1963 engine hood alignment blocks

[Jack Y.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

83XX has four....

[Douglas C.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

My car is 54XX, late Dec '62 - no hood block mount holes, no drip rails drilled and no fender reinforcements - with original front fenders.

--Doug (13644)

[Jeffrey A.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

My mid May Coupe has 2 wedges as described as well. Jeff

[Peter L.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

I have a 63 convertible, S/N 19306. The judging manual says the following; "Between approximately VIN 14000 and VIN 16000 for coupes, and between approximately VIN 14000 and 19000 for convertibles, only two rear wedges, located approximately 11 inches from the rear hood edge were installed. These models may or may not have the forward hoodhood wedge. Generally, coupes after approximately VIN 16000 and convertibles after approximately VIN 19500 had no wedges." It makes no reference to convertible S/N's between 19001 and 19499. What is acceptable?

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

Pete, It does say that up to 19000 should be 2 wedges and then the last line after 19500 has none. I guess the really have to confuse those guys with cars built between 19001/19499, as with most 63'S ???? there is really a lot of mistakes in the 5 the edition. a lot were corrections made in the 6th Edition but still needs more attention, as evident with the hood blocks, If were judging a car this would be none issue with me either way I would accept with two or without blocks, As there is no way a judge that knows every number break on something that was built in 1963. This a slightly confusing area for sure.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

Essentially go with what the manual says but don't add holes or fill holes. 63's are unique month to month or even day to day, if it's close it's usually accepted. Running changes on the line had no upper limit!

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

I understand there might have been some white plastic blocks on the hood and then there may have been some black plastic blocks on the hood. If these are used, what could the time frame be for those?

JR

[Troy P.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

No blocks or reinforcements on my August '62 car.

[Brad K.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

What was the original need for the blocks in the first place (rattle elimination?) and what was done to the basic design in order to eliminate the need in 1964?

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

My late May '63 car has NO blocks - but the holes are there in the hood - nothing on the original fenders.
The blocks were ostensibly to eliminate hood vibration and after running with 0, 4, 2 blocks through the '63 model year it was decided they were unnecessary.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

"Hood shake" was the ECR term and the ultimate solution (read "cheaper") was to bring the hood weatherstrip at the rear around the corners and down the sides for a short distance.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

"Hood shake" was the ECR term and the ultimate solution (read "cheaper") was to bring the hood weatherstrip at the rear around the corners and down the sides for a short distance.

That's interesting -- since my May car's hood weatherstrip was done exactly that way. My only other experience was with my '61s hood so I assumed the '63 was wrong and spent some time cutting the weatherstrip back and getting the nasty adhesive off the exposed areas down the sides of the hood.

D@mn - guess I screwed up!

Anybody have a pic of the extended weatherstrip ?

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

Frank,

You did not screw up by removing the weatherstrip from the 63 hood. 1963 Corvettes did NOT have the weatherstrip extended around the corner of the hood!
Everything assumed after reading this thread does not make it true!
1963 AND 1964 Corvettes had a short piece of weatherstrip that did not extend around the corner of the hood!

JR

[Frank D.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

I don't assume everything I read is true my friend - hence the request for pictures. I have several friends nearby with very pristine '63s I use as reference points when controversy arises...!

[Jeff M.]

Re: 1963 engine hood alignment blocks

My late April SWC car has 4. Its an unrestored car