63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Michael, Michael;

Don't be so sensitive. The evidence certainly seems to support your position. As for me, I can only say what I remember and my memory is not infalible. It just seems that I would recall if the underside of my new 63 Corvette had gooy black stuff on it. When I first crawled under it to check my starter, I was very up close and personal with the under carriage. If I would have gotten that goo on me, I think I'd remember that. Within the first month or so I had the car on a lift at the hobby shop to change the oil/filter and do it's first lube job and, again, I don't recall anything like that - just a clean newly painted underframe with a slight amount of rust on the natural exposed metal components. My buddy, who would recall, is long gone now, so I guess there is no way to substantiate my recollections. But humor me; stay with "may" instead of "should". It's all part of that Corvette mystique of "never say never", Ha!

Stu Fox

LOL.... Ok Stu, I suppose it's possible that "joe the painter" in the final blackout area was off sick the day your car went through.
Possible also that the guy in the basement that painted the rear suspension/drive was sick that day too.

Do you remember the coat of black goo on the mufflers?

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Here is an April 63 rear backing plate. The car was originally delivered in Hartford, Ct. So as you can see the road salt has taken its toll. But, check out the goooooooo.



Here is the other side.




I found a much nicer set to take their place!

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Michael;

Yes, I do remember black on the mufflers because I went back and touched them up with spray can undercoating some time later.

Ah yes, It's all coming back to me now.

Stu

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

John,

I thought the 63 frames were upside down and checked by hand with a guage tool that had steps that represented the shim count. Later frames used the method you describe.

Also, looking at the first picture just below the workers hand I see what looks like a spring around the rear brake drum. I know this has been discussed a few times here in the past because some believed the springs were used only on the front drums.

That's correct. For the 63 through at least the end of C2 production and into early C3 production, the shim count was done with the frame inverted at the first station on the chassis line. I don't know what the tool looked like, or if there was some sort of guage setup on the fixture itself.

Starting some time in the early C3 era, the frame shim check was done at the other end of the chassis line, just before body drop. (for a number of reasons)

The tool with the steps that you mentioned was used right to the last car built at the St Lous plant.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Michael;

Yes, I do remember black on the mufflers because I went back and touched them up with spray can undercoating some time later.

Ah yes, It's all coming back to me now.

Stu

Ok, that means the guy that did the final blackout, upstairs, wasn't off sick that day. He's the same guy that coated the steering gear, the drive shaft and various other items.
Was probably just the guy that worked in the basement that coated the rear susp/drive that was off sick.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

It would be nice to see a picture of the fixture used at the first station for checking shim count on C2's.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Check the archives, I think a picture was posted a few years back by Michael H.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Harry,
I thought that picture is of the C3 era showing the frame with engine etc right side up and that huge fixture.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Tim, I'm looking now but can't locate the picture.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

It would be nice to see a picture of the fixture used at the first station for checking shim count on C2's.

Unfortunately, I don't think a detailed picture that actually shows the dimension check exists for C2. All we know for sure is what we see in some if the 63 pilot line pic's and also the fact that the shim count was already on the frame rails from the beginning of the frame line.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Harry,
I thought that picture is of the C3 era showing the frame with engine etc right side up and that huge fixture.

Yes, that was/is my picture. It was posted several times over the years. I'll dig it out and scan/post.

[Ernie F.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Michael,

I sent you two emails today, did you get them?

Harry,

Our backplates were not covered like that! Ours were about the same as the trailing arms and drive shaft. Pretty thin coat with some runs.

Ernie

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Michael,

I sent you two emails today, did you get them?

No, I always forget to check that "other" email. Sorry Ernie. I'll check now.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Ernie, I know it looks like undercoating but I can't find it anywhere else. I plan to remove the short shaft next week. I'll post some pictures.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Frame Restoration Questions Correct or Not

Here are a few interesting pictures. One is a correct 63 rear brake drum. The other is a shot from a 1963 Car & Driver magazine road test of a brand new 63 coupe.
It will be interesting if anyone can figure out why these pic's refer to the way the rear complete control arm, spindle and related parts were painted as a single unit.

By the way, forget the yellow stripe on the drum. It has nothing to do with it.