ZR1 Glass vs Plastic Headlamps

[swamp]

I am a new member here and I am looking for

[Kevin]

if you're going NCRS the lights should be glass

[We Gone]

There is a discussion going on the other site about this.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/3392052-need-help-from-the-zr-1-brotherhood.html

[swamp]

Folks, you will have to excuse my in complete message on Glass vs Plastic Headlamps. I posted the entire message to a reply about this issue to an individual thread and not the general forum.

I have conducted a survey concerning the ZR1 Glass vs Plastic Headlamp issue.

I will repeat it here so that you do not have to switch over.

I have conducted a survey and determined that the initial Headlamp on the 1990 ZR1 was Glass until approximately VIN # 1964/1990 in 1990. They had a build date of March/April. The first Plastic Wagner Headlamp I discovered was on a 1990 ZR1 VIN # 2320 with a build date of May 1990.

I am trying to narrow the change over period and would be interested in hearing from any 1990 ZR1 owner. What I would need is the VIN# or the Build Date and if you have Glass or Wagner Plastic Headlamps.

I have conducted this same survey on the NCRS Technical Board and the Corvette Forum so you might have already responded. My results have been forwarded to the NCRS National Team Leader for his review. I will be meeting with him at the NCRS Regional in Kissimmee next week.
Thanks.

[Kevin]

#1433 90 plastic. gordon told me it should have glass

[swamp]

Kevin, that would make sense as to the comments of Gordon.
Your VIN falls in with the other ZR1 VIN's that are Glass.
Like I said before, the earliest Wagner Plastic Headlamp was on 1990 VIN # 2320.
Gordon usually has all the right answers. I have gotten some information from him in the past.
Are you the original owner of this ZR1? If you are not, it is possible that they are replacements. However, I would not change anything right now until a definitive judgment on this issue is made. If you do change them, save them.
Once again, I appreciate your time.

[Kevin]

swamp,
I'm not the original owner of the car but the car has been in the family since 1999. I have no plans to change anything even if it's "definitive". I respect what the NCRS does but I don't care that much about it for myself.

[swamp]

Kevin, the build date can be found on the inside of the driver's side door jam. There are two white labels on the driver's side door jam. The first label will have the build date on the upper left hand side. It will be a month/year posting. The second smaller label has the tire pressure settings.
Thanks again for your help and enjoy your ZR1. I only wish that I had one.

[scottfab]

I have SN# 0064 and they are not plastic.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Been involved with NCRS and restoring Corvettes for a LONG time. It's very dangerous to get caught up in definitive cutoffs on parts transitions. I also worked for GM in multiple plants. Multiple suppliers and old stock play into the manufacturing process as the norm.

You keep the line running at all costs.

[Kevin]

Kevin, the build date can be found on the inside of the driver's side door jam. There are two white labels on the driver's side door jam. The first label will have the build date on the upper left hand side. It will be a month/year posting. The second smaller label has the tire pressure settings.
Thanks again for your help and enjoy your ZR1. I only wish that I had one.

i'll set myself a reminder for may when I get the car out of storage and let you know what I find.

[tccrab]

I have already posted at the CF, but here it is again.
1990 #792 Glass.

'Crabs

[John Boothby]

Been involved with NCRS and restoring Corvettes for a LONG time. It's very dangerous to get caught up in definitive cutoffs on parts transitions. I also worked for GM in multiple plants. Multiple suppliers and old stock play into the manufacturing process as the norm.

You keep the line running at all costs.

I can agree to this. I once bought a New 1982 Trans Am. It was built late in the run and they had run out of rear disc's so it had rear drum brakes! Also the interior was a color that was not on the Interior color list for that year! Should have kept it, problably would have been a rareity. Ha ha

[Franke]

Just looking for a little clarification here. My 1990 has glass as I posted on CF but my question is, does the OE headlights have "Guide" written in the glass as mine does?

[swamp]

I agree with you statement about trying to get a definite cutoff date.
My efforts were only to show the possibilities that either glass or plastic were used in the 1990 ZR1. Had a request to help out because a ZR1 owner had Glass Headlamps and he was told by other ZR1 owners that he should have plastic headlamps. He had an early 1990 ZR1 which I have found to have Glass Headlamps.

