Early '63 T10 front snout question

[Norris W.]

So I'm working away on this '63 coupe that I bought in boxes close to 20 years ago, and my memory is all but gone of a lot of details, and the previous owner, who disassembled the car with 38K miles in 1975 has a memory lapse worse than mine. Anyway, I dig out the transmission and the front snout is shattered and the tube is missing. It appears that the front snout was aluminum as opposed to cast iron, which I'd have expected, and probably hard to find.

I've got a cast iron snout of the smaller diameter to fit the '63 bellhousing that came from a passenger 3 speed. Does this snout interchange and is there any reason NOT to use it? Seems like the cast iron would be more resistant to throwout bearing damage than the alum one anyway.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early '63 T10 front snout question

Norris------

Yes, the 1963-only Corvette front bearing retainer was manufactured from an aluminum casting. This piece was once known as GM #3790278. However, it was discontinued from SERVICE in August, 1963 and replaced by GM #604932. The latter is a cast iron piece that was also used for many other applications, including 1963 passenger car 3 speeds. So, your 3 speed retainer will work just fine as a replacement. In fact, since August, 1963, it's the same one your GM dealer would have sold you for your application. It has been discontinued for quite awhile, though.

By the way, I just love it when guys pay Big $$$$$ for one of the original aluminum retainers, NOS or good used. In my opinion, those that seek or espouse this level of "correctness" fall into 3 categories: (1) folks for whom restoration has become a religion rather than a hobby, and/or (2) folks who have such original parts FOR SALE, and/or folks who are obsessed with "treasure hunting".