The joys of C3 ownership - advice needed and a free gift perhaps!

Tue 08 May 12 21:01

The joys of C3 ownership - advice needed and a free gift perhaps!

Hi All,

I've got two little projects on the go at the moment with the '72, and both have been less than straightforward..... surprise surprise

The first one was to replace the original woodgrain door inserts which were de-laminating and looking well past their best. Ordered a repro set from Ecklers and

a) They don't fit properly, and
b) They look sh*te

So, not to be the type that gives up I found a specialist who restores/replaces wood veneers on cars, had a quick chat with them and sent my old ones off to be re-veneered. Long story short, they returned to me today looking very nice indeed, except for the fact that the bubble wrap they were placed in has indented into the cellulose lacquer. Anyway after a further call today, I will be driving down to see the chap to get them re-lacquered. Now here comes the really funny bit.....I've offered the panels up for test fitting and the drivers side insert is a very tight fit, and the passenger side insert doesn't fit properly. However if I reverse them they seem to fit fine. So it looks like they've re-veneered the panels on the opposite side after they stripped them, and Chevrolet being the perverse bunch they are have ensured that the space they fit into on the doors is ever so slightly different on each side!!

My second little project is to replace the handbrake console. So after ordering the correct part from Ecklers, about 4 weeks ago the wrong one turns up (ordered one for power windows, and a manual window console arrived). Anyway, the correct one has now arrived safely and I've removed the old console. However the rear reinforcing bolt was missing from the old console. I also ordered a screw kit, and there appears to be a bolt in the kit for this purpose, however when i try to screw it in, it feels like it will strip the thread on the hole on the reinforcing plate.

So, question is....can I get the correct bolt from the UK or do I need to get it from America (I've got the Chevrolet part no. if that helps)

And finally......does anyone need a manual window handbrake console in '72 dark saddle, as I have a brand new one going spare!

Cheers

Paul

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'72 Coupe - LS5 454 - M21 4-Speed

Tue 08 May 12 21:39

I'm not surprised to hear of your problems with Ecklers-supplied parts.

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Blue-with-white-stripes 1976 manual L82 since 1995
"A stiff upper lip is always well dressed when accompanied by mountains of torque and an indomitable will." -unsprung

Tue 08 May 12 21:57

Ben wrote (View Post):I'm not surprised to hear of your problems with Ecklers-supplied parts.

I've heard all the big suppliers out in the states can sometimes be a bit variable to say the least. Sending out the wrong console was definitely their fault, but to their credit they sorted it out very quickly and told me not to send the first console back to them.

From what I understand most of these trim bits are manufactured by Corvette America and they supply pretty much everybody, so in the end it doesn't matter where you buy from.

Last edited by banjax on Tue 08 May 12 21:59; edited 2 times in total. [8 %]
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'72 Coupe - LS5 454 - M21 4-Speed

Thu 10 May 12 08:41

Take the hassle out of it - go to Scott at Corvette Kingdom or Tom at Claremont Corvette, they have been sourcing for years and know which supplier is best for which particular product - you can end up buying a repro poduct that is a bad repro - end up returning or junking it and spending again with another supplier - I have heard of this many times with Door Rubbers from a particular US supplier.

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Barry - Daytona Vette