63 rear suspension components

[Michael G.]

Early 63 cars had unique rear spindles and spindle flanges. Did those parts last all model year or was there a change to the 64 parts at some point during the 63 model?

Thanks,

[Wayne M.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Mike --- Tech Service Bulletins (reprinted in winter 1979 Restorer). Two interim production changes, starting on Nov 2, then to Nov 19, then to Dec 3rd. Involved spindles, spindle flanges, washer thickness.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Mike --- Tech Service Bulletins (reprinted in winter 1979 Restorer). Two interim production changes, starting on Nov 2, then to Nov 19, then to Dec 3rd. Involved spindles, spindle flanges, washer thickness.

Wayne, I read over the bulletins, but I don't see any reference to shape of the two components. The new Assemblies referred to there may have been the revised shape, but its not described.

My late April car seems to have the later components (the spindle is webbed and the flange is the sturdier one) but I don't know if those are just service parts or real late 63 parts... I have some of the rare early parts I can put on while its all apart, but not if they don't belong there.

Thanks,

[Wayne M.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

My late April car seems to have the later components (the spindle is webbed and the flange is the sturdier one) but I don't know if those are just service parts or real late 63 parts... I have some of the rare early parts I can put on while its all apart, but not if they don't belong there.....

Mike -- sounds like your car would have final '63 design spindle support, spindle, and spindle flange and washer, and if these part #s carried on to the 1964 model year, I have (in pieces) a low mile '64 rear suspension with Jan '64 casting dates, if you'd like to compare configurations.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Mike, My April 20th 63 has the webbed spindle support dated B 7 3. The flanges are the thin design. Another chapter member has a March car, no webbing, his are dated in January.

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Wayne, I read over the bulletins, but I don't see any reference to shape of the two components. The new Assemblies referred to there may have been the revised shape, but its not described.

My late April car seems to have the later components (the spindle is webbed and the flange is the sturdier one) but I don't know if those are just service parts or real late 63 parts... I have some of the rare early parts I can put on while its all apart, but not if they don't belong there.

Thanks,

Mike, I myself have looked at many 63 rear spindle supports most originals I have found are no webbing up til around July sometime there started to appear. My 63 is a mid march car and has no webbing.( mine were dated early Jan.), a friends mid May car had no webbing, I have seen some cars with one with and one without the webbing around July seems to be the start, and have also seen the one thinner and one thicker flange on the driveshaft flanges, as my mid March car had. all that said it would not be impossible to see earlier cars with either types of spindles or flanges.

Harry I was typing at the same time.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

I didn't know the the spindles were dated. I'll look in the morning to see what I've got.

Sounds like an April car certainly should have the thin flanges. I have two here that I found at Carlisle, so I'll switch them.

Thanks,

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Mike, here is an early 63 spindle. I believe they started casting the web sometime in February 1963. When they were actually available on the line is another question. Also, were there other molds still casting them without the web in February????.

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Harry, that one's like the parts on my November car. Since both my spindles on the April car have webs, if they are dated February March or April, 63, I guess they're probably original. We'll know in the morning.

Thnaks

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

I've checked my dates and it turns out I've got one February, 63 ( B 3 3 ), a webbed part, apparently original, and one June, 66 part, obviously a replacement. Other than dates, they look identical.

[Harry S.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

I've checked my dates and it turns out I've got one February, 63 ( B 3 3 ), a webbed part, apparently original, and one June, 66 part, obviously a replacement. Other than dates, they look identical.

They changed for the C3 model. If you look at the casting number it end with an N, if it ends with NF it's not for a C2. Saying that a B33 with NF is 1973 not 1963.

Enjoy the search.............

[Joe R.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

After owning several 63 coupes from the 8,XXX to the 19,XXX SN all of them had the same bearing supports. No Web!

JR

PS. There is a pair of real 63's on e-bay Harry!

[Michael G.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Harry, I can't see the part number very well with the trailing arm on, so I'm not sure about the "N". I'll be taking it apart, but not right now, so we'll get back to that later.

I'm wondering what I need to watch for when buying a used spindle. I know that the original spindle flanges tended to crack when pressing in the u-joint, does anybody know if the web was added to the spindle for a similar cracking problem?

Thanks,

[Gerald L.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

Mike, apparently my Apr 30 car supports your spindle observation ... they are both webbed, and the dates are pre-build (or 1973). But note the N. Car owned since 1980, photo taken in the late 80s. But unfortunately I can not vouch for originality as it was one well abused Vette. Rear end and half shafts were a 67 BB. Gerry

[Paul Y.]

Re: 63 rear suspension components

My June 7th car has one of each but I haven't had a chance to document the dates yet.