Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please....

[Collin MacDonald]

As I restore me 63 for the past three years I hear Early, Mid and Late all the time. Its seems to me, depending upon the actual item determines if it is early, mid, or late, not the calander date. Think of this, the 63 has so many changes during the production year, and then people refer to them as early, mid or late....so when you are restoring the 63 how do you actually know the correct part to purchase or replace? I am confused...to add further confusion, my car was built 24 January 63...making it an early/mid car. How do I know what was on it when it was built, are do I take an educated guess.

Good example, couple weeks ago I posted about outside heater boxes, now I learn that in 63 there was an early and late box...ok...what is correct for a 24 January car?

see what I mean...wish someboy wrote a book on the 63 and pinpointed each month the changes made at the factory....Wondarbar radion car #13000....after that AM/FM...before Wonderbar...and it seems to go on and on and on...

HELP what is one to do?

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please..

Collin, you are absolutely correct in your analysis. Early, mid and late can be associated with time, VIN sequence, or part and may or may not have anything to do with the date the AIM was changed and the actual line change was made. In my estimation 63 is a unique animal. This is what I have done and what I believe others have done. Before you spend any money on parts, obtain every publication, will be somewhat expensive, on the 63 model year. Read and document everything you car has against the documentation. When you need help, ask here and all the 63 owners will gladly lend a hand.

Some additional pieces to consider, valve covers, valve cover retainers, outside rear view mirror, gas lid, hood blocks, tool box, carpet cuts, radio side panels, oil gauge and the list goes on from there.

Harry

38513

[Duke W.]

Re: Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please..

During the first production year for a new design there are usually a lot of running changes throughout the model and this is the case for '63.

The terms "early" and "late" are usually used in the context of each change. For example, the final change in rear wheel bearing design went into production on Dec. 1, 1962 at about sequence number 4000, so "early" is before and "late" is after.

The change to the 80 psi oil pressure gage and Muncie four-speed occurred much later - somewhere in the mid-teen thousand range, so "early" and "late" have a different context for these two changes.

There were probably scores if not hundreds of running changes in '63, many of which can probably be visually identified.

You can get an idea of what changes occurred and whether new parts were involved by looking at the change record on AIM sheets. The date on the change record doesn't tell us that when the change actually went into production, but at least is says that a change did occur.

Some sheets had so many changes that they were "redrawn and revised", which usually loses the record of early changes.

I doubt if anyone will ever be able to accurately document all the changes and when they went into production. It's just to complicated, and other than the AIM, all the other production records appear to be gone.

Duke

[Tracy C.]

Re: Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please..

Hi Collin,

The terms "early" "mid" and "late" are all relative to the part usage in question. For example, "early" 63 hubcaps have a frosted finish while "late" 63s are polished. The roll point for this change is guesstimated to be VIN 2500. For the fuel filler door, the determination between the "early" and "late" style is at VIN 16000. Thats quite a spread! Typically, the term "mid" isn't used unless there happens to be at least 2 change points on the same part during the production run.

Truth be known, if there was a single published source to answer your question, it would be offered for sale in the NCRS Library. Most everything else already in print is availible for sale there now. (don't forget the CD ROM containing articles on the 63's from the "Corvette Restorer") This discussion board is VERY helpful, but sometimes the people who can help aren't "tuned in" to field the question.

This is frustrating (you already know that) and I feel your pain. I also have a 63. All I can suggest is to read everything availible (some of this will conflict) and to stay involved with the NCRS and seek help from our fellow members. If they can help, they usually do.

tc

[Chuck G.]

Re: Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please..

I think I'm the one who added to your "pain" about the heater box. I honestly don't know when the change was made. I believe that the difference is down where the heater hoses exit. Some have a reinforcement, some don't, and that's about all I remember. Chuck

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: Early, Mid and Late 1963...definition please..

Thanks guys for all your help. I have done exactly what you have stated. I own a complete library on 63 publication, especially from the NCRS. I think all of my items are exact on my 63. I talk to several people who I trust their knowledge, and of course you guys here are the greatest source. Slowly I have been making good progress on the restoration. Just got a decent price for an AM radio on ebay, and having it restored to new condition...it actually worked. The motor is coming along slowly. I hope to have the car finished by May,so I can attend the Mid Atlantic judging in Williamsburg. Been on this car for three years and its looking better and better....OK I have over restored it a little, but I look at it this way....I am building the way Bill Mitchell intended to have it built....

Hope to meet all of you soon, and thanks for your advice...Collin