1963 base motor valve cover decals

[Frank D.]

This may have been asked 100 times already and I thought I knew the answer but....

I've told repeatedly that base motor cars did NOT get a hp decal on the valve cover, but in looking through the JG I came upon this. My car went to judging sans this decal and I don't recall if there was a "hit"...

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Correct, no decal on the base 250 HP engine. Ignore the manual you are looking at as it's an old manual. The new Manual is correct, 6th Edition.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Thanks for confirming what I thought in the first place!

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Harry was there ever a 250 HP decal available over-the-counter?

Rich

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Harry was there ever a 250 HP decal available over-the-counter?

Rich

I would think yes. But I would bet it was for an Impala, Chevelle, etc. where the base engine was a six banger.

[Keith B.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

sorry I thought it was a base engine. shows you how much I know, just for record what is the difference?

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

The base motor (in Corvettes) apparently did not get the decal, and I don't think it got an "L" designation; e.g Lxx..
Anything beyond that was a paid-for option with more hp.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Harry yes probably for the Passenger cars... makes sense.

Frank, correct, no Lxx. Simply called "Base" for the 250hp. BTW, you have a really nice "Base"!

Keith The difference between the Base 250hp and L75 300hp was the cylinder heads and and from Carter WCFB to AFB so a different intake too. Exhaust manifolds same so the exhaust system same too I think. Not sure if any other factors for the 50 hp increase.

Owned a L75 coupe original powertrain for a few years... wife's car. I've driven Frank's Base also and not much difference cruising between the two of them, other than Frank's is a 4 speed and wife's was a 2 speed. I liked driving Frank's car better, except that late afternoon/early evening test driving it a few miles from my home. Just finished up some work on it, water pump to match the 250 hp configuration. My son following in pickup as a chase vehicle JIC. When I got to a turnaround, gave it a good run on the long straightaway, then..... HOLY CRAP...... A DEER IN THE FIELD 20 FEET FROM ME!!!!.

I then cruised back at about 30 mph, got it in the garage. and my son said he saw the deer bolted when I drove by it.... thankfully into the woods.
BTW the test drive failed because the new rebuilt water pump from my vendor, who got it from that guy in California who rebuilds them...FAILED.
I ended up rebuilding it again and then it was fine. Took 3 tries to get a good pump in there. Frank remembers the story well. I felt so bad about it that I trailered the car back to Frank so he wouldn't have to rent a trailer to come get it again.

Rich

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

Hmm...never heard about the deer, I know I cruised past a horseback rider in the woods coming onto your property once. A bit startling.
I remember us running around in rural Florida one evening in your C6 raiding your friend's garage stash of water pump parts.. Good times.

As Rich knows, my car came with a 3721 AFB and C3BX intake on it from a prior owner, when the rebuilt, correct WCFB was installed along with the original intake I didn't really notice any big "seat of the pants" performance uptick.

As I understand it, the torque numbers for the 250hp and 300hp cars are quite close. A friend and I replaced all the bearings in that engine last year - manged to avoid pulling the motor (whew!)

[James G.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

I think the 250hp Corvette used a 374038 RH manifold with a 1.96 outlet size and a 3749965 LH with a 2.026 outlet size. There were a few other casting same size used.

300 hp engines used 3797901 LH with 2.526 outlet size and 3797902 RH 2.526 outlet size. These larger manifold were also used on 340, 360 and 365 hp Corvettes in 63 and 64

[Loren L.]

Re: 1963 base motor valve cover decals

L75 300 HP engines with PG used the 2" exhaust manifolds; 300 HP Manual Transmission cars used 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds.