C4 Fuel/Trip Reset Buttons
When it comes to your C4, there are no insignificant or unimportant Corvette Parts. For example, Trip Odometer and Fuel System Reset Buttons may seem minor, but without them, your Corvette’s trip and fuel reset functions are hindered.
Zip now offers new reproduction C4 Trip Odometer Reset Buttons and C4 Fuel System Reset Buttons for your 1990-1996 Corvette.
When your Corvette is missing these small buttons, you cannot reset their functions nor can you reset the oil life maintenance function.
Installation of new trip and fuel system reset buttons is easy – just mount them into the instrument cluster. This is a simple fix that will improve the appearance of your Corvette’s dash and help keep your C4 in top shape.
C4 Corvette Vent Grills
Your humble parts blogger (HPB) has a small fleet of Corvettes and one of them is a 1995 C4. Back in the mid-’90s, when the final interior restyle was done for model year 1992, many of the soft Corvette Interior trim pieces on the dash, covering the center stick or the center console were coated or, maybe, “painted,” with a rubberized material that remained pliable and gave interior trim a nice feel.
As these cars have aged, GM has discontinued virtually all the interior trim so, when I broke an HVAC vent grill about five years ago, I was left with having to “glue” the unit back together–which I did–or look for something from a wrecking yard–which I didn’t because I was too lazy. Problem was, even with the best repair, I could still see a tiny line where the glued seem was so I was resigned (sigh) to start a wrecking yard search.
But wait! Zip Corvette’s new line of reproduction late C4 Corvette HVAC Grills have solved all my problems. No more gluing interior parts back together or trolling the Internet for used Corvette parts.
Zip Products has all three styles of grills for 1990-1996 C4 Corvettes. The 1990-1991 grills are reproductions of the OE parts and have the correct, metallic-gray finish. The 1992-1993 grills reproduce the original parts with vertical louvers and rubberized finish. The 1994-1996 pieces, which fit my 1995 Corvette Coupe, have the horizontal louvers and the proper rubberized finish.
These interior parts are functional and correct replacements for the stock interior trim and attach using the original fasteners. Zip Products has left and right, inner and outer HVAC vent grills, the right side dash vent grill plate for 1994-1996 Corvettes, the speedometer/tachometer bezel for the 1990-1992 model years and the center-stack/radio/instrument bezel for the 1994-1996 C4s. All are correct reproductions with the correct paint or coating color.
Early Corvette Interiors featured a rich tapestry of different materials, textures, and surface finishes. One of the more outstanding features is the aluminum dash insert found in 1958-1962 Corvettes. Replacing the dash insert is not complicated but does require attention to detail and patience.
Aluminum Dash Insert
Begin by removing the screws holding the chrome escutcheons at each end of the passenger side grab bar. Slide the escutcheons toward the center of the bar to expose the screws hidden beneath them. Remove these screws and lift the bar out. Unscrew the nuts that retain the insert assembly to the dash by reaching behind the insert. Once the nuts are removed separate the insert assembly from the dash. Once the insert assembly is out you will see how it is put together. The delicate aluminum insert sits on a heavy steel backing and is held by thin stainless steel trim that clips over the edges of the aluminum and steel around the perimeter. The stainless trim is tack welded to the steel backing and you must cut the welds, a task best accomplished with a small grinder or rotary cutting tool. Take care not to cut beyond the weld or you risk damaging a part of the stainless trim that is visible. After the welds are ground pull the stainless off and separate the aluminum from the backing. Glass bead and paint the normally rusty backing and polish the stainless trim. Lay the new insert onto the backing and carefully clip the stainless back into position. Avoid touching the insert as it scratches easily and even the oil from your fingers can blemish it. Gently clamp the assembly so that both pieces of stainless fully seat. Apply a thin layer of two-part epoxy to the area where the stainless meets the steel backing on the reverse side. After the epoxy dries remove the clamps and reinstall your newly restored assembly.
Tackling an interior cleaning of any Corvette can be overwhelming without a plan. The truth is that it really only takes your basic supplies, a weekend, and a little hard work. In this article we cover almost every aspect of cleaning all the cracks and crevices in a Midyear Corvette.
Corvette Interior Cleaning
Cleaning your Corvette’s Interior can be a huge hassle but it is sure to pay off in the end. We will show you how to thoroughly clean all of the carpet, vinyl, chrome, leather, glass, plastic, and rubber that may be included in your Corvette. Just dedicate one weekend to this job and your Corvette’s Interior will once again shine like new. If you do not have a Midyear still follow along as most cleaning processes can be used on any Corvette.
Click Here to read the entire Corvette Spring Cleaning Technical Article.
This Corvette Restoration Tip is brought to you by Zip Corvette and can be found in Zip’s free Corvette Parts & Accessories Catalogs – request one online today.
1958-1962 Corvette Dash Pads were made from vinyl over a molded foam base. If the vinyl covering is cracked or has shrunk to the extent that gaps are visible, the only effective solution is to install a new pad. Installation of a new pad requires removal of the instrument housing, passenger side grab bar, package tray, aluminum insert, radio speaker grille and rear view mirror. It also requires removal of the interior light escutcheon, trim where the upper dash meets the center dash and complete windshield assembly. The instrument housing is screwed to the dash with five screws that must be accessed from underneath, and tethered by a wide variety of wires and cables that must be disconnected. If you are not familiar where everything goes, it is wise to label each wire and cable before disassembly.
To begin, remove the Corvette’s Steering Column mast jacket lower cover and cover support. These are found right beneath the area where the steering column meets the instrument housing. Disconnect the speedometer and tachometer cables, unplug the wire harnesses to the headlamp switch and ignition switch, unscrew the line to the oil pressure gauge, pull out all of the illumination bulbs, turn signal bulbs, and high beam indicator bulb. Disconnect electrical connections to the fuel gauge, temperature gauge, ammeter and cigarette lighter. Then lift out the instrument housing.
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