Need Help With 1963 Restoration

[Edward J.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Well, Ol' JR has always had a few loose screws.

JR. I have only bolts for ya. NO nuts, NO flat washers. I do have some "modified" lock washers, ones where I've filed off and removed the serrations on the sides. They'll "pass".

See you in Old Town in January.

Chuck

Chuck, Now I see the problem, JR.s got no nuts and a few loose screws. But he's got matching numbers.

[Gary J.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Wally World battery in a Delco skin, Gates belts and hoses with fake #'s

[Brian M.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Bring the project to FL.

[Steven B.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

look at that ridiculous car, what 63 Corvette would have only four tail lights?

Mike, as a result of our Texas Judging Chair, David King commenting at the recent Lone Star Regional greasing the palm he said will result in a very high score. I tried it and it just made a mess and po'd the judge. In response to two anonymous phone calls I just received in the past hour: 1. Yes, I did wonder if Joe's post is just pulling our legs. I am beginning to think he is not serious about a correct restoration. and 2. NO! My mother had me tested. Also, you do have a point on the four tail lights. Thanks. Steve

[Michael G.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Steve, I had suspected that Joe might be out in left field on this restoration, as everybody knows that a proper fuel injected 63 could not have power steering. Jeeeesh, I feel SO foolish...

[Donald O.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Steve, I had suspected that Joe might be out in left field on this restoration, as everybody knows that a proper fuel injected 63 could not have power steering. Jeeeesh, I feel SO foolish...

Correct. It would of had power rack and pinion steering with front wheel drive and disc brakes. I read it on the internet so it has to be true.

[Dick W.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Hhhhmmmmmm---Boombatz, Boombatz, yeahh, that's the guy! You related to him?!? He has got a lot of good parts for me cheap. He gives me the option of buying the whole car or just the parts I want. He delivers them here to Texas then what I don't want he takes on down to Mexico, then they come up on Craig's List. Seems like a round about way to get cars and parts. I think I recognized you in that movie. I couldn't figure out why for the whole 20 minutes of the movie you weren't wearing clothes. You Hollywood folks are different. I envy your lives and being in the movies. I had a dog like the one in the movie I saw you in and thought I saw that lady before, too but didn't recognize the horse. Kinda looked like Flicka---the horse, not the lady. Strange place for what looked like a birthmark---on the lady, not the horse. If you had filmed with a Corvette instead of that hippie van you could have sold videos through NCRS. Are you making another movie soon? Anyway, congratulations on your performance! Steve

I remember him, he is the one that used to show up at all the swap meets with a semi load of parts. You could build a matching numbers car if you went through all his parts.

[Mike E.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Joe,
I thought that in one of our conversations you had indicated that you had located one of the 6 split-window tinted bubble tops made by Bell helicopter. Is there a reason you are not sharing that with the rest of the hobby? You've also not mentioned the hood. Isn't your car built in that brief window where the only hood available at the factory was the big-block/pie plate hood? This thread is worthless without pictures!

[Vinnie P.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Maybe he can adapt one of these tops

[John D.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Hey Joe Ray, Dont' forget to use the LT1 cam in your resto. JD

[Charles M.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Bring the project to FL.

And put your checkbook in your golf bag, we are playing for beer money this year.

[John D.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

If you get a Kirkland battery form Costco you can peel off the labels and it can be any battery you want it to be.
I peel the labels off their surprising good beer and pretend its Sam Adams...

[Donald O.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Thanks JR

needed that.

[Rob M.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Very useful thread, I made notes of all the excellent suggestions made here. I'll probably have to restart my current 63 restoration, but I guess it is not too late yet to get these incooperated before shipping her back to the US for the Nationals 2014 and take her to the judging field....

[Michael G.]

Re: Need Help With 1963 Restoration

Rob, I think it would be very nice if you could, as a tribute to your car's European residency, perhaps throw in a vintage Mercedes diesel before bringing it back...

I'm taking all this very much to heart, as I have decided to re-restore again one of my 63's. I have been in touch with "Vinnie" (again, not "our" Vinnie) and he has been able to "procure" a parts car for me. This was delivered on his flatbed last Tuesday in the alley behind the American Coney Island in Detroit and is shown on the left in the pic below.

As you can see, the restoration is well underway, as I have already located my 63 precisely on the lift. I now will be able to utilize an LT1, as well as the suspension, wheels, frame, (oh heck, most everything) from the parts car. It has been brought to my attention (by and unnamed associate I also met at the Coney) that the whole effort might be somewhat easier if I just graft a certain part of the 63's lower dash onto the parts car, so I'm giving this option some serious consideration…..

3Vettes .jpg

I would think that the completed project will possibly result in a slight performance improvement in the 63….Any suggestions are certainly welcome, as I want to bring this car to Florida in January for judging….