C2 (63) Steering jacket and escutcheon question

[Gary Cederman]

While trying to install the steering jacket and assembly in my ’63 I noticed that there was a gap of about 3/8” between the top of the escutcheon and the cluster panel. The AIMs shows an insulator is attached to the cluster panel in this area but, I don’t believe that it is suppose to cover this gap. I believe that the escutcheon should cover all of the area between the steering jacket and the cluster panel.

My cluster panel is ‘supposed’ to be an early model (Dec. ’62). The reason why I mention this is because Nolan Adams restoration book has indicated that some of the last ‘63s were fitted with early ’64 clusters because they ran out of ’63 cluster and the ’64 cluster had a gap between the steering jacket and the escutcheon. So, for these few units, they made a spacer that covers the gap. I want to assume that my cluster is not a ’64 type so, those of you that have a ’63, does the escutcheon cover the cluster area completely?

Thanks,

Gary

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C2 (63) Steering jacket and escutcheon questio

Complete coverage on mine. Is there a date your cluster, some were dated?

Harry

[Gary Cederman]

Re: C2 (63) Steering jacket and escutcheon questio

Harry,

I need to check if any of my pictures show a number or anything. Is there any other way to tell if the cluster is not a '63? All of the instruments are definitely '63 vintage.

Thanks,

Gary

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C2 (63) Steering jacket and escutcheon questio

Not that I can think of. Maybe someone else will add comments.

Harry

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: C2 (63) Steering jacket and escutcheon questio

There is a 63 Cluster on ebay, how does yours compare to that one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2406323978&category=33675

[Loren L.]

There are 3 different clusters in '63

What's the serial # of your car? Does the cluster have two holes to for the headlight switch?

[Gary Cederman]

Re: There are 3 different clusters in '63

Harry,
The one on eBay has more of a doghouse shape than mine does. Sort of like an upside down U. Mine, instead of forming the arc of the U shape, is more of a rectangle shape. Does anyone that has a non-63 know if yours is a rectangle and not a U?

Loran,
My serial number is very low. It is just above four thousand. Does that help?

Thanks,

Gary

[Gary Cederman]

Re: There are 3 different clusters in '63

Loran, sorry I didn't answer the other question; the headlight switch has two screws. (I assume you mean the switch for the buckets and not the switch you pull to turn the lights on, correct?) Anyway, I thought they all had two screws. Which ones had more (or less) than two?

Thanks,

Gary

[Loren L.]

Yes they all have two screws Your cluster

should only have one possible location/slot for the bucket switch - if it has two, it is not the original cluster.

[Gary Cederman]

Re: Yes they all have two screws Your cluster

Loren,

I have a picture of my cluster to where it shows the whole bottom section. I hope you don't mind but, I am going to e-mail it to you (65k jpg file) so that maybe you could help me confirm if it is a cluster for a '63.

It does have two slots on the left side so, per your statement, it is not a cluster from a '63. (Darn! I should be more careful when someone tells me that the car is "all original".) But, I would like for you to look at it and confirm it if you don't mind.

Now, for everyone, if it isn't a '63 cluster does anyone have a suggestion (short of looking for a '63 cluster) for filling in the hole? Noland Adams restoration book shows a part that was made for '63s that used a '64 cluster during manufacturing. Does anyone know where I could procure one of these? I was thinking of making one of these parts but, it might be better to buy one.

Does anyone want to trade a non-63 cluster for a '63 cluster? (Just thought that I'd asked!)

Thanks for your help.

Gary

[Gary Cederman]

Re: Yes they all have two screws Your cluster

Loren,

Sorry for the hassle. The forum e-mail system will not support me adding an attachment to an e-mail. Plus, it discourages me from sending you an unsolicited e-mail. Which I agree is probably correct, I just didn't think about that.

Gary

[Loren L.]

You need to re-read the message; I

did NOT say that you did not have a '63 cluster; you have the WRONG 63 cluster! The initial clusters had ONE hole on the bottom for the attachment of the headlight bucket switch. As the TIME FOR AIR CONDITIONING APPROACHED, another hole for the switch was added INBOARD, for use on cars with A/C. The third cluster is used very late in the year and is in fact a '64 with an additional escutcheon added to cover over an excessive gap. my e-mail is loren.lundberg@cox.net if you want to send the photo.

[Gary Cederman]

Re: You need to re-read the message; I

Loren,

Sorry, you are correct that you did not state that it wasn't a '63 cluster you just stated that "it is not the original cluster". I assume you said this based on the serial number of my '63.

Based on what Noland Adam's says in his restoration book, I assume that, at best, it is a '64 cluster that was used on later '63s. But, couldn't it also be a cluster from a '64 to a '67? I don't know the differences between any of these other model years with respect to the cluster. I think it has to be at least a '64 because of the shape above the steering column.

Anyway, I guess at this point, it doesn't matter. I have the wrong cluster for my early '63 and because of that, I have a hole between the steering column and the cluster.

I will send to you the picture, just in case you can shed anymore light on what I have.

Thanks again for your time,

Gary

[Bob R.]

Re: You need to re-read the message; I

The 64 - 67 steering columns sit higher then the 63's. The opening in the dash cluster is higher on the newer years. My 63 had a 64 cluster in it when I bought it and I found out the hard way when I switched over to a 63 cluster. I had the opposite problem. The escussion was too long and I had to temporaily put a spacer under it. There are a couple of solutions for your problem. You could purchase an escussion for a 64 column, I still have the escussion and the cluster for a 64. Or you could try to find a 63 cluster frame and transfer the guts over. I see them on e-bay quite often.