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My first post and my first vette. I'm starting a new project with this 63 split window. Can anyone recommend which mannual and sites I should find to begin in the right direction. Reading the past posts, there are alot of knowledgable guys with years of experience. Thank You for any input. this is a great resource tool. I going to start by taking pics and defining exactly what I just purchased. Have a great day.
Lyle
You definitely want the '63 Corvette Shop Manual, and '63 AIM. Nolan Adams book is also a great reference, and the NCRS Judging Guides have excellent information, especially if you want to do a factory correct type restoration.
All these documents are available from the NCRS Store.
As far as advice is concerned, this Board is where it's at.
You definitely want the '63 Corvette Shop Manual, and '63 AIM. Nolan Adams book is also a great reference, and the NCRS Judging Guides have excellent information, especially if you want to do a factory correct type restoration.
All these documents are available from the NCRS Store.
As far as advice is concerned, this Board is where it's at.
Your best references are going to be the most basic:
1) A 1963 Assembly Information manual
2) A 1963 Chevrolet, including Corvette, Chassis Service Manual
3) A 1963 Chevrolet, including Corvette, Chassis Overhaul Manual
4) Noland Adams' Corvette Restoration and Technical Guide, Volume II
5) NCRS 1963 Technical Information and Judging Manual
6) A Dr. Rebuild Catalog (sometimes known as the Dr. Rebuild Technical Information Manual, but not currently available in hardcover edition)
All of the above, except the Dr. Rebuild catalog, should be available through the NCRS Bookstore and will probably cost a total of about $150. That's the best $150 you will ever spend on reference material. The Dr. Rebuild catalog is available from Dr. Rebuild for $5 and will be the best $5 you ever spent on a catalog.
After obtaining these, the "law of diminishing returns" comes into play with respect to reference material. Specifically, you will pay lots of money, but never again achieve the amount of useful information that you obtained from the above-referenced.
Your best references are going to be the most basic:
1) A 1963 Assembly Information manual
2) A 1963 Chevrolet, including Corvette, Chassis Service Manual
3) A 1963 Chevrolet, including Corvette, Chassis Overhaul Manual
4) Noland Adams' Corvette Restoration and Technical Guide, Volume II
5) NCRS 1963 Technical Information and Judging Manual
6) A Dr. Rebuild Catalog (sometimes known as the Dr. Rebuild Technical Information Manual, but not currently available in hardcover edition)
All of the above, except the Dr. Rebuild catalog, should be available through the NCRS Bookstore and will probably cost a total of about $150. That's the best $150 you will ever spend on reference material. The Dr. Rebuild catalog is available from Dr. Rebuild for $5 and will be the best $5 you ever spent on a catalog.
After obtaining these, the "law of diminishing returns" comes into play with respect to reference material. Specifically, you will pay lots of money, but never again achieve the amount of useful information that you obtained from the above-referenced.
I would add to Joe's list a Chevrolet Parts Book, circa 1964, so that you can find out what OTHER Chevrolet cars and trucks used the same Corvette part.
I would add to Joe's list a Chevrolet Parts Book, circa 1964, so that you can find out what OTHER Chevrolet cars and trucks used the same Corvette part.
Joe - For 1963 all Corvette service, overhaul, and body information was included in a single volume titled "1963 Corvette Shop Manual"; 1964 and 1965 supplements that included updated information were published for those model years.
Beginning in 1966 a specific Corvette shop manual was no longer published, and Corvette was included in the Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual, and Chevrolet Chassis Overhaul Manuals, and there may have been a separate body manual.
Joe - For 1963 all Corvette service, overhaul, and body information was included in a single volume titled "1963 Corvette Shop Manual"; 1964 and 1965 supplements that included updated information were published for those model years.
Beginning in 1966 a specific Corvette shop manual was no longer published, and Corvette was included in the Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual, and Chevrolet Chassis Overhaul Manuals, and there may have been a separate body manual.
you've bitten off one of the biggest challenges in all of Corvettedom (owning and preserving/restoring a '63 regardless of whether it's a coupe or convertible). You're absolutely on the right track by asking this Board for help.....
Whenever folks admire my Corvettes and mention their secret fondness for owning a '63, I explode, "No, you don't want a '63 as your first Corvette project, nor do you want a '57 FI car and you DON'T want a '68!!!!!"
Why? Well, each is a 'first-of' year. There were a jillion running changes. Some components were so short lived that IF you can find the 'correct' replacement piece you'd best be the King of Saudi to afford it. THEN, getting seemingly any two factory concours judges to agree that you acquired the 'correct' factory orignal part, is virtually a joke.... A lot here is hyperbole, but some who've been there, done that, got the T-shirt are probably chuckling over my prose and NOT because it's off the mark/slander!
There's just an awful lot of information and mis-information out there to contend with on these early 'first of' cars. But, the reward for biding your time, getting input(s) from n-tuple sources and prudently deciding what's best for you and your car, today, can be the highest reward in all of Corvettedom when critics agree, "You done good!"
So, take your time, read the available literature, attend the meets. Along the way, refrain from asking the frustrated question about your car, "Who owns whom?". You're walking a road with this car that's strewn with the bodies of quick buck/quick answer guys who gave up in frustration....
you've bitten off one of the biggest challenges in all of Corvettedom (owning and preserving/restoring a '63 regardless of whether it's a coupe or convertible). You're absolutely on the right track by asking this Board for help.....
Whenever folks admire my Corvettes and mention their secret fondness for owning a '63, I explode, "No, you don't want a '63 as your first Corvette project, nor do you want a '57 FI car and you DON'T want a '68!!!!!"
Why? Well, each is a 'first-of' year. There were a jillion running changes. Some components were so short lived that IF you can find the 'correct' replacement piece you'd best be the King of Saudi to afford it. THEN, getting seemingly any two factory concours judges to agree that you acquired the 'correct' factory orignal part, is virtually a joke.... A lot here is hyperbole, but some who've been there, done that, got the T-shirt are probably chuckling over my prose and NOT because it's off the mark/slander!
There's just an awful lot of information and mis-information out there to contend with on these early 'first of' cars. But, the reward for biding your time, getting input(s) from n-tuple sources and prudently deciding what's best for you and your car, today, can be the highest reward in all of Corvettedom when critics agree, "You done good!"
So, take your time, read the available literature, attend the meets. Along the way, refrain from asking the frustrated question about your car, "Who owns whom?". You're walking a road with this car that's strewn with the bodies of quick buck/quick answer guys who gave up in frustration....
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