My L81

[1COOL81]

New here with pics of my new 81:
53,500 actual miles
Numbers matching L81 350cu
Numbers matching Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed
Original Classic White paint (10)
Original Cinnabar Cloth interior (67C)
Original carpet and floor mattes
Original A/C (Freon 12) works great!
Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, Power Locks
Power Driver’s Seat, Rear Window Defrost
AM/FM Stereo 8-track with tapes that work in the glove box! (Elvis, Journey, J. Denver, Eddie Arnold, Rolling Stones)
New Goodyear Eagle tires
New GM brake calipers and pads
Drives and rides awesome!!! :L

I tried to register on the Offical L81 Registery Forum, but never got a reply that my data was entered in the database. Is it still active? I was really wanting to have it as a part of the offical site. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Yoda]

1COOL81 ~ Welcome to the Corvette Action Center Community ~

Dan

Sweet ride you got there

The L81VetteRegistry just went through a change of command. I used have the Registry, with help from a young man named Tim, also owner of an L81. Tim and I turned over control to pbcanney (Paul).

I'm sure you'll hear from Paul soon about the Registry

Welcome aboard and enjoy the

Bud
(aka ~ Rare81)

 

[1COOL81]

Thanks for the update on the registery... and the compliment. Still got to detail the engine bay to make her even better.

 

[Nut]

Dan..... very nice. I haven't seen Cinnabar cloth like that in a LONG time. Mine finally wore out and just replaced it with the Cinnabar leather. You'll get a lot of comments about the "orange" carpet. The Cinnabar leather is the same color as the door skins.

Enjoy............... nut

 

[6880 Mike]

Nice '81. She's a keeper. Unpainted trim tag indicates a Bowling Green car.

 

[Baldie88]

Beautiful car Dan.

I used to live in Huntsville. If you are interested in joining a club I recommend Valley Vettes and also Vets with Vettes. If you ever have any problems with your car, Zeke Jenkins, who belongs to Valley Vettes, is the guy to take it to. He has the only Corvette specialty shop in the area.

Ron
"Baldie88"

 

[1COOL81]

Nice '81. She's a keeper. Unpainted trim tag indicates a Bowling Green car.

Actually it's an early St. Louis build (Sept 80). I looked up at all the numbers before I made the purchase. Thanks, and yes she is definately a keeper. Took nearly 2 years to find this one. Picky buyer but it paid off.

 

[1COOL81]

Dan..... very nice. I haven't seen Cinnabar cloth like that in a LONG time. Mine finally wore out and just replaced it with the Cinnabar leather. You'll get a lot of comments about the "orange" carpet. The Cinnabar leather is the same color as the door skins.

Enjoy............... nut

Thanks Nut. I wondered what the cinnabar leather color was. I really like the cinnabar because it is unusual and you don't see it or the original cloth very often. People either love it or hate it. They neve say they hate it they just say something like wow that's a different color. The cloth is cooler here in the south too. The seats and carpet were virtually spotless. The drivers matte has a little heel wear right where you'd expect it to be but thats it. I went over every inch of carpet and cleaned the few minor places that showed dark and glued a couple of loose flaps. Other than that it looks just great.

 

[LanceB]

very nice! Everything is there on yours, even the smog pump it looks like. Possibly repaint the alternator and the engine bay will look very new? Do you plan to do anything more to it or just drive it? I wish my valve covers were still black like yours. Someone painted mine at one time I guess and now they are flaking silver paint. I am sure repainting valve covers is a PITA.

 

[1COOL81]

very nice! Everything is there on yours, even the smog pump it looks like. Possibly repaint the alternator and the engine bay will look very new? Do you plan to do anything more to it or just drive it? I wish my valve covers were still black like yours. Someone painted mine at one time I guess and now they are flaking silver paint. I am sure repainting valve covers is a PITA.