I ran into the same problem with my 1995 LT1. Had upper radiator hose that was not listed in any parts book. By doing a survey I found other early 1995 LT1 owners with the same hose. My 95 was a first day production model.

I do these surveys for fun and I enjoy meeting fellow Corvette owners who are good enough to take the time to help.

I am always happy to take suggestions and recommendations from those who took the time to respond to my requests for help.

Thanks again for your time.

[swamp]

Franke, I can not answer that question as of now. In my survey I did not get any photos of the early ZR1 1990 Glass Headlamps.
However, I had three individuals who had early 1990 Glass Headlamps refer to them as Guide.
I have reached out for some photos. Is is possible for you to send me some photos of your Headlamps at fulassoc@comcast.net.

Also in my survey I came across some original Glass Guide Headlamps on a 1992 LT1. The Photos were unclear as to what was imprinted on the front, but the word Guide was on the back of the headlamp with a date code.

Guys like you really help me out with their information and willingness to share this information. I just pass it on to the individual who asked me for help.
When I get a response, I will let you know.

[Franke]

Franke, I can not answer that question as of now. In my survey I did not get any photos of the early ZR1 1990 Glass Headlamps.
However, I had three individuals who had early 1990 Glass Headlamps refer to them as Guide.
I have reached out for some photos. Is is possible for you to send me some photos of your Headlamps at fulassoc@comcast.net.

Also in my survey I came across some original Glass Guide Headlamps on a 1992 LT1. The Photos were unclear as to what was imprinted on the front, but the word Guide was on the back of the headlamp with a date code.

Guys like you really help me out with their information and willingness to share this information. I just pass it on to the individual who asked me for help.
When I get a response, I will let you know.

Here is a couple of pics of the front headlight glass. Both sides are the same. I did not disassemble my headlights to view the back to see if they were stamped as in your photo. Sorry they are upside down as I took the pics from the engine bay.

[efnfast]

I have the same bulbs as Franke. Because they are glass, I ASSUMED they were replacements. I own 1990 #1786. Glad I didn't throw them away when I replaced them.

[tccrab]

As luck would have it, I was driving "Girlfriend" last week just after sundown and when I turned on the headlights it became quickly obvious that "Girlfriend" had developed "Lazy Eye".
*sigh*.
This weekends chore is to RR the headlight motors and replace the bushings.
Oh the joy.
When I have them out I will post up pics, you want the front and the back, yes?

'Crabs

[swamp]

Folks, I want to thank everyone who provided information on this topic and to Franke for the great photos. It looks like the change over took place between 1990 VIN 1964 and 1990 VIN 2124. I am sure that there are some intermingled headlamps in between these numbers, but it gives us an idea of when it happened.
The general time period is nice to have and it looks like another individual did not toss his glass headlamps away because he thought they should be plastic.
Like I mentioned earlier, don't through nothing away.

Again, as being a new guy here and no owing a ZR1, I do appreciate all your time and effort. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Also, if you do have a 1990 ZR1 and you haven't posted here with your comments, please do so as I can use all the substantiation that I can get.
I have a total of 20 1990 ZR1's that responded to my various survey requests.

Pat

[swamp]

CRABS, I will take any photos you are kind enough to send me.

Thanks again for your help.

PAT

[vettn71]

1990 #1422 has plastic headlamps. This was sent in on the NCRS forum

Jim

[vinsZR-1]

1990 #1966 plastic

[Kevin]

1990 #1422 has plastic headlamps. This was sent in on the NCRS forum

Jim

that maybe the closest to my car i've found

[tccrab]

Pat:

Pictures as promised.
I am not the worlds greatest photographer and my camera is a junky $100 Kodak.

On the bulbs themselves is:

Guide Halogens
12.8V
H6054F
DOTH89
65/35W
140
RM

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/Headlight004_zps38cb662d.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/user/tccrab/media/Headlight004_zps38cb662d.jpg.html)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/Headlight002_zps4dfe322a.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/user/tccrab/media/Headlight002_zps4dfe322a.jpg.html)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/Headlight003_zps767608b6.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/user/tccrab/media/Headlight003_zps767608b6.jpg.html)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/tccrab/Headlight006_zpsfb6d4ae9.jpg (http://s71.photobucket.com/user/tccrab/media/Headlight006_zpsfb6d4ae9.jpg.html)

'Crabs

CRABS, I will take any photos you are kind enough to send me.

