Yet Another 1963 Question

[Rick A.]

Eyeballed two ORIGINAL Z06's today - one a 38000 mile specimen and the other a 41000 miler - the exhaust bezels in the valance area were different than what I currently have - the ones I have don't mount flush and stick out ever so slightly from the face of the valance

the ones on these two originals had but cut and then tack welded back together! so, I am thinking another 1963 peculiarity not correct in the current 1963 JG, or just for Z06!? and, where would I go about finding them!?

THOUGHTS!?

[John D.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Rick My 63 has the same cut and welded back together style bezels. Car had 33,000 miles on it and hadn't been on the road since 1970 when I bought it. But at Marlborough I got dinged for them as not being the real deal. Glad to hear you found some more like mine. Truth of the matter Rick is that I have seen a lot of them like you described. Mikey. Send some nice pics in please. John

[Duke W.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

The unique '63 tail pipe bezels were fabricated from stainless steel and tack welded on the bottom seam. All '63s have the same bezels. It's not uncommon for the tack welds to break, but are easy to retack.

Other than physical damage, like being rear-ended, they are virtually indestructible and won't corrode or pit like the later die-cast bezels.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Duke-----

Yes, the die cast bezels were a GIANT step backward. There may have been some cost savings, but I cannot imagine that it would have been much. Plus, after 1963, GM never went back to stainless bezels for Corvettes. The exhaust bezels for 64-73, when exhaust bezel use on Corvettes ended, were all chromed, zinc diecast.

Fortunately, there are stainless replacements available for 68-69 Corvettes. These bezels appear virtually identical to the originals (although they probably wouldn't fool many judges) and, using them, one is forever free of the unsightly "pimples" which zinc diecast exhaust bezels quickly develop. In my mind, they are the ONLY way to go.

[Joe L.]

Correction

I should have said that after 1965 all Corvettes had chromed, zinc diecast exhaust bezels. Although the 63 bezels were stainless steel and were unique to 1963, the 64-65 bezels were also stainless, but of a slightly different design. In 1966, Corvette went to chromed, zinc diecast bezels and that material remained the same through 1973.

[Rick A.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

SO - ANOTHER error with the 1963/4 JG! The 1963 bezels should be cut and then tack welded back together; JG is correct for 1964

[Mike M.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

rick: after reviewing the 63-4 JG, 2nd edition, spring 19989, i see no mistake in the judging manual. the original bezels for the 63 weren't cut then re-tack welded. they were formed out of a flat sheet of stainless steel and THEN they were tack welded. they weren't formed out of a piece of stainless pipe as your posts imply. mike

[John D.]

Re: Correction to my response to ur question

Hi Rick, I have been thinking of what I said to you in my original answer to your post. My memory failed me again as I made an error on my comment. THe judge deducted because one of my welds had a crack. Didn't say anything about the configuration or the fact that they were or were not supposed to be welded. Just didn't like the crack in the weld. I since have found a mint one in my collection that I will swap out and repair the old one some day. I have not read the JM as far as this item goes. Bob Gregory was the judge for the exterior at the Marlborough meet and I tell you the boy is sharp. Knows 63's quite well. Anything he deducted on my car I agreed with. He didn't use the manual as a guide or refer to it. Judged on his personal and vast knowledge. Had a good helper also named Rick who has a pretty girlfriend named Cathy. She was one fine interior judge. Her partner was Bill Sangrey. Another walking encylopedia of knowledge judge for sure. When you have good people like this looking over your car it is an enlightening experience (on the wallet).Merry Christmas Rick. John

[Rick A.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Mike,

don't have old 2nd edition JG - was questioning whether current 4th edition is correct - and John mentioned his are as described and he had points taken off at Marlborough Regional this year - so, that was why I stated what I did - don't have 4th edition in front of me here at work but will confirm tonite when I get home

BTW - just talked with Tony Avedisian of Tony's Corvette Shop and he confirmed the 4th edition JG is incorrect on the bezels - but, again I will confirm tontie when I get home

[Rick A.]

Re: Correction to my response to ur question

John,

Thanks for the clarification on your judging! Yep, know all of the folks who judged your car and others 1963/4's at Marlborough. You wouldn't happen to have access to any more of the bezels would you? The reproductions, as I stated, do not fit as well as they should -

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you also John

[Michael H.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Rick,

Pretty sure the 63 bezel was of rolled and welded design but the 64-65 was formed from a tube so there's no seam or weld.

Third edition of the JG makes no mention of the different methods of mfg but states; "The design of both the 63 and 64 model bezel is similar, the only difference being the size".

Could be that the 4th edition adds the info about the different methods of mfg?

[Rick A.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Michael,

will verify JG when I get home - all I know is the current bezels on "Lady" are not 1963 bezels, as they are not as have been discussed

[Kenneth S.]

[Mike M.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

thanks ken. didn't think any of the JG's in last 15 or 20 years had incorrect info on the 63 or 64/5 bezels. mike

[Rick A.]

Re: Yet Another 1963 Question

Mike,

I thought we had agreed the exhaust bezels were tack-welded - the 3rd/4th editions make no mention of this! so, is the JG correct or incorrect!? I believe incorrect, as the 1963 (only) is not as described in either eidtion - 1964 is correctly described