1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

[Page C.]

MAC Chapter member Tom Vollrath is is working on a frame off restoration of a Dec 26, 1962 built 1963 coupe. He sent me some photos that I will attach showing the remains of a bracket riveted to the top of the inside box near the defroster outlet. The broken bracket appears to be a factory installed. I have not seen a bracket in this location on a non-air heater box but it is a 1963. The old heater core was dated 62G, The outside box has a Sept 3, 62 date. The inside box has a HD 06 63B under the Harrison name stamped in the metal section that faces the firewall. I have 2 inside box with the same HD 06 63B with no evidence on a bracket. Is this 63B a date code or is it a code for the 2nd design heater box. One of the inside 63B boxes that I have has a 62K heater core. I'm now thinking that this 63B might not be a date code but a design code.
The only place Tom found a picture of a bracket installed in that area was a drawing in the GM Service Manual.1963 inside heater box #1.jpg1963 inside heater box #2.jpg1963 outside heater box.jpg

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

page/tom 63 vin 19299 doesn't have the brace in your photo. hope this helps. mike

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

No bracket on car 13358.

As I recall the very early defrost ducts had a bracket attached. Possibly that bracket was attached to the broken bracket in your picture for stability.

I would guess that it was discontinued as most of the defrost ducts were broken when first installed on the line. They were broken even after the bracket was discontinued.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

That bracket holds a spring that attaches in the small hole and again in the hole in the sliding defroster door mechanism, It's the mechanism that the floor/defroster cable attaches too.

[Page C.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

We have a little update on the broken bracket on the TOP of Tom,s heater box. In looking through the hole in the metal back where the electrical resistor goes with a small flashlight we were able to see yellow ink stamp in both Tom's and my box. You might have to raise the inside flapper slightly to see it. Tom,s 1963 box had a Sept 14 62 NB200 date stamp. My box 1963 box that had no evidence of a bracket installed on the TOP of the box near the defroster opening had a date stamp of Sept 21 62 NB200. Harry might be on to something with his earlier post as I can see no other need for any bracket in that location on the TOP of the box and from that time forward through 1967 there was no bracket in that location. Refer to photos one and two above in my post. We are not talking about the side control linkage (both boxes are the same) but the broken bracket on the Top of Tom's box. Since these were assembled by Harrison and shipped to St. Louis as a unit, This might be one of the 1963 heater box design change windows

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

That bracket holds a spring that attaches in the small hole and again in the hole in the sliding defroster door mechanism, It's the mechanism that the floor/defroster cable attaches too.

Its been a while since I worked on one, but this is what I remember, at least on early ones. That spring is necessary for proper operation.

[Andy C.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

Hello; In 1963 there are atleast 4 or 5 variations of the inner heater box! the very first box had a small sheet metal bracket near the oval outlet. the second design had the bracket removed and the holes filled in with dumb dum. The third design no longer had the bracket or the holes for it and no one knows what the purpose of that bracket was for. The forth design box had the later 64-7 design control levers on the front of it. The number on the back of the box was not a date code but a production year code. All 63 boxes have the same info stamped in the sheet metal.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

This box is out of a late Feb 63 coupe. There is no evidence of the square bracket ever being installed as shown in Page's first picture. Tend to agree with Andy on the "date" stamping. This box as well as most every other 63 box I've ever seen has the "06 63B" stamping on the back. I think I may have seen a "06 63A".

IMG_1288.jpg

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

I've restored three of them. Two were HD 06 63B one of those had an interior stamp of 11 23 62. The third was HD 06A 63B and that was dated 04 29 63. The 06A box had the new style mechanism without the spring.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

I've restored three of them. Two were HD 06 63B one of those had an interior stamp of 11 23 62. The third was HD 06A 63B and that was dated 04 29 63. The 06A box had the new style mechanism without the spring.

Harry, that is probably where I've seen the "A" as well. 06A not 63A

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

This box is out of a late Feb 63 coupe. There is no evidence of the square bracket ever being installed as shown in Page's first picture. Tend to agree with Andy on the "date" stamping. This box as well as most every other 63 box I've ever seen has the "06 63B" stamping on the back. I think I may have seen a "06 63A".

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Tracy,

Does that slider on your heater box have flat washers behind (like in between the levers and the slider) as well as under the cotter pin?

If anyone has a parts box I am interested in that spring because mine was missing. Please email me.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

Tracy,

Does that slider on your heater box have flat washers behind (like in between the levers and the slider) as well as under the cotter pin?

If anyone has a parts box I am interested in that spring because mine was missing. Please email me.

Tim, yes it does. This pic is the stackup and it is typical on both ends. Washer dia is .75 and they are .072 thick.

heater box washer stackup.jpg

Here are the specifics on the spring. You might find a suitable replacement on a spring supplier's website.

heater box spring info.jpg

good luck,
tc

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

Thanks Tracy, I sure appreciate that information.

[Harry S.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

Page, interesting picture, but the bracket on this duct will not align with the bracket in question.

I knew I had this picture somewhere, I've had it for years.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1963 Inside Heater Box Bracket

Harry,

That's what the defroster bracket looks like on my early 63 (second week November) car. I believe the bracket screws to the steel birdcage cross member but not 100%.