Topic: Tore out 71 carpet,found metal seat tag,markings,rear window defroster
in Forum: C3 Interior
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
Never got to my carpet install last year. Got an itch and started tearing at my old original carpet. Found some interesting things:
Carpet and seats came out easy, even the driver's floor insulation was in great shape. The driver's seat has a tag attached under it that reads:
397 4001
LS I M 0271
I wonder if "0271" is Feb '71- exactly like my build date (0202 or Feb 2nd).
The passenger side tunnel was marked: 273.
Also, my antenna wasn't even plugged into my radio. No wonder I had such bad reception.
The funny thing is, being upside down and searching behind the dash, I spied something in the back of the car: a round hampster-like wheel connected to a tube. It went up the side of the driver's head area, into the side panels, and exits out in a slit. I have a rear window defroster! I know my car is highly optioned (power windows, steering, tilt, AC, LS5, auto, deluxe carpet/wood interior, but I never noticed (or used) this one.
Anyways, just wanted to tell people who are thinking about doing the carpet, pulling it out along with seats is a piece of cake.
The carpet install, well, we'll see.
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
Aaron, where did you purchase your carpet from and please let us know how the install goes and what the fit is like. I will be installing some time this winter. Good luck with your install!
Thanks
Rodney
Thanks
Rodney
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
Aaron, you have your own little time capsule there! Was the defroster installed and not on your build sheet? No switch for it? Either way, neat finds. What rearend ratio does your car have? Is it a 2.73:1? That was an option in 71. If so, the markings on the tunnel may be an indicator from someone on the assembly line.
Good fun eh! 
LukesVette Homepage
Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
God Bless America
Support Our Troops 
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Left Side Manual seat, born Feb '71. 
The 273 is more likely the "job number", which usually has no relevance to anything. It is used as a way to track the parts and the car on the line for that day. You can sometimes find the same number scrawled on the build sheet, but not always. If you look up at the top of the rear compartment area while yer laying on yer back, you might find the same number written in black, green, red, etc. You may also find that number on the firewall, engine side, below the brake master/booster, but it may be behind the sheet metal splash guard there....
If you have the rear defrogger, you should also have a switch for it on the console...
Looks like we have another "Indiana Jones"!!
The 273 is more likely the "job number", which usually has no relevance to anything. It is used as a way to track the parts and the car on the line for that day. You can sometimes find the same number scrawled on the build sheet, but not always. If you look up at the top of the rear compartment area while yer laying on yer back, you might find the same number written in black, green, red, etc. You may also find that number on the firewall, engine side, below the brake master/booster, but it may be behind the sheet metal splash guard there....
If you have the rear defrogger, you should also have a switch for it on the console...
Looks like we have another "Indiana Jones"!!
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Number 1 thing when you install carpet is wherever you think you need to make a cut, leave more carpet!! It's a lot easier to remove extra carpet after the final fit than it is to add when you cut it too short. 
Learned that from experience last year.
Learned that from experience last year.
202010261047r.jpg)
DanT
I'm not sure where the carpet and insulation came from yet. When I bought the car, it was included with it, but it is the correct style for my deluxe interior.
As with the rear defroster, I have a knob on the side of the console that I've never seen in any car before, on the driver's side. I think that operates the rear window defroster.
I've installed carpet on numerous cars, and yes, I know to keep extra and slowly trim it. What's neat about the Vettes is the console and back seat carpet already covers the seams, mostly. I have a feeling it's already easier than, say, my 69 Chevelle was, or even my 83 GT Mustang.
If I remember right, the back carpeting, which is in great shape, has grease markings below that too. For now, I'm thinking about just keeping it there and worry about the floors.
As for the rear gears, I'm pretty sure I have 3.08s. Done the math and it's right on.
As for the buildsheet, I have yet to find it. I checked the tank with a scope, really didn't see anything. I'm still going to drop the tank someday, though.
My car is #'s matching still and is pretty original, but it would be nice to have that. Anyone know how to decode the metal tag? I've seen these on a ton of mopars with the VINS on them, but never on one of my Chevys.
Pretty sure that the 0271 code probably means Feb '71, right on with my build date.
The rest, I can only speculate: the "LS" wouldn't seem likely for my LS5 454 engine because it's an interior seat tag, but who knows. The "I" and all other codes don't correlate to option codes or the start of them at least, so....
My Deluxe interior has a code of 403 on the door tag- but that's not on the tag, either.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The 397 4001 is the GM part # for the seat.
The interior has no bearing on what engine the car had, and visa-versa. The LS would be for the driver side for a car with shoulder harnesses. The seats are interchangeable from side to side, unless the car had shoulder harnesses, in which case the seats would have to have backs on them for the harness to go thru, and that would mean each seat had to be specific for one side or the other.
Not sure what the I means....
The interior has no bearing on what engine the car had, and visa-versa. The LS would be for the driver side for a car with shoulder harnesses. The seats are interchangeable from side to side, unless the car had shoulder harnesses, in which case the seats would have to have backs on them for the harness to go thru, and that would mean each seat had to be specific for one side or the other.
Not sure what the I means....
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 Interior
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)