1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS - NCRS Discussion Boards

1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Donald H.
    Infrequent User
    • August 3, 2015
    • 11

    1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

    I just rejoined NCRS after a lapse of decades.

    I purchased a '63 coupe a few weeks ago. It was last licensed 30 years ago, and parked in a barn 28 years ago. I have known the car since a friend bought it in 1976, in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. If my memory serves me correctly, the car had been imported into Canada a short time before.

    Tragically, my friend died in a SCUBA diving accident 7 years ago, and I purchased the car from his widow, who is also a dear friend.

    The car is Daytona blue with dark blue interior. Engine is matching number 340 HP. It has a has a "67 big block hood and "67 lower front fenders. Scallops in the 'B" pillar are filled, probably with bondo. No front bumpers, and has a Hurst shifter. In the lower front corner of the driver's side rear window is a "Sheriff's Association of Texas" decal. Just wondering if anyone recognizes the car. I realize these mods were quite common back in the day.

    My intent is to repair, and to some extent restore the car and drive it. At a minimum "do no harm".

    Coolant was drained, battery was removed, and it looks like the oil was changed before the car was parked. Fortunately the barn floor is crushed limestone, which made for a dry environment in a high humidity area.

    I pulled the plugs and squirted Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders a couple wees ago, but haven't tried turning the engine.

    Interior was well worn when the car was parked, Seats and carpeting need replacement. There were chipmunk living inside, so there is a strong urine odor. Any suggestions for eliminating the odor?

    I expect to replace the master cylinder and wheel cylinders as part of a brake overhaul. I assume that they are original. I will save the master cylinder "for the next guy". Is there any value in saving the wheel cylinders?

    Yes it really was in a barn, although it was never lost.

    Any help is much appreciated. Thanks
  • Keith B.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • September 15, 2014
    • 1582

    #2
    Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

    If you remove the carpet I'm sure the smell will go away. Unless it got into the seats. Then new foam and covers will help. Sounds like a neat car.

    Comment

    • Brian D.
      Very Frequent User
      • April 30, 1999
      • 425

      #3
      Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

      Congratulations on your new (to you) iconic Corvette!
      Just curious as to its trim tag build date. I was born Oct 9, 1962 and I'm always seeking a B2 code car - not to buy, but just for the fun of knowing that there's one about my own age.
      B.D.

      Comment

      • Timothy B.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • April 30, 1983
        • 5186

        #4
        Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

        Donald,

        Don't throw anything away, wheel cylinders etc. Look the carpet over good because you may be able to remove it and clean before making decision on replacement. Enjoy your new find, take things one at a time and stay tuned here on the TDB.

        Comment

        • Mike T.
          Very Frequent User
          • January 1, 1992
          • 568

          #5
          Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

          Don - Welcome back. Post up some pics of your 63, we'd like to see them.
          Mike T. - Prescott AZ.

          Comment

          • Mark E.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • April 1, 1993
            • 4536

            #6
            Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

            Donald,

            Cool car! We're all glad it has a good home.

            You might ask NCRS if you can use your original member number to honor your experienced background. They resurrected mine when I rejoined. And as we all know, it's nice to have original numbers...
            Mark Edmondson
            Dallas, Texas
            Texas Chapter

            1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
            1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

            Comment

            • Tom D.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • September 30, 1981
              • 2133

              #7
              Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

              Welcome and have a good time working on your car!

              If it is an early (or late) '63, learn the many things that changed during the model year.
              https://MichiganNCRS.org
              Michigan Chapter
              Tom Dingman

              Comment

              • Donald H.
                Infrequent User
                • August 3, 2015
                • 11

                #8
                Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                Thanks all, for the advice. Build date code is G3, which I belive is 3/15/1963,

                The carpet is too far gone to salvage - dry rotted and torn. This was a high mileage car even in 1976.

                I tried to post pictures, but the file are too big. My daughter is a college photography major, so I will get her to help me.

                The Woodward Cruise (unofficially) starts tonight, and runs through Saturday 8/15. I always take the week off from work, so I can work on the cars during the day, and enjoy the smells of burning rubber, race gas, and av gas during the evening.

                I may be posting questions on issues that I run across.

                Thanks guys. I am enjoying the ride and I haven't even driven it yet.

                Comment

                • Donald H.
                  Infrequent User
                  • August 3, 2015
                  • 11

                  #9
                  Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                  Originally posted by Mark Edmondson (22468)
                  Donald,

                  Cool car! We're all glad it has a good home.

                  You might ask NCRS if you can use your original member number to honor your experienced background. They resurrected mine when I rejoined. And as we all know, it's nice to have original numbers...
                  Thanks Mark. Great suggestion. I am back to being #3523. Yes, I know. I'm old.

                  Comment

                  • Edward J.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • September 15, 2008
                    • 6942

                    #10
                    Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                    Don, saw your post on the carpet, if all possible save the heel and toe pads for 63 they are not reproduced. you can have someone like A. K. sew them into your replacement carpet.
                    New England chapter member, 63 Convert. 327/340- Chapter/Regional/national Top Flight, 72 coupe- chapter and regional Top Flight.

                    Comment

                    • Frank D.
                      Expired
                      • December 27, 2007
                      • 2703

                      #11
                      Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                      You have a great car.....I've had mine 2-1/2 years now and learn something new about it nearly daily....
                      There were rolling production changes almost monthly; VIN number ranges are the best way to identify the changes...

                      Be careful with repro parts -- some are total Chinesium or bad, bad attempts....headliners are a case in point.
                      If the original is OK or can be saved then DO IT !!! If not then Al Knoch has the only repro that comes even close !

                      Comment

                      • Jeff M.
                        Frequent User
                        • July 27, 2009
                        • 72

                        #12
                        Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                        Congrats on the 63. As you start going through it you will learn a lot. 63's are very interesting with all of the changes throughout production. Make sure and buy the most recent judging manual if you havnt already. Good luck with it Jeff

                        Comment

                        • Michael B.
                          Frequent User
                          • February 1, 1980
                          • 61

                          #13
                          Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                          Hey Donald,

                          Congrats on your new project. Just finished a '63 roadster restoration. Its VIN 113XX, which was built in the fourth week of March. I live in the Detroit area, so if you ever have any questions or just want to discuss the finer or less fine points of '63's, don't be shy.

                          Mike

                          Comment

                          • Tom D.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • September 30, 1981
                            • 2133

                            #14
                            Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                            I hauled the above mentioned '63 (Mike Bailey's, body only) from my favorite paint shop back to his garage. I think Mike will agree that I am a good body transporter, if it comes to that. The painter is reasonable also, if you intend to go with clear coat. I am coaching him to do more "original style" mid-year painting, but he prefers to do better than St. Louis did.
                            https://MichiganNCRS.org
                            Michigan Chapter
                            Tom Dingman

                            Comment

                            • Tom S.
                              Very Frequent User
                              • August 31, 1994
                              • 137

                              #15
                              Re: 1963 Coupe Barn Find And New to NCRS

                              Hey Don,
                              check the C-2 Registry under Vin# 10803 sounds like the same car. Some of those details just can't be on another car. Often wondered what happened to it. Boy do have I some stories about this one and some pictures too besides the ones on the Registry.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              Searching...Please wait.
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because you have logged in since the previous page was loaded.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because the token has expired.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An internal error has occurred and the module cannot be displayed.
                              There are no results that meet this criteria.
                              Search Result for "|||"