I was reading in a Corvette book that some of the last 1971 Corvettes did not have the fiber optics on them. Can anybody that has a late 1971 verifiy this. Or has anybody seen one at a show or has a friend that that has one without fiber optics . I think it's a really cool featuer on early 3rd generation Corvettes

There is a '71 registry at www.71corvette.com which might be another possible source of info. I personally have never seen or heard of this, but having worked for GM at that time, I believe it is certainly possible.

1970 the fiber optics were standard and the UA6 alarm system was an option. In 1972 the alarm was standard and the fiber optics were dropped. Somewhere in 1971 around serial number 21,000 (according to the NCRS Technical Manual & Judging guide available at www.ncrs.org) the fiber optic system was no longer found on 1971 vehicles. I'm not certain if alarm was standard at that time or for the entire 71 model year or in 1972 or what though. ~Juliet

|UPDATED|5/20/2002 11:04:16 PM|/UPDATED|

How much trouble is it to add fiber optics to a 73? Will the console inserts fit, or is a whole console needed? Are reproduction harnesses available, or should I just use heavy fishing line? I remember from my 69 the end at the headlight was just held against the "tit" on the back of the bulb, but what held it? Am I dreaming? I really liked that feature. Joe

On the headlights it is held in place by the plug for the lights. In the turn signals and brake lights they have special connectors that go into the back of the reflective part of the housing. If you want to put it in a 73 you would have to get the whole brake light assembly and try to rig something for the front lights. I think that would be a heck of a job to do.

What exactly ARE the fiber optics? I don't have ANY interior lights on when the car is running at night(creeped me out the first time it happened). I do however have "Bright" and the Blinker Arrows when those are in use....anyway..I've got a 1975...should I have Fiber optics and what do they do really(even if i don't I'm curious now =)

Scot

No, you don't have fiber optics. They are little glowing lights in the console that go on with the headlights, parking, brake, and backup lights. They were high tech back then, kind of like monofiliment fishing line that transmits some of the glow from the actual bulb into the console and illuminates the plastic "bulb" in the console.

If your interior is dark at night, the causes are: instrument cluster bulbs are all burnt out (unlikely), the 5amp fuse is blown, the instrument cluster ground is missing or loose, the headlight switch is turned all the way dark (couldn't be) or the rheostat on the switch is broken.

Joe

Here's a (lousy) pic |url|http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/heatercore/HeatCore_orig.htm|/url| Look at the top pic. They're light monitors right below the radio. There's a little pickup in the turn signals, headlights, high beams, brake lights etc. It's fiber optic cable which goes to the lens on the center console so you can tell when things are on / off. It's just like those funky lights from the '60s with all the light running down the fibers. :D

|UPDATED|6/11/2002 10:15:58 PM|/UPDATED|

xxxxx

|UPDATED|10/11/2002 10:42:59 PM|/UPDATED|

Hi Henry!
My '71 was one of the last 800 built (July 11, 1971) & it has the fiber-optics (all but one of which still work). If some '71's were "optic-less," they must have been a rare few!