63 Spare Tire Bolts

[Edward J.]

I have a question for you 63 guys, In reading nolans book he states that the rear spare tire bolts were 3 types, and that the second type had a shoulder 9 1/4 long with no welded nut used on about Jan. 63, In the judging manuel there all 9 5/8 long and all have welded nuts. Whats your input on this?

[Jeff Z.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Ed,

Here is a pic of original bolts off an April 63 car. Nuts were welded. (4) tub mounting screws off to right are not original, washers are.

Jeff

[David L.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Ed,

Here is a pic of original bolts off an April 63 car. Nuts were welded. (4) tub mounting screws off to right are not original, washers are.

Jeff

Jeff,

It is my understanding that the bolts with the welded on nuts and 9 5/8" overall length are GM # 3833383 used on 1963-1966 Corvettes with knock off wheels.

Back in the last 1980's I owned a "very early" 1963 split window coupe (Oct. 1962). The front two bolts (GM # 3820414) were quite unique. The bolts had an actual 3/4" hex head unlike the bolts on later models.

Dave

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Ed,

Here is a pic of original bolts off an April 63 car. Nuts were welded. (4) tub mounting screws off to right are not original, washers are.

Jeff

Jeff thanks for the pic. thats is what is in my Mar car.

[David L.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Ed & Jeff

Do your 1963's have steel wheels or knock off wheels?

Dave

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Dave, Steel wheels on my 63

[David L.]

Re: 63 Spare Tire Bolts

Ed,

The 1963 AIM lists the 3841463 bolts which are 9 1/4" long (overall length) and were also used on 1964-1966 Corvettes with 15 X 5 1/2" steel wheels. However, the Spare Tire Stowage sheet (Sect. 10, sheet 2.00) was redrawn & revised on 1-14-63. It seems that the 3841463 bolts did not appear on the assembly line until much later in the production year. It appears that the 3833383 bolts (7/16-14 X 9 5/8" with the welded nut) were still installed on the 1963 assembly line until at least April 1963 if not later.

My 1963 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (effective Oct. 1962) lists GM # 3820414 (7/16-14 X 9 1/8) as the part number for the bolts. The 3820414 bolts have the 3/4" hex head and were only used on "early" 1963 Corvettes.
GM # 3920414 was replaced with GM # 3833383 (7/16-14 X 9 5/8" with the welded nut) in March 1963 as per Chevrolet Parts History. This date is for "over the counter" parts, not assembly line parts.

My 1964 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (effective Oct. 1963) lists GM # 3833383 for the 1963 Corvette and GM # 3841463 (7/16-14 X 9 1/4") for the 1964 Corvette. This is odd since GM # 3833383 was discontinued in March 1963.

My 1965 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (effective May 1965) lists GM # 3841463 for 1963-1965 Corvettes.

GM # 3841463 is also listed in the 1964, 1965, and 1966 Corvette assembly manuals.

In summary the 1963 Corvettes used 3 different pair of bolts (3820414, 3833383, and 3841463) during the entire 1963 production year.

Dave