1963 Courtesy Light Switch

[Timothy B.]

I am curious about this flat washer shown in the attached picture. The 1963 cars used a smaller 5/16" threaded switch but I am not sure if the washer is supposed to be on all cars. Is this just a regular 5/16" flat washer and what's the purpose?

TIA, Tim

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

I am curious about this flat washer shown in the attached picture. The 1963 cars used a smaller 5/16" threaded switch but I am not sure if the washer is supposed to be on all cars. Is this just a regular 5/16" flat washer and what's the purpose?

TIA, Tim

Tim,

The switch with washer seemed to appear randomly, starting some time during mid 63 production, if I remember correctly. I still don't understand why it was used but I'm convinced it was installed at St Louis.

Wasn't there a change in part number for the switch at some point in mid 63 production?

By the way, if you ever see light body color overspray on the switch, it's correct.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Mike,

In my 63 AIM, section 12 sheet B-4, the part # for item 6 switch asm is 3843463 with a note 8 next to the part #. At the bottom of the page in the revision record the note 8 states, "was 3820885 switch, 40-55 lbs in" with a revision date of 4-4-63. In the view A on the same page the picture does not show any washer so I wonder if the washer is used for the early switch.

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Tim, Repeating what Hanson said the washer is an unexplained "add on" that doesn't show up in the aims.
It's been the topic of discussion at various judged shows. My friends 3rd week of March car has the washer. My own 63, the LWC is March 2nd or 3rd and did not have the washer. My original switch had white paint overspray on it. John

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Thanks John,

I can only conclude the washer is there to somehow make a better ground connection for the switch or somehow back up the nut to keep the nut from contact with the metal pillar assembly. Maybe it has something to do with the hole diameter punched out as some switches did not get tight in the hole.

I have no idea if my early car had the washer, the new switches got snug in the hole so I never thought it necessary to install unless it's supposed to be there.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Tim;

My early July build has the washer(s), and as Michael said, paint overspray on the swith and washer.

Was just over to the winter meet here in Kissimmee. There seems to be a slow move in this year. Not sure if it's due to weather up north or what, but the allotted space was only about 1/3 full at 2:00 in the afternoon, with the inplace time only 3 hours away. They have even expanded the show space this year, so hope the guys get here before the expected weather that is to start tonight and maybe mess up tomorrow morning. After that it loos great.

Stu Fox

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Thanks for the information Stu, I am curious if your car has the early courtesy switch or the later part. If you get a chance what's the wrench size across the flats as this may give some indication. I think mine is 3/8's across the flats but will double check, if the THREAD size changed to 3/8 the nut size may be different, I will also check my 67 because the switches have ever been out.

[Paul J.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

There seems to be a slow move in this year. Not sure if it's due to weather up north or what, but the allotted space was only about 1/3 full at 2:00 in the afternoon, with the inplace time only 3 hours away. Stu Fox

It's the economy, Stu. Despite what I've heard on this board and elswhere, I've noticed at all the shows I've gone to that vendor attendance has been down 20-30% for the past two years.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

The switch derives it's ground from the threads on its mounting hex nut biting into the birdcage steel. I'll wager a WAG here on the washer...

The switch is a self-learning device that automatically adapts to the specific geometry of the car's individual door gap. Install the switch and SLAM the door shut. The plunger shaft moves back into the switch hex nut via interference fit.

Now, it looks like there was a running change in 1963 (started as switch XYZ and went to switch ABC). The washer might have been used on early cars with the first generation switch when there was a 'worst case' door gap that was beyond the self-adjustment range of the first switch. Use of the washer moved the switch out of the door jamb and closer to the door to compensate...

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Jack,

I can buy that explanation, that makes more sence than anything else so far..

Sounds like they used this switch late into the year as in post #6 Stu reports his July built car with the washer under the switch.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

Tim, Repeating what Hanson said the washer is an unexplained "add on" that doesn't show up in the aims.
It's been the topic of discussion at various judged shows. My friends 3rd week of March car has the washer. My own 63, the LWC is March 2nd or 3rd and did not have the washer. My original switch had white paint overspray on it. John

John, took a look at my Mar. 14 (vin110674) car no washers on switchs

[Sydney G.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

I also took a look and my May 15th Coupe has the washers.

Syd

[Larry M.]

Re: 1963 Courtesy Light Switch

This is an old thread but the only one on the 3820885 and I wanted to comment on this part.I see here and from an ebay post (the bible of course) that it was used at some point in time on 63s in the door jamb. I have one of these NOS in the GM package that I bought as a spare for parking brake warning light switch which is located on the firewall end of the parking brake actuator rod on 64-66. Looking at these on ebay I think 63 used a different part on the parking brake. Then I bought another NOS in the GM package because I didn't remember I already had one. I discovered this today when I was organizing parts. Interestingly they are a little different. Both are 5/16-18 thread which I'm told is right for the 63 door jamb also (later years is 3/8-24) but one is "dantier" with a shorter thread section and a thin flat "MB" marked head. The other has the longer threaded barrel and a domed "MB" head like the one in the picture above. Neither have the sliding "self learnig" tube that Jack describes above and the pic above does not either. I have several of the64-66 version which do have this feature. Without this feature the only way to adjust the 3820885(assuming adjustmemt is needed) so it will contact the door and open the electrical light circuit when the door is closed is to add the washer. Prior to this post I had thought(been told) that 63 door jamb application did not have the MB but the pic above does and my two NOS switches do. I hope someone finds this interesting. If you look at 64-66 parking brake handles on ebay you'll see several examples of this switch in that application.

PS: I've been told that some 63 did have the adjusting barrel but I don't know that.