Don

[Bob B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet

Don,

Thanks! Now it will be full steam ahead! If you've got a pretty original '60, keep a lookout for my ad in the next Driveline. I am going to be doing a survey of 58-60 Corvette owners on a number of features that NCRS currently considers "non-typical" so as to find out just how non-typical some of these non-typical things are!

Thanks,

Bob

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Don"

Your idea of a survey is great , wish NCRS would have a "guru" person to do the same , to put a consensus to gather and end all the confusion about various parts. To me the team leader of each year Corvette should ask and get a consensus on a particular part from members of that year by writing-asking about it in the Restorer , then take the % of the answers to make changes in the JG.
Is that to simple ?or keep listening to members complain about what they think is right or wrong?

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Don"

Not that simple, Roy. Key word is "consensus". As one who has chaired three juding manual revisions, I can tell you that there is NO consensus on any issue/part appearance/configuration. I can tell you that what is in the judging manual (61-62at least) is the result of much looking at cars, asking questions of owners, etc.
However, one has also to consider the context in which someone gives a response. Does the person polled want to have points taken off the next time he has the car judged? No, of course not.So, when he is asked "does the foil tag on your 3269S have a date or is it undated", he may respond with "my car is all original, and the screws on the carburetor have no screwdriver marks on it so it has never been messed with, and it doesn't have a foil tag, so I believe that not all 3269S carburetors came with a foil tag." (True story from the past, by the way.)
Consensus? ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE!
Evaluate the balance of evidence and make as educated a call as possible? Done every time the manual is revised.

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Mike"

I know what your saying , but then (the judging manual (61-62at least) is the result of much looking at cars, asking questions of owners, etc) I can be wrong but the word ("consensus".) is what I was trying to get to by using the same word you just used!
Am I missing something here?

[Bob B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Mike"

Roy,

If you (or anyone) have any questions for the survey, please send them to me and I will see if I can work them in.

Thanks,

Bob

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet BOB

Thanks for the offer ,but your heading down a dead end road doing 100 mph , I've driven that road many times. Good Luck.

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Mike"

Consensus means to come to a common agreement. When you're soliciting input from a number of people, that's impossible--that's when a chairperson needs to make a decision based not on his/her likes or dislikes but upon the balance of information, sifted through for input from persons who have their own agenda.

[Gene B.]

Re: C1 Shifter Plate Fit on Carpet "Mike"

People need to remember these cars were built in a factory and by their employees. To many of these employees it is a job and they try to get through the day so theycan go home and have a beer. Not unlike us in our jobs.

They were not built with the same care and attention to detail that we restore our cars. They are probably many cars which went out without a carb tag, or the correct screws holding down the carpet.

The late George Barlos told me that in 1981 during the change-over from St. Louis to Bowling Green that the engine belts were sent to St. Louis instead of Bowling Green. The car came of the line with local hardware store belts. So we know from history that these cars were going out the door without GM belts.

Mike is right about consensus. Most judges today will not say specifically something is wrong, the say "That is not what we would typically see."

Gene