Mid Year's What needed Improvement

[roadpilot]

I have a 1966 Coupe and it is a great car. The designers and enginner's
designed a striking body and the Corvette was improved on year after year.
But, like all cars they missed the bulls eye , sometimes.
I could name several, but I will name just one.
1. Windshield. Much to compicated to install. A simpler design ,would have made installing a front windshield a lot easier. Unless you do it yourself, there
are few windshield installers who will tackle the job.

It is your turn ...Name one thing that could be improved on a 1963 to 1967
Corvette?

[AUTOHOLIC]

All you have to do is look at what the Restomod crowd does to these vehicles to answer your questions. While I am not really a fan of it I can respect the time, money and ingenuity that goes into building one.
For me part of the charm of owning a midyear is just enjoying them as the factory built them. They were ahead of their time compared to most other cars in their day.
If I didn’t think and feel the way I do about them I would have just dropped an LS into my 1965 rather then spending all the time and money building a 383 that looks like a stock 350/365 factory engine.

[RatDog]

Power convertible top.

Take care,
Steve

[Rikki Z-06]

Y'all have some beautiful mid-years.

[roadpilot]

My turn again.
The wheel wells should have been deeper and the hubs shorter
so you could put bigger tires on a Midyear. Corvette figured it out by the
time the C3 came out.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

My turn again.
The wheel wells should have been deeper and the hubs shorter
so you could put bigger tires on a Midyear. Corvette figured it out by the
time the C3 came out.

I will agree with this. It was the very reason we saw so many flared fender midyears which is another favorite feature that he factory should have added to the original bodies beginning in 1964 that would “fix” the desire for bigger tires. Well sized flares just look perfectly at home on a midyear NOT the oversized ones that came later.
The basic 1963 Corvette suspension was the same for many years with the same components made from lighter materials mostly from 1984 forward. The BIGGEST improvements in Corvette handling has to be attributed to tire technology.

[roadpilot]

Originally Posted by AUTOHOLIC

I will agree with this. It was the very reason we saw so many flared fender midyears which is another favorite feature that he factory should have added to the original bodies beginning in 1964 that would “fix” the desire for bigger tires. Well sized flares just look perfectly at home on a midyear NOT the oversized ones that came later.
The basic 1963 Corvette suspension was the same for many years with the same components made from lighter materials mostly from 1984 forward. The BIGGEST improvements in Corvette handling has to be attributed to tire technology.

Tire technology helped improve all cars. You remember tube type tires. I
ran big rigs with them ,what a mess. Crease a tube when installing and you
start over again. Bias tires was the only thing you had at one time. When radial tires were introduced, longer wear,cooler running,better handleing came about immediately.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

Tire technology helped improve all cars. You remember tube type tires. I
ran big rigs with them ,what a mess. Crease a tube when installing and you
start over again. Bias tires was the only thing you had at one time. When radial tires were introduced, longer wear,cooler running,better handleing came about immediately.

This is true but tire manufacturers worked with different automakers for specific tires such a the 1984 Corvette. This was the beginning years for association with specific tires for specific cars. Pretty much for sports cars exclusively not the run of the mill other passenger cars.

[StudleyJames]

First, wish you did not have to hold the headlight bucket switch all the way up and down while they move

Second, the writing on the heater knobs are very hard to read while driving and do not illuminate very well at night

Third, seat back latches should both be on the outside of the seat (a left and a right)

[RatDog]

I agree about the seat latches. It was probably cheaper to make the seats interchangeable with each other. Would have cost more to put them on opposite sides.

I, for one, would have gladly paid the extra $1 to have them on opposite sides.

Take care,
Steve

[roadpilot]

Originally Posted by RatDog

I agree about the seat latches. It was probably cheaper to make the seats interchangeable with each other. Would have cost more to put them on opposite sides.

I, for one, would have gladly paid the extra $1 to have them on opposite sides.

Take care,
Steve

On my 66 the seats are interchangeable.

[RatDog]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

On my 66 the seats are interchangeable.

On my ‘67, too.

Take care,
Steve

[StudleyJames]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

On my 66 the seats are interchangeable.

They all are (C2) the seats with locking backs, the lever is on the left side on all of them

[roadpilot]

Originally Posted by StudleyJames

They all are (C2) the seats with locking backs, the lever is on the left side on all of them

I have never seen it on mine. I just went out and looked NADA.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by StudleyJames

First, wish you did not have to hold the headlight bucket switch all the way up and down while they move

Second, the writing on the heater knobs are very hard to read while driving and do not illuminate very well at night

Third, seat back latches should both be on the outside of the seat (a left and a right)

If you switch to the Detroit Speed headlight motors it converts it to just using the headlight switch so you no longer need the second switch and they are much faster.

Regarding the heater knob illumination make sure the have the shields over the bulbs as it will direct more light to the slots.

[StudleyJames]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

I have never seen it on mine. I just went out and looked NADA.

NADA?
no latches or the latches are not on the left side?
I know '63 and '64 seats have no latches
Not sure about '65 and '66 but '67 have them

[StudleyJames]

Originally Posted by AUTOHOLIC

If you switch to the Detroit Speed headlight motors it converts it to just using the headlight switch so you no longer need the second switch and they are much faster.

Regarding the heater knob illumination make sure the have the shields over the bulbs as it will direct more light to the slots.

Don't want to modify a original stock car, just don't like the factor headlight / power window switch for the headlight motors

I was talking about how hard it is to read chrome lettering on chrome bezels, and yes my shields are on the dash illumination bulb located just underneath the clock, just whish GM came up with something better thats all

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by StudleyJames

Don't want to modify a original stock car, just don't like the factor headlight / power window switch for the headlight motors

I was talking about how hard it is to read chrome lettering on chrome bezels, and yes my shields are on the dash illumination bulb located just underneath the clock, just whish GM came up with something better thats all

You don’t have to physically eliminate the roll over switch (I didn’t on either of my cars) with the Detroit Speed units. The only way you can tell they have been replaced is to look at the motors which you practically have to use a mirror to see unless you have the hood off. If you are an NCRS type then just disregard all of this.

[JAG66]

Adjustable strut rods. I prefer my midyears stock, but I usually replace mine with the new and improved strut rods with the locking nuts. Much easier to set camber and it stays in place.

[Frankie the Fink]

Installing glass in most of the 60's cars is tedious - just the way it is, molding, clips, weatherstrip. I don't know there is much to improve in the C2s - other than things the ravages of time uncover, like corroded bulkhead connectors, rust, gummed up headlight buckets, etc.