Thanks again for your help.

PAT

[geezer]

one owner all original 1990 #1389 -- glass

[swamp]

Crabs, thanks a million. It was great information that you furnished.

I want to thank everyone who helped out on this survey. I am attaching the information that I published on the NCRS Technical Discussion Board this afternoon. The response is now 23 1990 ZR1 owners helped out on the survey.

1. Ed, thanks for the response. Your 1990 ZR1 VIN#1990, build date of April
1990 is the last 1990 ZR1 that I have found with Guide Glass Headlamps.

The first 1990 ZR1 that I found with Plastic Wagner Headlamps is VIN # 2124, (NOW VIN 1996)
no build date available. The next response that I have with Wagner Plastic
on the 1990 ZR1 was VIN # 2282 with a build date of May 1990.

I had twenty responses from the 1990 ZR1 owners alone.

Your time and effort is greatly appreciated and the change over period is
pretty narrowly defined with your help and the rest of the individuals who
took time to respond.

The non ZR1's are a different story. The change over was sometime in Feb/May
1992 when the change over from Glass to Plastic was first noted. The last
Glass Headlamp response that I had was in February 1992. The next three
responses that I had were for Plastic Headlamps during May 1992 and they
were Sylvania Headlamps. The first response I had for a Wagner Plastic
Headlamp was late in the 1992 model year.

In the responses that I received, Headlamps after the 1992 model year were
Wagner Plastic for ALL Corvettes, except for a response that I received
stating the owner had Glass Headlamps in late 1994. No explanation for this
finding.
So anyone with a 1992 LT1 who wants to chime in with their responses,
especially in the change over period. please help us out.

PAT, Central New Jersey Chapter

[vettn71]

So the fact that my car (1422) has plastic headlamps seems to make no impression on you. This is a 17,000 miles car (I've owned it since 12,000 miles) and is a 98.6 McClellan award vehicle. Some poll. Ignore what doesn't fit it preconceived notions, I guess

Jim

[swamp]

Jim, I am not ignoring you and I am impressed with you submission. Your Plastic Headlamps did not fall into the sequence of the other Plastic Headlamps. Does this mean they are not correct, no it does not. It just means they didn't fall into the sequence. They could have been early P;astic units and put in when they arrived.

I am sorry you felt that I was not taking your input with the thought they were not correct. I did not fit any results to fit the poll, I only reported what other owners told me.
I had 10 responses with Glass Headlamps before you and four response with Glass Headlamps after your VIN number.


Are they early Plastic Headlamps, could be. That is why I hoped to get a lot of replies. This poll means nothing personally to me, I was only trying to help out another individual who was told his Glass Headlamps on his early 1990 ZR1 were incorrect.

Thanks again for your time.

[Kevin]

as I said before I have #1433 owned since 99 had 23,000 or so miles on it and i've got plastic

[swamp]

Kevin and Jim, your two 1990 ZR1's are 11 VIN's apart. My comments to Jim also apply to your ZR1 Kevin. They were the only two like that in the sequence of Glass Headlamps.
When stating what Headlamps are correct, I never said yours or Jim's were incorrect, they were just not in the Glass Headlamp sequence. Were they early Plastic Headlamps, could be. In putting my information to a spread sheet so that we could see what the sequence was concerning Glass VS Plastic Headlamps, your two units were entered. That is why they stand out. Could they be the first of the Plastic, I don't know and I don't profess to make the statement that the Headlamps changed at a certain point. I only showed what the individuals who responded told me they had in their Corvette.

Again, no slight was intended.

[Kevin]

no slight taken, just making sure you had the info :)

[swamp]

Kevin, email me at fulassoc@comcast.net and I will be happy to send you the spreadsheet in excel that shows all the responses that I received. I entered everyone of them. Like I said I was just doing this help out an inquiry by a ZR1 owner.

Thanks again for your input.