Need Help With 1963 Restoration

[Joe R.]

DSCN3694.jpgDSCN3709.jpgDSCN3728.jpgI just can't sleep at night worrying about what battery and radiator should be used in my restoration project. Please help! First I have a 1963 Roadster that I pulled out of the junk yard about a year ago. The restoration is going well and I'm using a frame from SRIII, front C5 suspension, rear C4 Dana 44 3.45 and a LS-3 525HP crate motor. The body is just perfect with a 1963 AC front and 1967 side fenders (lets in the air you know). We retained the rear deck since it has white glass and I know the judges will check for that when it goes for it's Duntov award.
What I'm worried about is what battery I should select, one from Delco (current production) or an exact replacement from Restoration Battery??? Also, should I get a DeWitt radiator with the shinny slick top dated correctly or just get a BeCool radiator from Jeg's???
Decisions-Decisions!!! Please advise!

JR

[Pete B.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

I would go with the restoration battery you just want to have that old school era look. On the radiator, if its a driver go with the aluminum. Were here to help!

[Michael W.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

If it's not too late, perhaps you could use side fenders from a '68 and then upgrade them with the '69 gill inserts. Everybody loves them. Good choice on the LS-3. It loves E10 gas, no need for that funny gas from SW PA.

Regards to you and nanny from all your friends at VH.

[Dan H.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Joe, finally someone with a logical, problem solving approach to this restoration thingy! Soldier on!

[Ken A.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Joe, I would get a battery off a Chevy Spark.

[Rick A.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Was thinking battery from a YUGO!

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

How 'bout one from a Volt! Thought about suggesting one from a Tesla, but they seem to burn too easily

[Steven B.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Joe, I am afraid you are being mislead, by accident and not on purpose. First, I would check all responders to see if they have a '63. The motive in their answer may be to make their cars look better when judged next to yours. Just sayin'--- First, I want to say I do not have a '63 and know nothing about them therefore I will not intentionally mislead you. Trust me. For the battery I suggest an Interstate. Paint it black to match the original Delco. The water color paint in a Paint By Numbers kit is dead on, just do not wash under the hood after applied. To get exact markings on the battery take a picture of an original, print it on clear adhesive and stick it on the top. No one will know and you won't be paying $300+ for a reproduction. If you are interested I have an extra I did for a friend in '92 setting on my concrete garage floor. I will let it go for $250 and will not tell anyone about our transaction, especially any judges. As for the radiator I installed a Griffin in my '77. Since the aluminum shines a bit too much I painted it with the same black as the battery. To give it a patina and appear original I sprayed it with a clear adhesive and threw some dead insects (picked up on the ground under my bug zapper). Do the bugs in a random pattern and include a bird feather and a couple of squirrel hairs for added realism. Finally spray over the radiator with a flat to semi gloss clear and with a magic marker just put a big OK on top to duplicate an inspection mark. Add TEA to the radiator and advise the judges it is the original coolant. It works every time. As a side note I use Earl Grey tea as it most resembles the aged coolant and tastes similar. Do not add sugar to the tea! I did that once and learned the hard way. Good luck with your restoration! If you need additional advice please do not hesitate to ask. p.s. When you get to the body paint please let me know. I have a buddy who works for Earl Scheib and can put a 100% factory correct paint job on the car for under $5,000. He isn't exactly a painter there but has watched plenty of times. I mean, how hard can it be??

[Rick A.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Bet he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!

[Michael G.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

I personally would not have gone with the LS3. I know of a junkyard near here that still has a period correct Chrysler turbine lying around. Shouldn't be any big deal to drop it in... Then you can use orange peels and hard cider for fuel and you will still have around 10% ethanol....

[Michael G.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Joe, regarding tunes, I have in my possession the original (?) sound system from Ted Nugent's 1961 Cadillac hearse, which we borrowed from him late one evening in 1969 (he lived down the block). I could let this go cheap and it was used mostly at a volume not seen anywhere since. You'll probably have to install it sideways in the tool pan, but it shouldn't really get a deduct. Functionally it may have some issues in PV, but maybe Carlton's hearing is going, so you'll be OK....

[Joe R.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Steve,

That is VERY funny! I did actually laugh out loud!

Joe

[Dick W.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

I don't own a '63 but.......no I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night either

[Steven B.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Steve,

That is VERY funny! I did actually laugh out loud!

Joe

Thanks Joe, but I am not sure why you laughed. I took these suggestions from a notebook I keep on various restorations. I have one underway now. By coincidence it is also a '63 like Joe's. I am about done, with only a hundred or so hours to complete. I intend to take it to a Chapter Event next year and am counting on a Top Flight of 98-99 points. I do have to paint it yet, as you can tell. I am thinking silver blue or maybe changing the trim tag and make it a rare no paint, no primer, but only bare glass from Muskegon, MI car. This is one of one. The only one assembled in Muskegon, MI. I was going to send to Roy for Documents but I don't know the VIN and my guy Vinnie (not our guy Vinnie) has not acquired the new tag from another car he knows of. Anyway hope you like my work to date in the picture below. When this one is complete I do have room in my back yard to do another one. Again, thanks Joe! Steve

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

I don't know the VIN and my guy Vinnie (not our guy Vinnie) has not acquired the new tag from another car he knows of. Anyway hope you like my work to date in the picture below. When this one is complete I do have room in my back yard to do another one. Again, thanks Joe! Steve

Must be my cousin from Brooklyn...Vinnie Boombatz...I'm the cousin they made the movie about...I'll see if I can find him in the next few days...