As far as I can tell everything is original under the hood except for a couple of vacuum lines. I may need to replace a couple more since I hear a small leak but haven't figured out exactly where it is. I plan to keep it all original with the exception of a good detailing. It's not really that bad, it's just never been cleaned and most of the dust will probably wash right off. I'm looking for suggestions for what to use to clean the plastic and hoses. I've used Mother's "Back to Black" on my son's car window rubber and it worked great. I thought I might try it on the hoses and such and see what it does. I don't want the "used car shine" but rather a factory clean look. I think a degreaser would be extreme and it doesn't really need that much cleaning. Plus I don't want to cause the valve covers to start peeling. Painting them would indeed be a pain. I'm open to suggestions for wires and hoses.

 

[Yoda]

Nice '81. She's a keeper. Unpainted trim tag indicates a Bowling Green car.

Actually that is incorrect
The S/N indicates Plant of Origin, Nut's is a St. Louis Car with Primer as documented by Bob, Registry and Mike Antonick's Corvette Black Book.

Bud

 

[twiget]

Your L81 is beautiful! Congrats on the purchase, it definately looks like you got your monies worth.

Jason

 

[6880 Mike]

...Actually that is incorrect ...

Trying to learn something here. It's my understanding trim tags at St. Louis were attached in the paint shop between the second and final coats of exterior color and should show evidence of paint.

Trim tags at Bowling Green were attached after the cars left the paint shop and show no evidence of exterior color.

What's the skinny on this?

 

[Yoda]

Mike,

I read ("Unpainted trim tag indicates a Bowling Green car.") and ASSuMEd something else :duh ...

I don't know when the Trim Tags were installed ~ St. Louis verse Bowling Green. I know mine had overspray on it and I took some fine steelwool and cleaned it That will be a question I'll pose to G. K. one of these days..


Bud

 

[1COOL81]

Mike,

I read ("Unpainted trim tag indicates a Bowling Green car.") and ASSuMEd something else :duh ...

I don't know when the Trim Tags were installed ~ St. Louis verse Bowling Green. I know mine had overspray on it and I took some fine steelwool and cleaned it That will be a question I'll pose to G. K. one of these days..


Bud

I'm not sure about painted trim tags. I've never heard that before. Mine doesn't have any paint on it at all. The GM driver's door tag says Sept 80 and that matches with the VIN number build series and glass manufacture dates. I cross referenced numbers form a number of different sources in order to confirm the build date. You never know, it could be a different panel or door and I wanted to make sure the numbers all were correct for the body, engine and glass.
I found the series numbers on several websites and used Corvette-World for the glass numbers. The 11th position in the VIN number has a S for St. Louis. I believe the Ky. cars have a 5 at the 11th. The 10th digit should be a B for 1981. That's what I went by. Not an expert here, just my findings. I hope this info helps. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

This site has some good C3 specs if you're interested:
http://www.corvette-world.com/corvette_1968-1982 LOF Glass Date Codes.php

 

[bill81vette]

welcome to CAC!!!
very,very sweet looking '81!!!!!!!!!
I'm curious of your vin# b/c mine was also built in Sept '80,on the 18th to be exact.

 

[bill81vette]

Trying to learn something here. It's my understanding trim tags at St. Louis were attached in the paint shop between the second and final coats of exterior color and should show evidence of paint.

Trim tags at Bowling Green were attached after the cars left the paint shop and show no evidence of exterior color.

What's the skinny on this?

this is true....however,the paint did not adhere well due to the stainless steel.
the paint was often removed by the owner to read the tag.
There would be evidence of paint in the rivet heads and the mandrel area,and edges of the tag.(as per NCRS Manual)
hope this helps...

 

[1COOL81]

this is true....however,the paint did not adhere well due to the stainless steel.
the paint was often removed by the owner to read the tag.
There would be evidence of paint in the rivet heads and the mandrel area,and edges of the tag.(as per NCRS Manual)
hope this helps...

Bill you are exactly right. I looked at my trim tag this afternoon and the rivet heads are white.. same as the body.

 

[6880 Mike]

...Bill you are exactly right. I looked at my trim tag this afternoon and the rivet heads are white.. same as the body...

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[petes74ttop]

Your car looks beautiful inside, outside and under the hood, congratulations on a great purchase, enjoy your ride, PG.